Search Results (71)

Understanding the adaptive dynamics of social-ecological systems (SESs) is critical for regional sustainability as human–environment interactions intensify. However, existing indicator-based research frequently lacks a clear theoretical framework and methodological clarity when analyzing SES adaptation. Using complex adaptive system (CAS) theory as an interpretive lens, this research creates a social-ecological system (SES) adaptability evaluation framework that incorporates the pressure–state–response (PSR) model from a CAS perspective. This study examines the Huaihe River Ecological and Economic Belt (HREEB) as a case study, combining remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS) data from 28 prefecture-level cities from 2005 to 2020. The entropy-weight approach is used to create a composite adaptability index, and obstacle-degree analysis is used to identify key limiting factors, followed by an examination of spatiotemporal evolution patterns. The study found that: (1) SES adaptability in the HREEB increased steadily (mean annual growth rate: 3.97%), with the social subsystem exhibiting a larger connection with the overall trend and the ecological subsystem displaying greater volatility; (2) there was significant spatial heterogeneity, forming a “high in the east and west, low in the center” pattern (supported by a global Moran’s I = 0.535, p < 0.05); (3) obstacle degree analysis identified per capita afforestation area (ecological response), per capita GDP (social state), and population density (ecological pressure) as persistent key constraints. Full article

Estuarine and coastal ecosystems are facing significant threats from compounded pressures, such as land-based pollution and mariculture activities. These ecosystems confront severe challenges, including increasing environmental burdens and declining ecological health. Traditional evaluation methods that rely on statistical data struggle to meet the requirements for refined management of estuarine and coastal water environments. Taking Qinzhou Bay as a case study, this research incorporated multi-source data (including water quality indicators retrieved from remote sensing imagery, mariculture distribution, and land use information) into an integrated ecological health assessment system that combined remotely sensed data with the Pressure–State–Response (PSR) model. This approach enables a spatially continuous and quantitative evaluation of ecological health conditions for August 2015 (flood season), December 2015 (non-flood season), May 2022 (flood season), and December 2022 (non-flood season). The results indicated significant seasonal differences in the ecological health of Qinzhou Bay, with conditions generally better during the non-flood season than the flood season. Based on a comparison between the indicative estimation for 2015 and the inversion results for 2022, the overall ecological health index in 2022 showed an increasing trend, although some nearshore and estuarine areas experienced a declining trend. This study incorporated multi-source data, including remote sensing, into the PSR model framework, thereby advancing ecological health assessment from conventional discrete station-based evaluation to spatially continuous assessment. The effectiveness of this methodological approach in identifying spatiotemporal variations in the ecological health of estuarine and coastal zones was validated, providing scientific support for the refined management of estuarine and coastal water environments and ecological restoration. Full article

Amid accelerating global environmental change, assessing ecological vulnerability is critical for sustainability science. Focusing on the Yellow River Source Region (YRSR)—a key water source and ecological shield in China—this study develops an integrated assessment system based on the “Pressure–State–Response” (PSR) framework, incorporating 29 indicators. A combined weighting approach integrating analytic hierarchy process (AHP) with entropy-based objective weighting characterizes the spatiotemporal patterns, drivers, and future trajectories of ecological vulnerability. Key findings reveal: (1) heterogeneous warming–wetting trends with stronger humidification in the south and relative stability in the north drive divergent hydrological responses, highlighting the limitations of single-climate metrics in explaining vulnerability dynamics; (2) vulnerability patterns are primarily shaped by climatic factors—especially temperature and potential evapotranspiration—with anthropogenic pressures serving as secondary modulators, reinforcing the foundational role of thermal and moisture regimes in alpine ecosystem resilience; and (3) scenario projections consistently identify the northeast as a persistently high-vulnerability zone, yet show that balanced socioeconomic development can reconcile ecological protection with development needs. Based on these insights, a four-tier ecological zoning scheme and a governance framework comprising three strategies—strict conservation, adaptive regulation, and sustainable utilization—are proposed. This work offers actionable scientific guidance for tailored ecological conservation in the YRSR and contributes methodological advancements for vulnerability assessment and adaptive management of high-elevation ecosystems globally. Full article

Urban fire prevention is shifting from reactive response to proactive risk governance, yet current approaches often overlook risk-type heterogeneity, spatial dependencies, and underlying behavioral mechanisms, especially equitable risk distribution among vulnerable groups. To address this, this study integrates the Pressure–State–Response (PSR) model with environmental criminology theories (Routine Activity Theory (RAT) and Crime Pattern Theory (CPT)) to couple macro social causal chains with micro behavioral–spatial mechanisms. Using data from the digital urban management system of Shenzhen’s Guangming District in 2019, four fire risk event types are examined: electric bike charging violations (EB), unauthorized power wiring (PW), water heater misuse (WH), and aging gas pipelines (GP). Spatial error models explain 82–89% of the variance across fire risk event types, and spatial 5-fold cross-validation shows minimal performance decline (ΔR² = 0.03–0.08), confirming robust prediction without overfitting. Key findings include: (1) elderly proportion is significantly positively associated with WH and PW (coefficients = 2.64 and 3.06, p < 0.01); (2) restaurant density has a consistently positive association with all four risk types (coefficients = 0.24–0.60, p < 0.01); (3) functional diversity and connectivity exhibit dual patterns, showing negative associations with more visible, easily detectable violations (PW, GP) but positive relationships with relatively concealed behaviors (EB); (4) reported safety deficiencies display strong positive associations with all fire risk event types and can therefore serve as an effective early-warning indicator for broader fire risk. These results support risk-specific, equity-oriented prevention strategies that prioritize vulnerable groups and high-risk environments. The validated PSR–RAT/CPT framework provides a novel theoretical basis for targeted fire risk governance and advances safe, resilient, inclusive cities aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 11. Full article

China’s inland regions are vital for territorial spatial planning and sustainable development due to their abundant resources. However, the dynamic coordination between natural resource utilization (NRU) and ecological resilience (ER) remains poorly understood. Using panel data from 20 inland provinces in China (2009–2023), this study constructs NRU and ER evaluation systems, with ER assessed through the Pressure–State–Response (PSR) framework. Indicator weights are determined using an AHP–entropy method. Kernel density, panel vector autoregression (P-VAR), and coupling coordination models are applied to examine spatiotemporal evolution patterns, coordination levels, and interaction mechanisms between NRU and ER. The results show that: (1) The NRU index rises overall, peaking around 2020 (0.706), while the intensity of resource development continues to decline. Regional disparities widen, resulting in a spatial pattern of development intensity that was higher in the west and lower in the east. (2) The ER index continues to rise, accelerating at certain stages, and reaches a peak (0.723) between 2018 and 2020. Geographically, the eastern region led the way, with values decreasing in a stepwise manner, and regional disparities showed relatively gradual changes. (3) The degree of coordination between the two continues to improve, evolving from a “low level of dispersion” to a “medium-to-high level of concentration.” This has resulted in a pattern where the eastern region leads, followed by the central and southwestern regions in succession. Specifically, the EC index rose from 0.429 to 0.615, and the CC index rose from 0.384 to 0.533. Eastern and Central China have already reached a medium level of coordination, while Northwest and Southwest China remain primarily at a basic level of coordination. (4) Significant bidirectional dynamic interactions exist between the NRU and ER, with asymmetric pathways. By region, the NE, EC, and NC exhibit greater fluctuations and higher system sensitivity, while the CC experiences more concentrated short-term shocks; the SW and NW exhibit relatively smoother responses and converge more rapidly. Policy implications highlight the need for region-specific coordination strategies, better alignment between resource development and ecological protection, and enhanced cross-regional governance to support sustainable inland development. Full article

The rapid expansion of subway systems has led to significant carbon emissions during station construction, yet a systematic and interpretable framework for evaluating low-carbon performance across different construction methods remains underdeveloped. To address this gap, this study proposes a comprehensive evaluation model that integrates a pressure–state–response (PSR) framework with an entropy-weighted TOPSIS method. A multi-dimensional indicator system comprising 17 indicators was established, covering material and energy consumption (pressure), environmental carbon states (state), and management responses (response). The entropy weight method was employed to determine objective indicator weights, and the TOPSIS method was used to rank the overall low-carbon performance of different construction schemes. An empirical study of a subway station in Guangzhou, China, was conducted to compare three construction methods: open-cut, top-down cover excavation, and reverse cover excavation. The results demonstrate that the reverse cover excavation method achieves the highest low-carbon performance. Electricity consumption and concrete-related emissions were identified as the most influential factors, while obstacle analysis revealed key constraints for carbon reduction. The proposed PSR–entropy–TOPSIS framework offers a transparent, data-driven decision-support tool for optimizing construction schemes, contributing to the sustainable development goals of urban rail transit projects. Full article

Urban–rural information infrastructure (URII) serves as the backbone of the “Digital Village” strategy; however, it faces significant threats from natural disasters and socioeconomic disparities. This study proposes a comprehensive resilience evaluation framework based on the pressure–state–response (PSR) theory. To address the limitations of traditional subjective weighting, we construct an integrated assessment framework that combines the entropy weight method with an improved concept lattice-weighted cluster DEMATEL method, effectively handling cognitive differences among experts. Using Lijin County in Shandong Province as a case study, we assess resilience levels from 2018 to 2022 via the VIKOR method. The results indicate a robust upward trajectory in overall resilience, progressing from a low-level state in 2018 to a high-resilience state in 2022. However, a dimensional comparative analysis identifies pressure resilience as the most critical weak point; consequently, the study establishes that the priority for future resilience enhancement follows the order: pressure > state > response. Based on these findings, specific countermeasures focusing on disaster risk monitoring and infrastructure redundancy are proposed to foster sustainable rural digital development. Full article

Rapid urbanization in plateau mountain regions exacerbates the tension between rigid resource demands and fragile ecological carrying capacities. Enhancing the resilience of the Water–Energy–Food (W–E–F) nexus is therefore essential for coping with external shocks. This study constructs a multidimensional resilience evaluation framework based on the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) model, taking the Kunming Metropolitan Area—a typical plateau mountain region—as a case study. Integrating the TOPSIS model, Coupling Coordination Degree (CCD) model, and spatial autocorrelation analysis, we systematically assessed both individual subsystem and comprehensive W–E–F nexus resilience from 2005 to 2020. Results show that W–E–F nexus resilience generally improved from 2005 to 2020, but subsystem development remained uneven across space, with water resilience characterized by a peripheral-high/central-low pattern, energy resilience by a core-high/periphery-low structure, and food resilience by the strongest spatial heterogeneity and volatility. By 2020, the mean comprehensive resilience reached 0.67, with 58.3% of counties above the average, exhibiting significant spatial clustering. Based on resilience levels and limiting subsystems of 2020, the metropolitan area was classified into Enhancement, Adjustment, and Maintenance zones, comprising 6, 16, and 2 counties respectively, to support differentiated regional governance. This study provides a spatially explicit regulation paradigm to bolster urban resilience against resource constraints and climate uncertainty. Full article

This study quantifies the sustainable development thresholds of marine ecosystems under high-intensity human development by establishing a composite evaluation framework based on the Pressure–State–Response (PSR) model. Taking the Nantong sea area as a typical study region, this research indicates that prior to large-scale development (2006–2010), the comprehensive carrying capacity was higher in the northern region than in the south. The lowest capacity was observed near the Yangtze River Estuary, while the Subei Radial Sand Ridges in the north exhibited the highest capacity. Following the period of intensive coastal development (2016–2020), a significant decline in composite marine carrying capacity occurred in the northern radial sand ridge area, whereas the central waters remained stable. The nearshore areas in the south exhibited the poorest capacity. Despite a substantial increase in anthropogenic pressure, the overall decline of the sea area’s composite marine carrying capacity remains within an acceptable range, with all levels categorized as “Near Carrying Capacity” or above. Quantitative assessment of marine environmental carrying capacity and marine ecological carrying capacity provides an effective pathway for monitoring the specific status of the marine environment and determining whether critical thresholds have been reached under high-intensity human development scenarios. Full article

Evaluating the aquatic ecological and environmental consequences of dredging projects with precision is essential for reconciling engineering objectives with the long-term health of aquatic ecosystems. This study establishes an evaluation system for the aquatic ecological and environmental impacts of dredging engineering based on the Pressure–State–Response (PSR) analytical framework, and constructs a comprehensive assessment system through Velocity Pausing Particle Swarm Optimization–Projection Pursuit (VPPSO-PP) coupled with fuzzy pattern recognition. Taking the Pinglu Canal project as a case study, the objective weights of indicators are obtained via the VPPSO-PP method, and the impact levels are determined by combining the fuzzy pattern recognition model. Case studies show that the quality of discharged residual water is the most critical factor affecting the aquatic ecological environment, ranking highest with a weight of 0.0839, followed by the proportion of aquatic ecological restoration investment at 0.0685. Among the five typical dredging sections of the Pinglu Canal, the Shaping River section and the Offshore Estuary Section were rated as having a “mild impact.” In contrast, the Main Stream of Qinjiang River section, the Watershed section, and the Qinzhou urban section were rated as having a “moderate impact.” These evaluation results are consistent with the actual engineering conditions. The model developed in this study enables a quantitative and objective assessment of the aquatic ecological impacts of dredging projects. It provides a scientific basis and a practical tool for ecological management and decision-making in dredging operations. Full article

Assessing terrestrial ecosystem health in China is crucial for guiding national economic strategies and ecological conservation. To address the lack of a unified national evaluation system, this study integrates the Pressure–State–Response (PSR) and Ecological Hierarchy frameworks to construct a five-layer network index system. A novel two-stage adaptive indicator reduction model is proposed, one which combines the TOPSIS method with an objective optimization model to select key indicators tailored to different ecoregions. Using this model, we evaluated the spatiotemporal dynamics of ecosystem health across China from 2001 to 2021. The results demonstrate the following: (1) The selected indicators effectively reflect regional ecological characteristics, with higher-weighted indicators aligning widely with the existing literature, demonstrating the system’s scientific validity and rationality. (2) Ecosystem health exhibits significant spatial variability, generally higher in the southeast and lower in the northwest. Over 21 years, health status remained relatively stable, with the improved areas (4.21%) primarily being located west of the Heihe–Tengchong line and north of the Qinling–Huaihe line, and exceeding the degraded areas. Full article

Assessing ecosystem health in rapidly urbanizing watersheds requires policy-relevant and empirically grounded indicator systems. Focusing on the Luxi River Basin in Chengdu’s Tianfu New Area, this study develops an ecosystem health evaluation and restoration zoning scheme based on the Pressure–State–Response framework (PSR). Utilizing remote sensing land use maps for 2004, 2014, and 2024 with overall accuracy and Kappa above 85% and 0.80, respectively, a 13-indicator PSR health index with entropy-based weighting was constructed at the township and subdistrict scales. Aiming to support objective indicator selection and interpretation, multiscale landscape dynamics were further quantified using FRAGSTATS and moving window analysis, including mean patch area, patch density, landscape shape index, largest patch index, Shannon diversity index, Shannon evenness index, contagion index, and splitting index, and sensitive landscape descriptors and major driving factors were identified. Results show a shift in landscape patterns, from relatively aggregated configurations toward highly complex and fragmented ones. Largest patch dominance, measured by the largest patch index, declined from 66.71 to 22.79, while connectivity, measured by the contagion index, decreased from 59.74 to 45.10. Subdivision, measured by the splitting index, increased from 2.24 to 12.88, and compositional heterogeneity, measured by the Shannon diversity index, increased from 0.86 to 1.26. The PSR assessment indicates that demographic pressure intensified over time, whereas improvements in water resource supply, technological progress, and industrial upgrading partially alleviated overall pressure in some subregions. Ecosystem state exhibited strong spatial heterogeneity, with sustained high health in the eastern Longquan Mountain area and substantial improvement around Xinglong Lake, while northern urbanized and southern agricultural subregions lagged behind. Environmental governance responses strengthened, with the response index increasing from 0.2297 to 0.9885. Overall ecosystem health demonstrated a modest but stable improvement from 2004 to 2024, with 65.48% of the area revealing slight improvement, 1.14% experiencing substantial improvement, 29.62% remaining stable, and 3.76% experiencing slight degradation. Finally, restoration priority zones were delineated, and targeted strategies were introduced to inform basin-scale ecological management in the Luxi River Basin. Full article

In the context of rapid urbanization and demographic transition, the implications of population shrinkage for urban sustainable development have attracted increasing scholarly attention. Nevertheless, empirical evidence on the relationship between population change and urban ecological resilience remains limited. Drawing on the Pressure–State–Response (PSR) framework, this study constructs a comprehensive indicator system to assess urban ecological resilience in 110 cities along the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YEB) over the period of 2012–2021. Furthermore, a panel threshold regression model is employed to examine the nonlinear effects of population shrinkage on urban ecological resilience. The findings indicate that urban ecological resilience exhibits an overall upward trend in YEB, characterized by pronounced spatial disparities. Eastern cities have a higher level of resilience than cities in the western region in YEB. The number of cities with shrinking populations is gradually increasing, and these shrinking cities are mainly small and medium-sized cities. The empirical results show that the impact of population shrinkage on urban ecological resilience is distinctly nonlinear, and regional economic development plays a moderating role in this nonlinear relationship. At lower levels of economic development, population shrinkage does not significantly moderate urban ecological resilience. As the economy reaches a moderate stage, population shrinkage exerts a stronger modulatory effect on ecological resilience. When economic development advances to a higher level, however, population shrinkage tends to inhibit ecological resilience. Overall, this study provides a scientific basis for the population–ecological policies tailored to local conditions and offers valuable insights to promote urban sustainable development under conditions of population shrinkage. Full article

Ecosystem vulnerability assessment is paramount for local environmental stability and lasting economic progress. This study selects Hubei Province as the research area, applying multi-source spatiotemporal datasets spanning the period 2000–2023. A pressure–state–response (PSR) framework, incorporating 14 distinct indicators, was developed. The selection criteria for these indicators adhered to principles of scientific rigor, all-encompassing scope, statistical representativeness, and practical applicability. The chosen indicators effectively encompass natural, anthropogenic, and socio-economic drivers, aligning with the specific ecological attributes and key vulnerability factors pertinent to Hubei Province. The analytic network process (ANP) method and entropy weighting (EW) method were integrated to ascertain comprehensive weights, thereby computing the ecological vulnerability index (EVI). In the meantime, we analyzed temporal and spatial EVI shifts. Spatial autocorrelation analysis, the geodetic detector, the Theil–Sen median, the Mann–Kendall trend test, and the Grey–Markov model were employed to elucidate spatial distribution, driving factors, and future trends. Results indicate that Hubei Province exhibited mild ecological vulnerability from 2000 to 2023, but with a notable deteriorating trend: extreme vulnerability areas expanded from 0.34% to 0.94%, while moderate and severe vulnerability zones also increased. Eastern regions demonstrate elevated vulnerability, but they were lower in the west, correlating with human activity intensity. The global Moran’s I index ranged from 0.8579 to 0.8725, signifying a significant positive spatial correlation of ecological vulnerability, with the highly vulnerable areas concentrated in regions with intense human activities, while the less vulnerable areas are located in ecologically intact areas. Habitat quality index and carbon sinks emerged as key drivers, possibly stemming from the forest–wetland composite ecosystem’s high dependence on water conservation, biodiversity maintenance, and carbon storage functions. Future projections based on Grey–Markov models indicate that ecological fragility in Hubei Province will exhibit an upward trend, with ecological conservation pressures continuing to intensify. This research offers a preliminary reference basis of grounds for ecological zoning, as well as sustainable regional development in Hubei Province, while also providing a theoretical and practical framework for constructing an ecological security pattern within the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) and facilitating ecological governance in analogous river basins globally, thereby contributing to regional sustainable development goals. Full article

To investigate the spatiotemporal evolution of ecosystem health in a typical rocky desertification control demonstration zone. This study utilized land use data and remote sensing imagery from 1992, 2003, 2009, 2015, and 2021. Landscape pattern analysis was employed to quantify landscape characteristics. A Pressure-State-Response (PSR) model framework was integrated to establish an ecosystem health assessment system comprising 14 indicator factors, enabling ecosystem health evaluation from the perspective of coupling landscape patterns and ecological processes. Key findings reveal: Significant cropland expansion occurred within the study area, accompanied by mutual transitions within ecological land types, yet the overall landscape structure remained relatively stable. The regional landscape underwent substantial transformations, characterized by grassland reduction alongside increases in cropland and shrubland. These changes led to decreased landscape heterogeneity and fragmentation, an increasingly dominant landscape matrix, significantly enhanced connectivity, and reduced diversity. Ecosystem health experienced an initial deterioration phase followed by gradual recovery. By 2021, a transition trend emerged where a suboptimal state prevailed, yet localized areas exhibited improved quality. Distinct variations in ecological response mechanisms were observed across different geomorphic types. Unhealthy ecosystems were predominantly distributed in areas of intensive human activity, specifically peak-cluster platforms (I), eroded platforms (III), and V-shaped valleys (V). These results underscore the necessity of considering differential ecological carrying capacities inherent to various geomorphic types during rocky desertification control. Implementing differentiated management strategies and adaptive governance is crucial for promoting the sustainable enhancement of regional ecosystem health. Full article