Next Article in Journal
Research on Synergy Measurement and Digital Finance Driving Mechanism of Enterprise Digital Transformation and Greening Upgrade: An Empirical Analysis Based on the Complex System Coordination Degree Model
Previous Article in Journal
Ethanol Content Increase in Gasoline Toward Sustainable Liquid Fuels Worldwide: Impacts on Manufacturing and Supply Chains via Discrete-Event Scenarios
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Study on the Correlation Mechanism Between the Spatial Distribution and Ecological Environmental Suitability of Traditional Villages in the Xiangjiang River Basin

School of Architecture, Changsha University of Science and Technology, Changsha 410076, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sustainability 2025, 17(11), 4885; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17114885
Submission received: 14 April 2025 / Revised: 20 May 2025 / Accepted: 22 May 2025 / Published: 26 May 2025

Abstract

The spatial morphology of traditional villages stems from prolonged interactions between socio-economic conditions and the regional natural environment under specific historical contexts. Over time, these settlements have acquired distinct spatial patterns through continuous adaptation to their surrounding ecosystems. Nevertheless, accelerated urbanization now exerts dual pressures—disrupting the spatial order and degrading natural ecosystems. In this context, an integrated analysis of the relationship between village spatial patterns and ecological conditions is essential for elucidating their formative mechanisms. The Xiangjiang River Basin is Hunan’s cultural core, and the spatial distribution of traditional villages is directly related to environmental variables. This study uses bivariate spatial autocorrelation and geographically weighted regression to investigate the relationship between the spatial distribution of traditional villages and ecological environmental appropriateness. The findings indicate the following: (1) The spatial distribution density of traditional villages in the Xiangjiang River Basin exhibits a negative correlation with the Ecological Environment Index (EEI), as evidenced by a Moran’s I value of −0.228. This suggests that traditional villages tend to be less concentrated in areas with a higher ecological suitability. (2) Among natural factors, the Relief Degree of Land Surface (RDLS), the Temperature Humidity Index (THI), and the Land Cover Index (LCI) display positive correlations with village density, with regression coefficients of 0.865, 0.003, and 11.599, respectively. In contrast, the Water Resource Index (WRI) shows a negative correlation, with a coefficient of −6.448, and (3) the impact of ecological suitability factors on village distribution is spatially heterogeneous: microtopographic variation is the primary driver in flat terrains, whereas the ecological carrying capacity exerts a greater influence in mountainous areas. These findings clarify the role of ecological suitability in shaping the spatial characteristics of traditional villages and provide a scientific basis for developing protection strategies that integrate ecological sustainability with cultural–heritage preservation.
Keywords: traditional villages; ecological environmental suitability; correlation mechanism; Xiangjiang River Basin; spatial autocorrelation traditional villages; ecological environmental suitability; correlation mechanism; Xiangjiang River Basin; spatial autocorrelation

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

He, C.; Chen, W.; Chen, L.; Xu, J. Study on the Correlation Mechanism Between the Spatial Distribution and Ecological Environmental Suitability of Traditional Villages in the Xiangjiang River Basin. Sustainability 2025, 17, 4885. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17114885

AMA Style

He C, Chen W, Chen L, Xu J. Study on the Correlation Mechanism Between the Spatial Distribution and Ecological Environmental Suitability of Traditional Villages in the Xiangjiang River Basin. Sustainability. 2025; 17(11):4885. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17114885

Chicago/Turabian Style

He, Chuan, Wanqing Chen, Lili Chen, and Jianhe Xu. 2025. "Study on the Correlation Mechanism Between the Spatial Distribution and Ecological Environmental Suitability of Traditional Villages in the Xiangjiang River Basin" Sustainability 17, no. 11: 4885. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17114885

APA Style

He, C., Chen, W., Chen, L., & Xu, J. (2025). Study on the Correlation Mechanism Between the Spatial Distribution and Ecological Environmental Suitability of Traditional Villages in the Xiangjiang River Basin. Sustainability, 17(11), 4885. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17114885

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop