Carrying Capacity Of Resources Research Articles

Evaluation of Resource and Environmental Carrying Capacity of China’s Rapid-Urbanization Areas—A Case Study of Xinbei District, Changzhou

The evaluation of resource and environmental carrying capacity (RECC) is the foundation for the rationale behind the arrangement of land spaces for production, living, and ecological uses. In this study, based on various natural, economic, and social factors, an integrated Multi-Factor assessment model was developed to evaluate the RECC of Xinbei district of Changzhou. Meanwhile, we also calculated the population carrying capacity estimation model restricted by food security. The study comprehensively analyzed the current status and land resource characteristics of a rapid urbanization area and the RECC restrictions for protection and development. The results indicate that the comprehensive carrying capacity of Xinbei showed distinct spatial heterogeneity, with a decreasing trend from the riverside protection area to urban areas, then to mountain areas. Combined with the secure food supply provided by future land resources, it was estimated that the population carrying index of Xinbei would be as high as 1.25 and 1.22 in 2035 and 2050, respectively, indicating that both years would experience a population overload. Therefore, an urgent adjustment to the structure and layout of territorial space and resources of the Xinbei District is necessary.

A comprehensive analysis on water resources carrying capacity in Tongliao based on ecological footprint method

How to judge the sustainable utilization and carrying capacity of water resources is an important issue for scholars and governments. Based on the theory of ecological footprint, this paper uses the ecological footprint method to calculate the water resources carrying capacity of Tongliao City, and carries out a comprehensive evaluation and analysis on the water resources from both societal and economic perspectives. The result shows that the water resources in the city from 2011 to 2014 is in a state of ecological deficit and overloaded, but from 2015 to 2017 turns to the ecological surplus state. The study would provide local authorities solid data for formulating appropriate regulations for water resource protection and development.

Evaluation model of regional resource and environment comprehensive carrying capacity based on the conjugation-wrestling mechanism

Evaluation model of regional resource and environment comprehensive carrying capacity based on the conjugation-wrestling mechanism

Focus on economy or ecology? A three‐dimensional trade‐off based on ecological carrying capacity in southwest China

AbstractEconomic growth and human activities challenge the regional harmony of the economy and environment. Based on an evaluation of ecological carrying capacity (ECC), we have constructed a three‐dimensional trade‐off model for socially harmonious development for the Sichuan and Yunnan regions in southwest China. The results demonstrate that there is a continuous increase in socioeconomic coordination (SEC; slope > 0.23) and a change in the ECC in the study area, characterized by subtle fluctuations from 2000 through 2008. This was primarily due to the loss of resource and environment carrying capacity wiping out the profits of SEC. Significant government aid during the postdisaster reconstruction and more attention being paid to the environment in policy resulted in a faster increase in ECC (slope > 0.38) from 2008 to 2016. Based on this trade‐off model, managers could deeply understand the relationship between resources, the economy, and ecology.Summary for Managers Ecological environment protection is increasingly crucial in Sichuan and Yunnan regions as they feel the effects of climate change and human activities. The three‐dimensional trade‐off model measuring socially coordinated development is a modified multiobjective, decision‐making model. Based on this trade‐off model, managers could, understand the relationship between resources, the economy, and ecology. It can help manage our environmental assets and plan ecological conservation, to ensure that the environment maintains its capacity to serve the societal development.

A Quantitative Assessment of Sustainable Development Based on Relative Resource Carrying Capacity in Jiangsu Province of China.

Unbalanced development is an urgent issue that needs to be resolved in the sustainable development strategy of Jiangsu Province, which inhibits Jiangsu’s industrial transformation and upgrading. A relative resource carrying capacity model is extended based on resource carrying capacity to analyze the resource carrying capacity of the different regions of Jiangsu Province. Three indicators of water resources, land resources, and energy resources are included in the natural resources. In social resources, factors of population quality are included in the analysis scope. Based on the improved model, this paper analyzes the relative resource carrying capacity of Jiangsu Province. The results show that: (1) under both traditional resource carrying capacity model and the improved model, Jiangsu Province has a surplus population; however, there is a certain difference between the result from two modules; (2) contributions of environmental resources, economic resources, and social resources to the comprehensive carrying capacity of resources is obviously higher than the contributions of natural resources; and (3) significant regional differences exist in relative resource carrying capacity within Jiangsu Province between the southern region and the middle region, in which the capacity is surplus to the population demand, and the northern region, in which the capacity is overloaded.

Grey Clustering Evaluation of Water Resources Carrying Capacity Based on Triangle Whitening Weight Function

Water resources are an important component of the resource environment. The sustainable carrying capacity of water resources is an essential indicator for the comprehensive evaluation of regional sustainable development. This paper will select 17 water resources carrying capacity impact factors to establish a sustainable water resources assessment system. The grey clustering evaluation based on the triangle whitening weight function is used to obtain the objective evaluation results of water resources carrying capacity.

Study on Water Resources Efficiency with the Regional Water Resources Carrying Capacity into Consideration

Most of the existing studies on regional water resources efficiency only consider the total regional water use while ignoring the regional endowment. Therefore, it is essential to introduce the water resources carrying capacity into the study. Given that data envelopment analysis (DEA) cannot compare the time series of a single decision-making unit, we employ the DEA-window analysis to study China’s water resources efficiency during 2005–2012 with the regional carrying capacity being considered, and analyze the spatiotemporal evolution. The study shows that such efficiency has increased from 0.71 in 2005 to 0.79 in 2012. High water resources efficiency is observed in Liaoning, Tibet, Yunnan, Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong and Sichuan, where the output levels and utilization ratios of water resources are positively correlated. Low water resources efficiency is observed in Henan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia and Xinjiang which feature high-level utilization and low carrying capacity of water resources. As for regional water resources efficiency, eastern and southern coastal regions rank first, followed by Northeast China and northern coastal regions, southwest and northwest regions of China and lastly the middle reaches of the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers. Therefore, policy-makers should not only accord the regional development with carrying capacity, but also enhance cross-regional industrial cooperation for coordinated development.

Land-Use Changes and Human Driving in and Near the Yangtze River Delta from 1995–2015

We analyzed the characteristics and trends of land-use change in and near the coastal zone of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) during five periods (1995, 2000 2005, 2010, and 2015) using remotely sensed Landsat imagery. Using automatic supervised classification combined with visual interpretation, we obtained land-use information for five study areas (Nantong, Shanghai, Jiaxing, Ningbo, and Zhoushan). Significant land-use changes have occurred in this area between 1995 and 2015, characterized in particular by large reductions in cultivated land and rapid increases in urbanized land. In addition, land reclamation was very active in this period as an effective supplement to the increased demand for land development: since 1995, 1622 km2 of land was reclaimed from near-coastal regions in the study area. This increase in urbanization was jointly driven by population, economic, transportation, and policy factors. Urban areas expanded from the center outward in concentric rings, with infrastructure guiding the radial expansion of development along transportation corridors, thus forming a network of connections. Due to the influence of national land regulation policies, the expansion rate of development in the YRD gradually diminished after 2010. This indicates that the area’s resource and environmental carrying capacity has reached a saturation stage in which urbanization has transitioned from broad and incremental expansion to the intensive use of land resources.

Study on the Water Resource Carrying Capacity in the Middle Reaches of the Heihe River Based on Water Resource Allocation

The study of water resource carrying capacity (WRCC) is significant for rational water resource utilization and promotion of the coordinated development of a regional economy, society, and ecology, especially in arid regions. In this paper, using different scenarios, a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model based on water resource allocation is constructed to obtain the WRCC in the middle reaches of the Heihe River. The results show that the current development of water resources has a certain scale, and the carrying capacity is relatively low. Compared with the current water resource scheme, various scenario schemes have higher evaluation indexes. Among the schemes, scheme 7 is the optimal plan for the recent planning year, and scheme 13 is the best for the long-term planning year. Based on a subsystems analysis, the social subsystem has the highest score, which is followed by the economic subsystem, water resource subsystem, and ecological subsystem, and the evaluation index of the economic subsystem shows the largest increase. The main factors affecting the WRCC are the water-saving level and crop irrigation quota. Therefore, the WRCC should be improved by raising the level of agricultural water use, restricting the irrigation area, and adjusting the local industrial structure.

Research on Land Resource Carrying Capacity: Progress and Prospects

As an important part of resource and environment carrying capacity (RECC), land resource carrying capacity (LRCC) has focused on the limiting factors on regional development from the scale of land resources for more than two hundred years. After a brief review of the origin and early development of LRCC, the progress of LRCC is summarized as a progression from land resource population carrying capacity (LPCC) to land resource comprehensive carrying capacity (LCCC), and the hot issues of LRCC have changed from the simple human–grain relationship to more complex social and economic activities–land resources relationships. The corresponding research methods also evolved, from static research to dynamic research, and the assessment factor have evolved from a single factor to a comprehensive index system. Agro-ecological zoning (AEZ), system dynamics (SD), ecological footprint (EF), and comprehensive evaluation methods have come to be viewed as the most representative methods of LRCC in recent years. As a focus of conventional LRCC research, the human–grain relationship still plays a significant role in LRCC evaluation because grain remains the top limiting factor of land resources and is the most significant criterion in the balance between regional population and land resources, especially for very populous countries. More attention should be paid to the accurate calculation of arable land and average food consumption levels to improve the scientific basis of LRCC evaluation. The development of science and technology and the variation of lifestyle are also important factors that influence regional LRCC. As a new topic of LRCC, LCCC has expanded the research field of LRCC in an attempt to reveal the limiting effects of land resource under open systems, but some issues such as carrying mechanism research and the combination of theoretical and applied research are needed in future studies to promote the further development of LCCC.

Water Resources Carrying Capacity Evaluation and Diagnosis Based on Set Pair Analysis and Improved the Entropy Weight Method

To quantitatively evaluate and diagnose the carrying capacity of regional water resources under uncertain conditions, an index system and corresponding grade criteria were constructed from the perspective of carrying subsystem. Meanwhile, an improved entropy weight method was used to determine the objective weight of the index. Then, an evaluation model was built by applying set pair analysis, and a set pair potential based on subtraction was proposed to identify the carrying vulnerability factors. Finally, an empirical study was carried out in Anhui Province. The results showed that the consistency among objective weights of each index was considered, and the uncertainty between the index and grade criterion was reasonably dealt with. Furthermore, although the carrying situation in Anhui was severe, the development tended to be improved. The status in Southern Anhui was superior to that in the middle area, and that in the northern part was relatively grim. In addition, for Northern Anhui, the fewer water resources chiefly caused its long-term overloaded status. The improvement of capacity in the middle area was mainly hindered by its deficient ecological water consumption and limited water-saving irrigation area. Moreover, the long-term loadable condition in the southern part was due largely to its relatively abundant water resources and small population size. This evaluation and diagnosis method can be widely applied to carrying issues in other resources and environment fields.

Analysis of the Spatial Variation and Identification of Factors Affecting the Water Resources Carrying Capacity Based on the Cloud Model

To objectively analyze the effect of the water resources carrying capacity (WRCC) on sustainable regional development, a case study of Heilongjiang Province, China, is conducted. With a focus on the coordinated development of the water resources system, 16 indices are selected to establish an index-based WRCC evaluation system. In addition, based on the index values, initial values are obtained using a fuzzy combined weighting method. The WRCC evaluation levels are objectively generated using cloud model, and the temporal and spatial evolution of the WRCC in the study area is analyzed. The obstacle degree is used to analyze quantitatively the restraint relationship of each index to the carrying capacity. The present study classifies the WRCC into five evaluation levels: level I ([0.01, 0.21]), level II ([0.21, 0.37]), level III ([0.37, 0.47]), level IV ([0.47, 0.63]), and level V ([0.63, 0.82]). When determining the WRCC of each of the 13 observation points, the trend is consistent with both social and economic development, indicating that the evaluation criteria have a high degree of credibility. The main influencing factors of the WRCC also change, between 1999 and 2007, the irrigation coverage, amount of water resources per unit area, and gross domestic product per capita were the main factors, between 2008 and 2014, the agricultural water pollution index, population density, and percentage of industrial wastewater discharge compliant with consent conditions were the main factors. In addition, between 1999 and 2014, the ecological environment gradually became the main subsystem that limits the WRCC.

Temperature dependency of intraguild predation between native and invasive crabs.

Environmental factors such as temperature can affect the geographical distribution of species directly by exceeding physiological tolerances, or indirectly by altering physiological rates that dictate the sign and strength of species interactions. Although the direct effects of environmental conditions are relatively well studied, the effects of environmentally mediated species interactions have garnered less attention. In this study, we examined the temperature dependency of size-structured intraguild predation (IGP) between native blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus, the IG predator) and invasive green crabs (Carcinus maenas, the IG prey) to evaluate how the effect of temperature on competitive and predatory rates may influence the latitudinal distribution of these species. In outdoor mesocosm experiments, we quantified interactions between blue crabs, green crabs, and shared prey (mussels) at three temperatures reflective of those across their range, using two size classes of blue crab. At low temperatures, green crabs had a competitive advantage and IGP by blue crabs on green crabs was low. At high temperatures, size-matched blue and green crabs were competitively similar, large blue crabs had a competitive advantage, and IGP on green crabs was high. We then used parameter values generated from these experiments (temperature- and size-dependent attack rates and handling times) in a size-structured IGP model in which we varied IGP attack rate, maturation rate of the blue crab from the non-predatory to predatory size class, and resource carrying capacity at each of the three temperatures. In the model, green crabs were likely to competitively exclude blue crabs at low temperature, whereas blue crabs were likely to competitively and consumptively exclude green crabs at higher temperatures, particularly when resource productivities and rates of IGP were high. While many factors may play a role in delimiting species ranges, our results suggest that temperature-dependent interactions can influence local coexistence and are worth considering when developing mechanistic species distribution models and evaluating responses to environmental change.

Environmental sustainability control by water resources carrying capacity concept: application significance in Indonesia

This paper reviews the use of Water Resources carrying capacity concept to control environmental sustainability with the particular note for the case in Indonesia. Carrying capacity is a capability measure of an environment or an area to support human and the other lives as well as their activities in a sustainable manner. Recurrently water-related hazards and environmental problems indicate that the environments are exploited over its carrying capacity. Environmental carrying capacity (ECC) assessment includes Land and Water Carrying Capacity analysis of an area, suggested to always refer to the dimension of the related watershed as an incorporated hydrologic unit on the basis of resources availability estimation. Many countries use this measure to forecast the future sustainability of regional development based on water availability. Direct water Resource Carrying Capacity (WRCC) assessment involves population number determination together with their activities could be supported by available water, whereas indirect WRCC assessment comprises the analysis of supply-demand balance status of water. Water resource limits primarily environmental carrying capacity rather than the land resource since land capability constraints are easier. WRCC is a crucial factor known to control land and water resource utilization, particularly in a growing densely populated area. Even though capability of water resources is relatively perpetual, the utilization pattern of these resources may change by socio-economic and cultural technology level of the users, because of which WRCC should be evaluated periodically to maintain usage sustainability of water resource and environment.

Multi-scale research of time and space differences about ecological footprint and ecological carrying capacity of the water resources

A multi-scale assessment framework for assessing and comparing the water resource sustainability based on the ecological footprint (EF) is introduced. The study aims to manage the water resource from different views in Heilongjiang Province. First of all, from the scale of each city, the water ecological carrying capacity (ECC) was calculated from 2000 to 2011, and map the spatial distribution of the recent 3 years which show that, the water ecological carrying capacity (ECC) is uneven and has a downward trend year by year. Then, from the perspective of the five secondary partition basins in Heilongjiang Province, the paper calculated the ecological carrying capacity (ECC), the ecological footprint (EF) and ecological surplus and deficit (S&D) situation of water resources from 2000 to 2011, which show that the ecological deficit situation is more prominent in Nenjiang and Suifenhe basins which are in an unsustainable development state. Finally, from the perspective of the province, the paper calculated the ecological carrying capacity (ECC), the ecological footprint (EF) and ecological S&D of water resources from 2000 to 2011 in Heilongjiang Province, which show that the ecological footprint (EF) is in the rising trend, and the correlation coefficient between the ecological carrying capacity (ECC) and the precipitation is 0.8. There are 5 years of unsustainable development state in Heilongjiang. The proposed multi-scale assessment of WEF aims to evaluate the complex relationship between water resource supply and consumption in different spatial scales and time series. It also provides more reasonable assessment result which can be used by managers and regulators.

Index system of urban resource and environment carrying capacity based on ecological civilization

‘Ecological Civilization’ is a Chinese characteristic concept. It is an important pathway for China to achieve sustainable development and has become a key strategy to address China's serious resource and environmental issues. To solve the disparity between resources and the environment, an index system of urban resource and environment carrying capacity (URECC) based on ecological civilization should be established. This study explored the new connotations of URECC, and constructed an evaluation index system that contains 18 indicators selected from water carrying capacity, land carrying capacity, atmospheric environmental carrying capacity, energy carrying capacity, and environmental carrying capacity of solid waste. The index system fully embodies the supporting and restraining function to resources and environment for human development and reflects the dynamic change of URECC. We used URECC of Tianjin from 2007 to 2015 as a case study. The results reveal that the index system is not only able to reflect the current status of URECC, but also reflects the changes of increment to the original carrying capacity, so that economic and social development can be constrained within URECC. It provides a reference for future research on the carrying capacity index system of the city, and also has important practical significance to guide the sustainable development of the city.

Forewarning Model of Regional Water Resources Carrying Capacity Based on Combination Weights and Entropy Principles

As a new development form for evaluating the regional water resources carrying capacity, forewarning regional water resources of their carrying capacities is an important adjustment and control measure for regional water security management. Up to now, most research on this issue have been qualitative analyses, with a lack of quantitative research. For this reason, an index system for forewarning regional water resources of their carrying capacities and grade standards, has been established in Anhui Province, China, in this paper. Subjective weights of forewarning indices can be calculated using a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process, based on an accelerating genetic algorithm, while objective weights of forewarning indices can be calculated by using a projection pursuit method, based on an accelerating genetic algorithm. These two kinds of weights can be combined into combination weights of forewarning indices, by using the minimum relative information entropy principle. Furthermore, a forewarning model of regional water resources carrying capacity, based on entropy combination weight, is put forward. The model can fully integrate subjective and objective information in the process of forewarning. The results show that the calculation results of the model are reasonable and the method has high adaptability. Therefore, this model is worth studying and popularizing.

Pengelolaan Hutan Bersama Multistakeholder Sebagai Pelaksanaan Corporate Social Responcibility (CSR)

The conversion of protected forest areas into horticultural crops occurs rapidly and massively in the upstream areas. This causes environmental damage, environmental pollution and natural disaster such as landslides and forest fires. With the declining carrying capacity of the forest resources,comprehensive, participatory and sustainable forest management system with a partnership approach, economic development, environmental sustainability and stakeholder involvement is required. Multistakeholder forest management is an alternative to reducethe over forest area functions and the risk of natural disasters. The integrated programs are initiated from the inventory of natural and forest resources, mapping the socio-economic of forest villagers conditions, joint planning of forest area management by involving stakeholders, implementing environmental awareness programs,rehabilitation and conservation on overc ommodities and l ocation. Technical and social assistance, m onitoring and evaluation are done jointly and periodically. All is executed to restore the function of forest area into sustainable forest and disaster alert.

The Analysis of the Water Resource Carrying Capacity in the Shale and Gas Exploration Area, Southwest China Karst Region ‒ A Case Study from Cenggong County

Introduction: As an unconventional natural gas resource, shale gas is the current hot topic in the oil and gas industry. China is rich in shale gas resource, most of which lies in the Southwest Karst Area with its fragile ecological environment. Discussion: The following questions must be studied before exploration thereof: on one hand, shale gas mining requires a lot of water, on the other hand, if the karst region water resources can support shale gas mining over a large area, and if the consequent water/environmental pollution problems will bring more severe challenges to the sustainable development of society and the economy in the southwest karst area, there is a potential conflict requiring a research-based resolution. The water resource carrying capacity is an important measure of the potential sustainable development of a karst region, with its unique geological structure and fragile natural landscape. Therefore, the study of karst water resource carrying capacity is of great significance. Conclusion: This essay is based on Cenggong County, one of the five key shale gas exploration areas in Guizhou at the end of 2012. By calculating the water resource carrying capacity in the studied area with the help of the ecological footprint method, it is concluded that the existing water resources in the studied area can support shale gas exploration. However, shale gas mining will cause a change in the industrial structure within the region. In addition, it has significant effects on the bearing capacity of water resources in the ecological environment.

Evaluation and Prediction of Regional Water Resources Carrying Capacity: A Case Study of Shandong Province

Growing pressure on the world’s water resources is having major impacts on us. In this paper, we discuss on water resources carrying capacity. We have a case study of Shandong Province which is one of the most arid regions in China. Considering the dynamics of water supply and demand, we combine the Falkenmark indicator and the binary dynamics model to establish an evaluation model of regional water resources carrying capacity. According to the result of our model, Shandong Province is heavily exploited. The per capita water resources in Shandong province were less than 300 m3 in the past ten years. The increasing destruction and increasing waste make the situation even worse. Then ARIMA model and BP neural network is combined to propose a prediction model. We use it to predict the supply and demand of water resources in Shandong Province in the next 15 years