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Arid Land Geography ›› 2024, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (4): 599-611.doi: 10.12118/j.issn.1000-6060.2023.222

• Ecology and Environment • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Ecological sensitivity evaluation of the Gansu section of the Yellow River: A case study of Guanghe County

DONG Xiaoyuan(), XU Deze, SHI Xiaobin, DU Sen()   

  1. School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
  • Received:2023-05-15 Revised:2023-06-29 Online:2024-04-25 Published:2024-05-17
  • Contact: DU Sen E-mail:dongxiaoyuan@mail.lzjtu.cn;dusen@mail.lzjtu.cn

Abstract:

To explore the protection theory and method applicable to the ecological environment of the Gansu section of the Yellow River Basin and to solve the contradictory problems of ecological environmental protection and socioeconomic development in the region, we selected evaluation factors suitable for the ecological sensitivity of the Gansu section of the Yellow River Basin. We used hierarchical analysis and GIS spatial analysis to quantitatively evaluate the ecological sensitivity of Guanghe County. We also selected six socioeconomic indexes, such as GDP, per capita GDP, and population density, combined with the coupling degree model and the coupling coordination degree model, to explore the ecological sensitivity of Guanghe County and its coupling coordination relationship. This study shows the following: (1) The distance from the water body, soil erodibility, vegetation coverage, and land use types have a strong impact on the ecological sensitivity of Guanghe County. (2) There is a strong spatial correlation and obvious interdependence between the ecological sensitivity subsystem and the social and economic indicator subsystems, with a high coupling degree. (3) In the study of coupling coordination degree, the ecological sensitivity subsystem is in a coordinated development state with the per capita GDP and mineral resource indicator subsystems, whereas it is in an antagonistic development state with the GDP, population density, industrial indicator, and aquaculture indicator subsystems. This study explores the correlation between ecological sensitivity and social and economic development, providing differentiated development and protection coordination paths for this region and offering a reference for similar regions.

Key words: ecological sensitivity, GIS spatial analysis, coupling and coordination, Gansu section of the Yellow River Basin