A Study of the Coupling Relationship Between Industry–Economy–Population and Habitat Quality in the Kuye River Basin

Abstract

Socio-economic development accelerates the process of urbanization, but the rise in industry, economic growth and population agglomeration destroy biodiversity while promoting social progress, resulting in a decline in habitat quality and an increase in regional differences. Solving the contradiction between the social economy and ecological environment and improving the quality of regional habitats are matters of utmost importance. Based on land use and socio-economic data from 2000 to 2023, this study uses the InVEST model to explore the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of habitat quality in the Kuye River Basin, establishes a comprehensive index system, and uses the entropy method and the coupling coordination degree model to measure the degree of coordinated development. The results show that from 2000 to 2023, the habitat quality of some areas in the Kuye River Basin decreased, the coupling degree of industry, economy, population and habitat quality increased in most counties, and individual areas showed an inverted “U”-type distribution. The overall degree of coupling coordination increased, indicating more coordination. This study draws a blueprint for the development of the Kuye River Basin and provides a scientific basis for ecological governance and civilization construction.

1. Introduction

With the acceleration of social and economic development and urbanization, the rise in industry, the growth of the economy and the agglomeration of population, while promoting social progress, has also caused damage to biodiversity, which has led to the vulnerability of regional ecosystems and the degradation of the ecological environment [1,2,3]. Habitat quality reflects the ability of ecosystems to provide suitable survival and development environments for individuals and populations in specific times and spaces, and it is an important representation of regional biodiversity and ecological service level [4]. Improving habitat quality can provide natural resources and ecological services for industries, promote green economic development and provide a healthy living environment for the population [5]. Therefore, the way in which to achieve both the green development of the social economy and the high-level protection of ecological environment and promote the harmonious coexistence of man and nature has become a crucial issue in ecological protection and restoration.

The Yellow River Basin is an important national ecological security barrier, and its ecosystem plays an important role in social and economic development [6]. In 2021, the national government issued the “Outline of the Yellow River Basin’s Ecological Protection and High-quality Development Plan”, which provided a solid and strong institutional guarantee for the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin [7]. The outline clearly points out that the coordination of ecological environment protection and economic development in the Yellow River Basin is particularly critical. The Kuye River Basin in the middle reaches of the Yellow River is a key area for economic construction and ecological construction. The Kuye River is a primary tributary of the Yellow River, located on the right bank of the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River. The local habitat is harsh, and there is serious soil erosion. It is one of the main sources of coarse sediment in the Yellow River, which seriously affects the ecological security of the basin and the quality of life of people in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River [8]. At the same time, the Kuye River Basin is rich in coal resources. According to statistics, in the early 21st century, the average annual coal mining volume in the Kuye River Basin was as high as 5452 × 104^t, with its coal reserves accounting for 1/4 of the proven reserves at that time. The population continues to gather in the basin, and human disturbance activities such as mineral exploitation and urban construction are frequent, which have a profound impact on the demand for resources, the development of the industry and the carrying capacity of the ecological environment. The relationship between industrial structure, economic development, population change and ecological environment quality has become increasingly close and complex [9]. This phenomenon has attracted much attention from many scholars. LYU explored the impact of coal on water resources in the Kuye River Basin. The study found that a large number of coal mining activities will not only greatly reduce the groundwater level, but also cause river pollution [10]. Liu, based on the Rsei model, discussed the habitat quality of the Kuye River Basin and concluded that human activities were the main reason for the change in habitat quality [11].

However, most previous studies have explored the industrial economy and ecological environment from a single dimension, and there is still a lack of in-depth and systematic research on the specific mechanism and comprehensive impact of the interactions among the industrial economy, population change and ecological environment in the Kuye River Basin. Correctly coordinating the relationship between the economy, industry, population and ecological environment in the Kuye River Basin is of great significance to ensure the sustainability of the basin. The coupling coordination degree model can be used to examine the interaction between different systems and the level of coordinated development and correctly guide the development of the region [12]. In recent years, the coupling coordination degree model has been increasingly applied to the coordinated development of the regional economy and the environment; the relationship between industry, resources and the environment; urban and rural development and other fields [13]. Huang evaluated the level of urbanization in Kazakhstan and analyzed the differences in urbanization in different regions [14]. Ren analyzed the comprehensive levels of economic growth, industrial development and ecological environment systems of 62 prefecture-level cities in the Yellow River Basin from 2012 to 2018 as well as the spatial and temporal differences and driving factors of the coupling coordination degree of the three systems [15]. Sultana applied the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) and the random effects of population, affluence and technology (STIRPAT) structure and used the panel data regression of Asian economies from 1990 to 2019 to explore the impact of economic growth on environmental degradation and the role of innovation in achieving sustainable development [16].

As one of the important tributaries of the Yellow River, the Kuye River Basin plays an important role in ensuring the ecological security of the Yellow River. However, the balance between economic construction and ecological protection in the basin is difficult to grasp, and due to population agglomeration and frequent human disturbance activities, the contradiction between industrial development and ecological carrying capacity is prominent, and many contradictions in the regional socio-economic–ecological environment system still need to be effectively solved. Based on the above realistic background, this study uses the coupling coordination degree model to deeply explore the complex relationship between industry, the economy, population and ecological environment in the Kuye River Basin; analyzes the specific contradictions and root causes of the problems; and tries to seek a scientific and reasonable coordinated development path. It provides a strong theoretical basis and practical strategy to promote the sustainable development of the Kuye River Basin, in order to provide valuable examples and ideas for other regions facing the contradiction between industrial economy and habitat quality, and to promote more regions to achieve coordinated economic and ecological development.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. An Overview of the Research Area

The Kuye River is the first-level tributary from the Yellow River, and its geographical coordinates are 38°22′26″–39°51′18″ N, 109°25′56″–110°48′49″ E. The development of the basin on both sides of the river is symmetrical. The upper reaches are named Wulanmulun River, a typical river in the erosion-prone Loess Plateau. The total river basin area is 8706 km², with a high north-west and low south-east topography and an arid and semi-arid continental climate. The Kuye River Basin is rich in coal resources (Figure 1). The coal industry is a pillar industry. There are many large-scale coal mines and processing enterprises with high output and excellent quality. They play an important role in the national coal market and rely on coal resources to develop power and coal chemical industries. Shenmu’s GDP has grown rapidly since 2004 and reached CNY 234.71 billion in 2023. Since 2000, Fugu has developed rapidly, relying on coal resources, and reached a GDP of CNY 100.208 billion in 2023. The economy of Dongsheng and Ejin horo developed steadily at the beginning of 2000 and then accelerated with the overall rise of Ordos. The total economic volume continued to grow in 2023. The coal industry in Jungar has significant advantages. Kangbashi is an emerging city. The economy is gradually developing. After being slowed down by the impact of the epidemic in 2020, it was upgraded again. The population in the basin is mainly distributed in the valley area and surrounding towns. The population density near the Shenmu coal mine and the coal processing base has increased. The population in Dongsheng gathers in commercial centers and industrial parks. The coal industry agglomeration area in Jungar attracts labor inflows.

2.2. Data Sources and Processing

2.2.1. Data Sources

The 30M-resolution ASTER GDEM digital elevation data in this article comes from the Geospatial Data Cloud platform (https://www.gscloud.cn). The gridded data of population density with a resolution of 1KM and the spatial distribution data of GDP both come from the Resources and Environment Sciences and Data Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (https://www.resdc.cn). The county-level administrative division data comes from the National Geographic Information Resource Catalog Service System (http://www.webmap.cn). The boundary of the Kuye River Basin is extracted by the ArcGIS hydrological analysis module. The social and economic statistical data mainly come from the 2000-2021 China County Statistical Yearbook, the Ordos City Statistical Yearbook, the Yulin City Statistical Yearbook, the statistical yearbooks of various banners and counties in the Kuye River Basin, and related statistical bulletins. Individual missing values are filled by the interpolation method (

Table 1. Data and data sources.

Data	Data Sources
ASTER GDEM digital elevation data	Geospatial Data Cloud Platform (https://www.gscloud.cn)
Population density raster data	Resource and Environment Science and Data Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences (https://www.resdc.cn)
GDP spatial distribution data
Land use data (30 m resolution)
Administrative division data	National Geographic Information Resources Directory Service System (http://www.webmap.cn)
Socio-economic data from 2000 to 2023	The total station survey of Zhongjing data (https://ceidata.cei.cn), China County Statistical Yearbook, Ordos City Statistical Yearbook, Yulin City Statistical Yearbook, National Economic Development and Statistical Bulletin
Mineral data	National Minerals Database (ngac.org.cn)

).

2.2.2. Data Processing

An image showing the population density in the Kuye River Basin was rendered using the software ArcGIS 10.8. Then, the software Aerialod 0.0.2 was used to create a three-dimensional population density distribution map. ArcGIS was used to analyze the spatio-temporal evolution of the habitat quality and GDP in the Kuye River Basin from 2000 to 2023. SPSS PRO was used to calculate the weights of the indicators of the three systems and their coupling coordination with the habitat quality.

2.3. Research Methods

2.3.1. InVEST Model

The INVEST model is scientific and reliable. Having undergone extensive verification and application, it has accumulated rich experience and data support [17]. Based on rigorous ecological principles and scientific methods, it can accurately reflect the actual situation of habitat quality. At the same time, the model is comprehensive and can integrate various ecological factors such as habitat types, land use, and threat factors [18]. For the complex ecosystem of the Kuye River Basin, it can more comprehensively grasp the habitat quality and provide abundant information for in-depth research.

Stress factors have different levels of influence for different land types; to assess the study area’s annual distribution and changes in habitat quality, we used the habitat quality indicator [19]. The indicator ranges from 0 to 1, with higher values representing better habitat quality. The software InVEST 3.13 was used to assess the spatio-temporal evolution of habitat quality in the Kuye River Basin during the 2000–2023 period, and by taking into account the potential threats to land use and biodiversity in the process, a visualization of the habitat quality was produced. The formula is as follows:

$$Q_{xj}=H_j\times \left[1-\left({\displaystyle \frac{D_{xj}^z}{D_{xj}^z+k^z}}\right)\right],$$

(1)

where $Q_{xj}$ represents raster $x$ habitat quality; $H_j$ refers to habitat suitability; k refers to constant and $z$ refers to model default parameters in the land use types [20].

$$D_{xj}={\sum }_{r=1}^R{\sum }_{y=1}^{Y_r}\left({\displaystyle \frac{w_r}{{\sum }_{r=1}^R{w}_r}}\right)\times r_y\times i_{rxy}\times {\beta }_x\times S_{jr},$$

(2)

In the formula, $R$ represents stress factors, $y$ refers to the number of raster cells in the threat factor $r$ raster layer and $Y_r$ indicates the number of raster cells occupied by the threat factor. Normalization threat factors’ weight range is 0~1; raster $y$ represents the level of threat of this raster; represents the distance between threat factors $r$ raster and habitat raster $x$; represents the level of protection of habitat $x$;${ D}_{xj}$ represents, in land use types, the $j$ unit of the raster $x$ habitat degeneracy; represents the habitat type $j$ sensitivity to threat factor $r$ [21].

2.3.2. Entropy Method

The entropy weight method is an objective weighting method. It determines the weight of indexes according to the data information and avoids human subjective bias [22]. In the coupling study of industry, the economy, population and ecological quality, the entropy weight method can objectively determine the weight of each factor according to the actual distribution of data and improve the reliability of research results.

The raw data are first normalized using the min–max method to eliminate the difference in dimensions. Suppose there are $m$ evaluation objects and $n$ evaluation indicators. The original data matrix is $X={\left\{x_{ij}\right\}}_{m\times n}$. For positive indicators (the larger the indicator value, the better), the following equation can be used:

$$y_{ij}={\displaystyle \frac{x_{ij}-min\left\{x_{1j},x_{2j},\cdots ,x_{mj}\right\}}{max\left\{x_{1j},x_{2j},\cdots ,x_{mj}\right\}-min\left\{x_{1j},x_{2j},\cdots ,x_{mj}\right\}}},$$

(3)

For negative indicators (the smaller the indicator value, the better), the following equation can be used:

$$y_{ij}={\displaystyle \frac{max\left\{x_{1j},x_{2j},\cdots ,x_{mj}\right\}-x_{ij}}{max\left\{x_{1j},x_{2j},\cdots ,x_{mj}\right\}-min\left\{x_{1j},x_{2j},\cdots ,x_{mj}\right\}}},$$

(4)

The standardized data matrix is $Y={\left\{y_{ij}\right\}}_{m\times n}$.

At the same time, in order to ensure the objectivity of the empowerment, the entropy method is used to ensure the weights of the indicators and the final score; when $P_{ij}=0$, $\underset{p_{\mathit{ij}}\to 0}{\lim }{P}_{ij}\ln P_{ij}$ = 0. The formulas are as follows:

$$P_{ij}=z_{ij}/{\sum }_{i=1}^m{z}_{ij},$$

(5)

$$e_j=-k{\sum }_{i=1}^m{p}_{ij}\ln \left(p_{ij}\right),$$

(6)

$$k={\displaystyle \frac{1}{\mathit{ln}\left(m\right)}},$$

(7)

$$d_j=1-e_j,$$

(8)

$$W_j={\displaystyle \frac{d_{ij}}{{\sum }_{j=1}^n{d}_j}},$$

(9)

where $W_j$ is the $j$ weight obtained using the entropy method [23].

2.3.3. Coupling Coordination Degree Model

According to relevant research [23,24], the coupling coordination degree model can comprehensively take into account the relationships among multiple systems such as industry, the economy, population and ecological quality. It has the advantages of being quantifiable, dynamic, goal-oriented and practical and can provide analysis tools and decision support for regional sustainable development. This model is used to analyze the coordinated development level of elements with two assessment scopes: coupling degree and coupling coordination degree [24]. The coupling degree reflects the interaction among multiple systems, while coordinated development reflects the dynamic correlation of the interaction and mutual constraints among the systems.

To scientifically determine the correlation between industry, the economy, population and habitat quality from the coupling degree perspective, the coordination of the four is calculated as follows:

$$C=\sqrt[4]{\frac{U_1{U}_2{U}_3{U}_4}{{\left(\frac{U_1+U_2+U_3+U_4}{4}\right)}^4}}=\frac{4\sqrt[4]{U_1{U}_2{U}_3{U}_4}}{U_1+U_2+U_3+U_4},$$

(10)

$$U_j={\sum }_{i=1}^n{w}_i{X}_i,\left(j=\mathrm{1,2},\mathrm{3,4}\right),$$

(11)

In the formula, $U_1$ refers to the comprehensive evaluation score for the development level of the industrial subsystem, $U_2$ refers to the comprehensive evaluation score for the development level of the economic subsystem, $U_3$ refers to the comprehensive evaluation score for the development level of the population subsystem, and $U_4$ refers to the comprehensive evaluation score for the development level of the habitat quality subsystem. $w_{i }$ is the $i$ th index weight; $X_i$ is the standardized data of the $i$ th index. The range of coupling degree C is [0, 1]; the larger the value of C, the less discrete the subsystems are and the higher the coupling degree.

Since the coupling degree can only reflect the degree of mutual influence and role between the subsystems, it does not reflect the level of their development; for example, the four subsystems could have a low degree of coupling, but also a high level of development. In this article, the coordination degree model is used to test the coupling relationship between industry, economy, population and environmental quality more accurately using the following formula:

$$D=\sqrt{C\times T},$$

(12)

$$T=a{U}_1+b{U}_2+c{U}_3+d{U}_4,$$

(13)

In the formula, $D$ represents the coupling coordination degree, $T$ is the assessment indicator and $a$, $b$, $c$ and $d$ are undetermined parameters such that $a+b+c+d=1$. Considering the equal importance of industry, economy, population and habitat quality, it was decided that $a$, $b$ and $d$ would be set at 1/4. According to the related research criteria for classifying the coupling coordination degree and the magnitude of coupling coordination, the criteria for judging the degree of coupling coordination of the four systems of industry, economy, population and habitat quality in the Kuye River Basin are defined in

Table 2. Criteria of grading coupling coordination.

Coupling Coordination Degree Interval	Rank of Harmony Degree	Coupling Coordination Degree	Coupling Coordination Degree Interval	Rank of Harmony Degree	Coupling Coordination Degree
[0.0~0.1)	1	extreme disorder	[0.5~0.6)	6	reluctant coordination
[0.1~0.2)	2	serious imbalance	[0.6~0.7)	7	primary coordination
[0.2~0.3)	3	moderate imbalance	[0.7~0.8)	8	intermediate coordination
[0.3~0.4)	4	mild disorders	[0.8~0.9)	9	good coordination
[0.4~0.5)	5	on the verge of disorder	[0.9~1.0]	10	better coordination

.

2.3.4. The Construction of a Comprehensive Evaluation Indicator System

There is a close and complex relationship between industrial, economic and population indicators and ecological environment quality indicators. This can be studied by analyzing the input and output of the three industries, exploring the degree of industrial interdependence and providing a basis for optimizing the industrial structure and promoting industrial synergy. Economic progress is accompanied by the upgrading and transformation of industrial structure [25]. The dynamics of the three industries is observed, the trend of industrial upgrading and transformation is grasped and guidance for industrial policy and development strategy formulation is provided [26]. The three industrial structure changes reflect the stage of economic development [27]. GDP is a measure of the sum of the market value of all final products and services produced by a region in a specific period, covering all areas of economic activity [28]. Through GDP data, the government, enterprises and investors can have a clear understanding of the overall economic scale. Fiscal balance is one of the important indicators to measure the sustainability of economic development. As population indicators, total population and population density can reflect the population status and development trends of a region from different angles and provide an important reference for government decision making, social planning and economic research [29]. The total population intuitively shows the size of a region’s population, which is crucial for understanding the region’s comprehensive strength, market potential and the degree of demand for various resources. Population density reflects the number of people per unit area in a region and is an important indicator to measure the distribution of population. Through population density, we can understand the concentration and dispersion of population in different regions, which is of great significance to urban planning, land use and resource allocation [30]. Population density can reflect the degree of pressure on various resources in a region. By analyzing the relationship between population density and resources, we can formulate reasonable resource management policies, improve resource utilization efficiency and achieve sustainable development. Population density also has an important impact on the type and distribution of economic activities [31].

According to the features and findings in the relevant literature on the Kuye River Basin, with the principles of comprehensiveness, hierarchy and feasibility and the combination of universality and specificity, the assessment indicator system of industry, economy and population is constructed as shown in

Table 3. Assessment indicator system of industry, economy and population in Kuye River Basin.

First-Grade Indicator	Second-Grade Indicator	Units	Properties	Weight
Industry	Value added of primary sector output	Million yuan	plus	0.0874
	Value added of secondary sector	Million yuan	plus	0.1091
	Value added of tertiary sector	Million yuan	plus	0.0938
	>Number of enterprises above scales	>Unit	>plus	>0.0589
Economy	Regional GDP	Million yuan	plus	0.0906
	Industry’s output	Million yuan	plus	0.1277
	General financial expenditure	Million yuan	plus	0.0997
	General financial revenue	Million yuan	plus	0.0924
	Retail sales of consumer goods	Million yuan	plus	0.1287
	Per capita disposable income of urban residents	Yuan	plus	0.0583
Population	Population density	People/km2	minus	0.036
	Population at end of year	Ten thousand people	minus	0.0169
Habitat quality			plus	0.0005

. Figure 2 is the flowchart of this research.

3. Results

3.1. The Industrial Structure Evolution in the Kuye River Basin

As Figure 3 shows, Kuye River Basin industries mainly belong to the secondary sector, with the primary sector growing slowly and being smaller in number, while the secondary and tertiary sectors present the opposite trend. The main reason is that the industrial activities driven by large-scale coal mining are very active; to a large extent, this has enhanced the contribution to the secondary sector, tertiary sector and regional GDP growth. According to the industrial structure of each county, Dongsheng adds relatively low value to the primary sector, while the secondary sector occupies an important position with high value added. The coal-based energy industry is booming, and modern coal mining technology and efficient production processes ensure a stable supply of energy. In the energy industry, related equipment manufacturing, the chemical industry and other industries are also gradually booming and have formed a complete industrial chain. These industrial enterprises have not only created a large number of local jobs, but have also provided a strong impetus for economic growth. The mining and manufacturing sectors are also major contributors to the economic growth of Dongsheng. The whole figure shows that the tertiary sector has the highest proportion, followed by the secondary sector and, finally, the primary sector; meanwhile, it also shows the importance of industry in economic growth.

In Kangbashi, the tertiary sector accounted for the largest proportion of the economy and has great advantages which are a major force for regional economic development. In the 13th five-year plan for the continual optimization of the industrial structure, primary and secondary sectors’ proportions were declining, while the tertiary sector had the opposite trend. In the headquarters’ economy, the financial industry, cultural and tourism industry, trade and logistics industry and the developing health care industry were the key development directions to build the headquarters economy, digital economy and pastoral economy. The secondary sector showed little development. There were some private industrial enterprises which had an output and contributed to the industry, but compared with the tertiary sector, their scale and influence were smaller. Due to the city’s functional position and geographic conditions in Kangbashi, the primary sector’s proportion was almost zero. As a new development urban area, Kangbashi mainly focused on urban construction and service industry development in which the role of the primary sector was limited. In 2023, the ratio of the three industries was 0:10.2:89.8.

In the 2000–2007 period, Ejin horo was mainly driven by the primary sector, and there was some agricultural development, including the cultivation of crops such as maize and potatoes. Livestock farming mainly involved cattle and sheep. Until 2007, the secondary sector’s proportion amounted to 51.1%, which surpassed the primary and tertiary sectors and became the leading industry in the country. This evolution showed the traditional economic structure in Ejin horo wan changing to the modern economic structure. It is the third largest coal-producing county and one of the country’s important strategic energy bases in China. With numerous modern coal mines, coal mining and washing occupies an important place in the industry.

In 2000, Jungar was in the early stages of economic development, and the industrial structure is single. The coal industry was an important pillar with a leading status in the industry; the primary sector still had some proportion in the economy, of which the main part was agriculture and animal husbandry, and the tertiary sector’s development was lagging. In 2010, the industrial structure of Jungar underwent a significant change. The coal industry was further strengthened, coal mining and washing technology was upgraded and the industrial chain was extended to a certain extent. The tertiary sector had some development, transportation, logistics and other industries that were beginning to boom, but commercial services were more prosperous. However, overall, the secondary sector, especially the coal industry, was still the main support for the economy, and the industrial structure still showed a more obvious resource-based character. In 2023, the industrial structure of Jungar underwent continual optimization, developing and expanding the fruit and vegetable industry, and the animal husbandry industry also showed stable development. The coal industry, as a traditionally advantageous industry, still maintained an important position in this period; the modern service industry had better growth, logistics and transportation, finance and trade, culture and tourism and so on.

Shenmu has rich coal resources, and the coal mining and washing industry is its important pillar industry; many modern coal mines provide a strong impetus for economic development, and raw coal production is highly correlated with the advancement of urbanization and the improvement of the living standards of the residents. In addition to coal and related industries, there is also the production of power generation, cement, calcium carbide, ferroalloys, plastics in primary forms, refined methanol, flat glass, magnesium metal and other industrial products, which, together, support the development of the secondary industry. The tertiary industry is also gradually becoming a new growth point in Shenmu due to the demand for industrial development as well as its geographical location as an important node in the region, and the transportation industry is more developed with a number of highways and railroads, which play an important role in supporting the regional economic development and facilitate the transportation of coal and other resources as well as economic exchanges with the outside world. The primary industry accounts for a relatively small proportion.

Fugu’s main industry was the secondary industry, supplemented by the primary and tertiary industries. Fugu had rich coal resources, which is the pillar industry. The coal mining and washing industry was developed, and the many modern coal mines provided a strong motivation for local economic development. The circular economy chain of coal-to-electricity-to-coal-to-magnesium-to-aluminum and magnesium alloy using the production of burning semi-coke to use for heating in magnesium smelting and abundant local ferrosilicon resources, as well as the cooperation of magnesium transportation with its neighbor Shanxi, with its low cost, offered advantages to develop rapidly, making it an important national magnesium production base. In recent years, the tertiary sector has been developing rapidly; to support development as an important hub for the country’s west-to-east coal transportation, west-to-east power transmission and west-to-east gas transmission, the transportation industry has developed and plays an important role in supporting regional economic development.

This study used the habitat quality indicator score (0–1), which states habitat quality conditions; the larger the score, the better the habitat quality, the more complete the biodiversity and the more stable the ecosystem constitution. To deeply research the interaction between human activity and the evolution of land use as well as the ecological quality, a fine analysis needs to be conducted. This study used equidistant interpolation to divide the habitat quality of the Kuye River Basin into five grades (Figure 4): lower (0~0.20), low (0.20~0.40), medium (0.40~0.60), high (0.60~0.80) and higher (0.80~1.00).

During the 2000–2023 period, due to human factors such as coal resource development, agricultural activities, and urbanization, the area of low-habitat quality regions in the Kuye River Basin increased. Coal mining destroys surface vegetation and soil structure, causes land subsidence and destroys biological habitats. Its wastewater discharge pollutes water quality, changes the chemical properties of river water and affects the balance of aquatic ecosystems. Excessive reclamation reduces vegetation coverage and increases soil erosion. Urban expansion destroys vegetation and land and reduces urban ecological functions and habitat quality. Urban sewage discharge and garbage disposal pollute the surrounding ecological environment. Population growth brings huge resource demands, reduces river runoff and ultimately affects the ecological environment of the basin, resulting in poor habitat quality.

From spatial distribution, the low grade of habitat quality is mainly located in the central region of the unutilized and construction land, and with the patch area and concentration degree expanding year by year, during the research period, the area showed a changing trend. The northwest, south-central zone is the key study area for medium-grade habitat quality. Overall, the area of high-grade habitat quality is larger than that of low-grade habitat quality, but with the passage of time, some areas show a significant downward trend.

3.2. The Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Industry, Economy and Population in the Kuye River Basin

3.2.1. Economic Development in the Kuye River Basin

As Figure 5 and Figure 6 show, in the 2000–2023 period, the economy in the Kuye River Basin showed a significant growth trend. In the process of economic development, Dongsheng focused on scientific and technological innovation and fostering talent. The GDP increased from CNY 3.581 billion in 2000 to CNY 103.051 billion in 2023. Dongsheng increased technology research and development investment and encouraged enterprises to innovate technology that enhances the product’s added value and market competition while positively introducing and fostering talent that provides intellectual support for economic development. Through the construction of science and technology parks, business incubation bases and other platforms, a conducive environment was created for innovation and entrepreneurship. Ejin horo’s GDP increased from CNY 1.573 billion in 2000 to CNY 122.090 billion in 2023; the traditional coal industry is continuing to develop. Meanwhile, new energy, new materials and other strategic emerging industries are positively being developed. For example, the zero-carbon industry chain cluster of wind and hydrogen storage vehicles was formed, including batteries and energy storage, photovoltaic and wind power, hydrogen fuel cell and green hydrogen equipment manufacturing, and new energy heavy truck manufacturing. Jungar’s GDP increased from CNY 2.684 billion in 2000 to CNY 140,026 billion in 2023; Fugu’s GDP increased from CNY 870 million in 2000 to CNY 100.208 billion in 2023, and Shenmu’s GDP increased from CNY 2.271 billion in 2000 to CNY 234.710 billion in 2023. This means the region’s economic output and economic activity scale is expanding.

Due to spatial distribution, the counties in the Kuye River Basin had different and unbalanced economic development. The center of the research area was Dongsheng and Kangbashi, expanding to surrounding areas which promote regional economic development. The center shows a steady growth trend, and the south shows rapid growth, with significant growth being seen between 2015 and 2023. With the development of urbanization and industrialization, the region’s economic aggregate, industrial structure and people’s living standards have significantly improved.

3.2.2. Spatio-Temporal Population Evolution in the Kuye River Basin

As Figure 7 and Figure 8 show, in the past 23 years, the population and population urbanization of each county in the Kuye River Basin showed an increasing trend. In the 2000–2023 period, Dongsheng’s population increased from 190 to 585.2 thousand, and the population density increased from 88.91 to 232.45 people/km²; Ejin horo’s population increased from 140 to 256.1 thousand; Jungar’s population increased from 270 to 365.4 thousand; Fugu’s population increased from 210 to 255.2 thousand; and Shenmu’s population increased from 350 to 579.8 thousand, and the population density increased from 45 to 75.94 people/km². In this study, population distribution shows significant geographic differences and temporal variations, with the population gradually concentrating in Dongsheng, Kangbashi, Shenmu and other districts. With the development of the basin’s economy, industrial restructuring and accelerated urbanization, the increasing number of people moving into cities has led to an increase in urban population density.

3.3. The Coupling Relationship of Industry–Economy–Population

3.3.1. The Coupling Degree Between Industry–Economy–Population and Habitat Quality

As Figure 9 shows, the coupling degree of industry–economy–population and the habitat quality of most of the county during the study increased, and several factors showed the opposite trend; the shape of the distribution is a ”turning U”. The coupling degree of Ejin horo, Jungar and Fugu, respectively, increased from 0.18, 0.24 and 0.16 to 0.86, 0.93 and 0.75, indicating that the interactions between industry, economy and population and habitat quality in these three counties are becoming more and more closely related. The coupling degree of Dongsheng increased from 0.28 to 0.77 between 2000 and 2010 and decreased from 0.77 to 0.60 between 2010 and 2023. The coupling degree of Shenmu increased from 0.29 to 0.90 between 2000 and 2015 and decreased from 0.90 to 0.75 between 2015 and 2023. The coupling degree of Kangbashi between 2015 and 2023 decreased from 0.69 to 0.60. This indicates that the diversification in the industrial structure, rapid economic development and population growth in Dongsheng, Kangbashi and Shenmu have also become more complex and diversified in their impacts on the quality of habitats, which leads to a decrease in the coupling degree.

3.3.2. The Coupling Coordination Degree Between Industry–Economy–Population and Habitat Quality

As Figure 10 and

Table 4. The coupling coordination degree between industry–economy–population and habitat quality in the Kuye River Basin in the 2000–2023 period.

Year	Dongsheng	Ejin Horo	Jungar	Fugu	Shenmu	Kangbashi
2000	serious imbalance	extreme disorder	extreme disorder	extreme disorder	serious imbalance
2005	moderate imbalance	serious imbalance	moderate imbalance	serious imbalance	moderate imbalance
2010	on the verge of disorder	mild disorders	on the verge of disorder	mild disorders	on the verge of disorder
2015	reluctant coordination	on the verge of disorder	reluctant coordination	on the verge of disorder	reluctant coordination	reluctant coordination
2020	reluctant coordination	on the verge of disorder	reluctant coordination	reluctant coordination	intermediate coordination	reluctant coordination
2023	primary coordination	primary coordination	primary coordination	reluctant coordination	good coordination	primary coordination

show, in order to clarify the development statuses of the three systems of “industry–economy–population” and habitat quality over time in each county of the Kuye River Basin, the indicators of the “industry–economy–population” systems in the basin from 2000 to 2023 were measured, and the coupling coordination degree (D) between them and the habitat quality was obtained.

From 2000 to 2023, the degree of coupling and coordination (D) between the three systems of “industry–economy–population” and the habitat quality in each county of the Kuye River Basin showed an upward trend. In 2000, the degree of coupling and coordination between the three systems of “industry–economy–population” and habitat quality in each county mainly demonstrated extreme imbalance and serious imbalance. In 2015, the degree of coordination increased significantly, and the degree of coordination was on the verge of imbalance and reluctant coordination. In 2023, the coordination degree of Shenmu increased significantly, and the coordination degree reached good coordination. The other counties reached the levels of primary coordination and barely coordinated. This shows that in the development process of each county in the Kuye River Basin, the three systems of “industry–economy–population” gradually tend to be rationalized, and the three systems are more coordinated with habitat quality. Specifically, the coupling coordination degree between “industry–economy–population” and habitat quality in the Kuye River Basin during the study period can be divided into two stages as follows.

The first stage is the 2000–2015 period, which is a rapidly rising stage, and the coordination degree rose from extreme imbalance and serious imbalance in 2000 to near imbalance and reluctant coordination. The D value of Dongsheng’s coupling coordination degree increased from 0.12 to 0.60, the D value of Jungar increased from 0.09 to 0.58 and the D value of Shenmu increased from 0.1 to 0.55. At this stage, the reasonable industry structure motivated economy growth, economy growth motivated population, and habitat quality increased again. Moreover, the increases in population and habitat quality motivated the development of basin industries and economic growth. This coupling development not only rapidly achieved an economy increase, but also ensured the sustainable development of the population and the habitat quality.

The second stage is from 2015 to 2023. This stage is a steady upward stage. Shenmu achieved good coordination, and the coupling coordination degree (D) value rose from 0.55 to 0.83. Dongsheng, Kangbashi, EijinHoro and Jungar all achieved primary coordination, and the coupling coordination degree (D) values reached 0.62, 0.62, 0.65 and 0.68, respectively. Fugu’s value also rose to a barely coordinated degree. This means that the study area positively promoted industrial transformation and upgrading and developed high-tech industries while focusing on environmental protection and habitat quality improvement. While the economy increased rapidly, the population of the area rose steadily, and the habitat was also improved.

4. Discussion

4.1. A Discussion on the Coordinated Development of Industry, Economy, Population and Habitat Quality

This study mainly discusses the coordinated development level of habitat quality from the perspective of human factors such as industry, economy and population in the Kuye River Basin from 2000 to 2023. Over the past 23 years, human factors have profoundly affected the ecological environment of the basin. Industrial expansion and optimization, economic restructuring, population growth and distribution changes have become key indicators for assessing habitat quality. The coordination degree of the Kuye River Basin has changed from imbalance to coordination. The rationalization of the industrial structure of the basin has provided impetus for economic growth. Economic development has promoted the optimization of the industrial structure and provided financial and technical support for the improvement of the ecological environment quality of the basin. The proportion of the tertiary industry has increased, while the proportion of some industries with high pollution and high energy consumption has declined. The direct impact of the tertiary industry on the environment is relatively small, which promotes the improvement of habitat quality. Population growth is often accompanied by increased economic activity. Domestic sewage and agricultural and industrial sewage are discharged into the basin without effective treatment, which will lead to problems such as river water quality decline and lake eutrophication [32]. When discussing the relationship between economic development and environmental protection, it is generally recognized that the balance between short-term development and long-term interests is crucial. Although in the short term, economic growth may lead to the overexploitation of resources and environmental pollution, in the long run, reasonable economic development strategies can promote the improvement in the ecological environment and the improvement in ecological service functions [33].

4.2. A New Exploration of the Coordinated Development of Industry, Economy, Population and Habitat Quality

Some articles have explored the impact of economic development on environmental sustainability in emerging economies [34]. By implementing sustainable development strategies, improving resource utilization efficiency, and promoting green technologies and clean energy, a win–win situation between economic benefits and environmental quality can be achieved. This study fully considers the unique impact of policy and institutional factors on the relationship between economic growth and environmental degradation, which is different from most previous studies. Previous studies often ignore the important influence of policy environment, environmental regulations and industrial policies on economic growth and environmental quality in different countries and regions. This study deeply analyzes the key roles of these factors in the coordinated development of industry, economy and ecological environment in the Kuye River Basin and provides a new perspective for a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between economic growth and environmental degradation. This study is consistent with previous research on regional development in spatial economics. Similarly, by constructing a comprehensive evaluation index system of high-quality economic development, fully considering various factors such as the economy, society and environment, this study provides a more comprehensive index system and analysis method for research in this field and further enriches and expands the results of previous research in this area.

Population size and structure have a direct impact on sustained economic growth. Some studies have consistently explored the relationship between population size and growth and environmental integrity, human prosperity and well-being and climate change, and they have also emphasized the potential benefits of population decline for the environment and human health [35]. An appropriate population size helps to reduce resource consumption and environmental pollution while creating more opportunities for employment and promoting socio-economic activities. Demographic changes, such as an aging population, require corresponding policy adjustments to ensure the stability of the labor market and economic vitality. In addition, the problems of living space demand, traffic pressure and energy consumption caused by the acceleration of urbanization need to be solved by optimizing urban planning and infrastructure construction so as to reduce the pressure on the environment and promote the development of green cities [36]. Previous studies and this study have shown that densely populated areas usually face more serious environmental problems, such as traffic congestion, garbage disposal difficulties, air pollution and so on [37].

Investment in environmental protection is not only a necessary condition for economic development, but also a key factor in achieving high-quality development. Increasing investment in environmental protection can not only reduce pollution emissions and protect natural resources, but also promote the development and application of new technologies and promote the upgrading and transformation of industrial structure. This investment not only contributes to the steady growth of the current economy, but also lays a solid foundation for future sustainable development. Therefore, while pursuing economic growth, environmental protection must be incorporated into strategic planning to achieve a harmonious coexistence between the economy and the environment. This study combines the relevant theories and methods of economics and ecology to explore the design-driven regional industrial transformation and upgrading path under the background of sustainable transformation [38]. However, different from previous studies, this study is not limited to the combination of relevant theories and methods of economics and ecology to explore the design-driven regional industrial transformation and upgrading path under the background of sustainable transformation [39]. This study conducts a more in-depth assessment of the actual situation of the Kuye River Basin by considering the coordinated development of industry, economy population and other human factors and ecological environment quality, and through a specific case analysis and policy recommendations, it provides a more targeted and practical new path for regional industrial transformation and upgrading [40].

4.3. Suggestions and Policies

During the study period, the habitat quality and economic industry development level of each county in the Kuye River Basin showed obvious spatial differentiation characteristics. Although the coupling coordination degree of industry–economy–population and habitat quality in the basin developed well, the relationship between them still did not reach a perfect coordination state, and the realization degree of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature did not reach the ideal level. In order to promote and optimize the sustainable development and ecological environment improvement of the Kuye River Basin, the following suggestions are put forward.

4.3.1. Partition Classification Policy According to Local Conditions

In view of the current situation and characteristics of ecosystem services in the Kuye River Basin, it is necessary to adopt a partition classification policy according to local conditions to promote the improvement of ecosystem services. In view of the obvious difference in habitat quality between the north and the south, in the northern region, we should focus on strengthening ecological protection measures, increase the maintenance of the ecosystem and ensure the stability and improvement of habitat quality; in the southern high habitat quality area, the optimization of the ecosystem should be further deepened to maintain and expand its ecological advantages. This study concluded that the low-value areas of habitat quality were mostly concentrated in the coal mine distribution areas and urban areas in the middle of the study area (Figure 1). The population in these areas was more concentrated, and the habitat quality index score was less than 0.4. In this regard, in the concentrated area of coal mine distribution, detailed rules and regulations for coal mining should be formulated, such as setting specific goals and assessment indicators to actively promote the green mining model, increasing investment in ecological restoration projects and forming a special team to strengthen environmental protection supervision and management. In the urban area, it is necessary to formulate a detailed urban construction planning plan, clarify the division of functional areas, set phased urban greening goals, introduce specific pollution control action plans, establish an incentive mechanism for resource recycling, strengthen the environmental assessment of urban construction projects and actively promote the development of green transportation.

4.3.2. Promote Green Development

During the study period, the industry–economy–population of the Kuye River Basin showed a significant upward trend. While adopting a comprehensive policy of industrial optimization and upgrading, sustainable economic development and the integration of reasonable population guidance and protection, the improvement of the environment should also be considered as an important factor to vigorously promote green development. In terms of industry, this study concludes that the region is mainly dominated by the secondary industry, mining and manufacturing. The development of the primary industry is relatively slow and small, and the tertiary industry has benefited from large-scale coal mining. The industrial activities driven by mining have shown a rapid growth trend. We suggest that we should continue to promote the innovation of the secondary industry, increase investment in technology research and development to enhance the competitiveness and added value of the mining industry and manufacturing industry, and increase support for the primary industry and actively cultivate new formats of the tertiary industry. In the process of developing the industry, we should pay attention to the use of environmental protection technology and processes, reduce pollution and damage to the environment and promote the coordination of industrial development and environmental protection. In terms of the economy, the GDP values of Dongsheng, Ejin horo, Jungar, Fugu, Shenmu and other places have increased significantly during the study period. We should encourage the development of energy-saving and environmental protection industries and clean energy industries, reduce the dependence of economic development on traditional high-polluting energy, strengthen regional economic cooperation and focus on development quality and promote a green and circular economy. In terms of population, in the process of urbanization construction, it is necessary to rationally plan the urban layout, increase the urban greening area, improve the environmental quality and create a livable environment to attract more people. The above policies can promote the rational industrial structure, economic prosperity and population and development coordination in the region and achieve continuous improvement in environmental quality.

4.3.3. Promoting the Deep Integration of Industry–Economy–Population and Habitat Quality on the Premise of Ecological Protection

In view of the overall upward trend in the coupling degree between industry–economy–population and habitat quality in the Kuye River Basin, firstly, in view of the unique correlation between industrial development and habitat quality in the Kuye River Basin, taking into account the supporting role of the Kuye River’s abundant water resources to the industry and the possible impact of industrial activities on the river ecology, we should strive to balance the relationship between industrial development and environmental protection, promote the green and intelligent transformation of the industry, strengthen the ecological planning and construction of industrial parks (especially mining areas) related to the Kuye River, improve the recycling efficiency of water resources and other resources and rationally arrange the industrial layout and ecological space layout. We should also strictly control the environmental access standards of industrial projects, effectively reduce the negative impact of industrial development on the habitat quality of the Kuye River and jointly promote industrial prosperity and good river ecology [41]. Secondly, in view of the mutual influence between economic growth and habitat quality in the Kuye River Basin, in the process of economic development, special factors such as the ecological carrying capacity of the Kuye River Basin should be fully considered. By formulating scientific economic development strategies and ecological protection plans that are in line with the characteristics of the Kuye River Basin, the support for environmental protection industries and green economy should be increased. While promoting sustained economic growth, the habitat quality of the Kuye River Basin should be improved, and the coordinated development of the two in the basin should be gradually realized. Thirdly, in view of the dynamic changes in population flow and habitat quality in the Kuye River Basin, it is necessary to strengthen the construction of the ecological infrastructure for the Kuye River Basin on the basis of guiding the rational distribution of population. According to the differences in population density and the ecological needs of the Kuye River in different regions, differentiated ecological construction investment should be carried out to enhance the carrying capacity of the ecosystem to population activities. At the same time, the protection and management of ecologically fragile areas in the Kuye River Basin should be strengthened to promote the coordinated adaptation of population and the ecology of the Kuye River and to promote the industry–economy–population and the habitat quality of the Kuye River Basin from initial coupling to deep integration. Scientific planning and management should be carried out to achieve harmony between humans and nature in the Kuye River Basin.

4.4. The Limitations of This Study and Future Prospects

In the process of exploring the interaction of complex systems, one of the challenges is how to accurately capture and quantify the dynamic relationships between different fields. In this study, although we spatially processed population data, we only considered several key factors due to limited data collection and analysis capabilities, which may lead to certain deviations in the description of population distribution. In order to make up for this deficiency, we tried to provide a macro perspective by constructing a spatial distribution map of the basin’s GDP. Although we did not obtain specific data for 2023, these maps still reveal the distribution characteristics of economic activities in a geographical space. The spatialization of socio-economic data is a multi-dimensional and multi-level process, which is of great significance for understanding regional development, resource allocation and policy formulation. However, the problems encountered in the process of practice cannot be ignored. The design of the index system is often too simplified to fully reflect the complex interaction between industry, economy, population and the ecological environment system. In addition, our research on the internal mechanism of the interaction between the systems in the Kuye River Basin, such as how industrial activities affect the economic structure, population distribution, and habitat quality and ecosystem services, is still at the surface level and lacks in-depth analysis. Future research should pay more attention to interdisciplinary integration and adopt more sophisticated data collection methods and analysis techniques to more fully understand and predict the dynamic changes in these systems. At the same time, the development of models that can comprehensively consider various influencing factors will help to improve our understanding of complex system behavior and provide a scientific basis for relevant policy formulation and environmental management.

5. Conclusions

The InVEST model was used to reveal the temporal and spatial variation characteristics of habitat quality in the Kuye River Basin from 2000 to 2023. The comprehensive evaluation index system of industry, economy, population and habitat quality was established, and the weight of each index was calculated using the entropy method. The ArcGIS and Aerialod software were used to analyze the spatial and temporal distributions of population and GDP in the basin, and the coupling coordination degree model was used to explore the coordinated development degree between “industry–economy–population” and habitat quality. The research results have practical guiding significance and can play scientific and technological roles in the comprehensive management of the ecological environment of the Kuye River Basin, a strategic place to ensure national energy security and an important ecological barrier in Northern China.

The results show that, from 2000 to 2023, the Kuye River Basin was dominated by areas with medium- and high-quality habitat areas. The low-grade habitat quality areas are mainly distributed in the central and northeastern mining areas and construction land areas. The northwest and south-central regions are the key research areas of medium habitat quality. The overall habitat quality has improved, and some areas show a downward trend. The Kuye River Basin is mainly dominated by the secondary industry. The growth rate of the primary industry is relatively slow, and it is small. The secondary and tertiary industries are faster and larger. This is mainly due to a series of industrial activities driven by large-scale mining being very active, which greatly promotes the development of the secondary industry and promotes the growth of the tertiary industry and regional GDP. The economic development of the basin shows a significant growth trend. The northern part expands to the surrounding areas with Dongsheng and Kangbashi as the center, the central part shows a steady growth trend, and the southern part shows a rapid growth, especially from 2015 to 2023. The population is gradually concentrated in Dongsheng, Kangbashi, Shenmu and other urban areas, and the total population of each county is increasing. The coupling degree (C) between the three systems of “industry–economy–population” and habitat quality in the counties of the Kuye River Basin showed an upward trend in most counties, and it first showed a strengthening trend and then a decreasing trend in individual areas, which is an inverted “U”-type distribution.

In order to promote the coordinated development of the social economy and ecological environment in the Kuye River Basin, an ecological restoration project of the Kuye River Basin should be implemented, including river regulation, soil erosion control, wetland protection and so on. Through afforestation, grass slope protection and other measures to improve the vegetation coverage of the basin, soil erosion can be reduced. Establishing and improving the ecological compensation mechanism of the Kuye River Basin and compensating the areas and people who pay the price for protecting the ecological environment should be carried out. Diversified ecological compensation methods must be explored, such as financial compensation, technical compensation, industrial support and so on, in order to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of ecological compensation. Industrial enterprises in the basin should be encouraged to carry out technological transformation and upgrading, promote clean production technology and reduce energy consumption and pollutant emissions. The development of the circular economy, the promotion of the efficient use of resources and recycling and the establishment of an industrial park circular economy industrial chain should be achieved. A special fund must be established for ecological and environmental protection research, and technical research and application should be encouraged in the fields of water resource protection, ecological restoration and pollution prevention and control.