Spatial and temporal variation and driving factors of ecological carrying capacity in the Pan-Pearl River Basin, China

The Pan-Pearl River Basin (PPRB) has acted as a pioneer region of China’s reform and opening-up with rapid economic development. Quantitatively clarifying the evolution of ecological carrying capacity (ECC) is vital for the sustainable development of PPRB. Therefore, this study combined a comprehens...

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Main Authors: Chen Jieying, Huang Xiaohui, Jing Ye, Wen Zhiliang, Zang Chuanfu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-07-01
Series:Ecological Indicators
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X23004600
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author Chen Jieying
Huang Xiaohui
Jing Ye
Wen Zhiliang
Zang Chuanfu
author_facet Chen Jieying
Huang Xiaohui
Jing Ye
Wen Zhiliang
Zang Chuanfu
author_sort Chen Jieying
collection DOAJ
description The Pan-Pearl River Basin (PPRB) has acted as a pioneer region of China’s reform and opening-up with rapid economic development. Quantitatively clarifying the evolution of ecological carrying capacity (ECC) is vital for the sustainable development of PPRB. Therefore, this study combined a comprehensive evaluation method of the pressure-state-response (PSR) index system with the ecological footprint based on net primary productivity (EF-NPP) method to analyze the spatial and temporal evolution of ecological carrying capacity (ECC) and the comprehensive ecological carrying capacity (CECC) in the PPRB from 2002 to 2019 with the development of economy and society. The random forest regression method was then used to analyze the factors driving ECC and the exponential smoothing was used to predict the future trend in the ECC and CECC of the PPRB. The results indicated that the rapid development of the economy of the PPRB coincided with some resource consumption and environmental damage. But the ECC and the CECC of the PPRB will improve continuously over the next six years according to the prediction results of exponential smoothing method. The per-capita ECC of the PPRB increased from the southern coastal area to the northern inland area. The ECC of Hunan Province decreased significantly during 2007–2010 and the ECC of Guangdong Province increased significantly during 2015–2019. The main factors influencing ECC included the damage of the ecological environment and economic development. These two driving factors showed a “U”-shaped relationship to the ECC of the PPRB, indicating a gradual emergence of the harmony of economic development and ecological damage. This study provides a theoretical basis for the ecological restoration and comprehensive ecological management in the PPRB.
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spelling doaj.art-e5cd180ce53d414c8b7a82c9fe19c2262023-05-21T04:34:28ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2023-07-01151110318Spatial and temporal variation and driving factors of ecological carrying capacity in the Pan-Pearl River Basin, ChinaChen Jieying0Huang Xiaohui1Jing Ye2Wen Zhiliang3Zang Chuanfu4Department of Geographical Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; School of Geography, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, ChinaSchool of Geography, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; School of Geography, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China; Key Laboratory of Virtual Geographic Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210023, China; Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing 210023, ChinaSchool of Geography, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, ChinaSchool of Geography, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, ChinaSchool of Geography, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China; Corresponding author.The Pan-Pearl River Basin (PPRB) has acted as a pioneer region of China’s reform and opening-up with rapid economic development. Quantitatively clarifying the evolution of ecological carrying capacity (ECC) is vital for the sustainable development of PPRB. Therefore, this study combined a comprehensive evaluation method of the pressure-state-response (PSR) index system with the ecological footprint based on net primary productivity (EF-NPP) method to analyze the spatial and temporal evolution of ecological carrying capacity (ECC) and the comprehensive ecological carrying capacity (CECC) in the PPRB from 2002 to 2019 with the development of economy and society. The random forest regression method was then used to analyze the factors driving ECC and the exponential smoothing was used to predict the future trend in the ECC and CECC of the PPRB. The results indicated that the rapid development of the economy of the PPRB coincided with some resource consumption and environmental damage. But the ECC and the CECC of the PPRB will improve continuously over the next six years according to the prediction results of exponential smoothing method. The per-capita ECC of the PPRB increased from the southern coastal area to the northern inland area. The ECC of Hunan Province decreased significantly during 2007–2010 and the ECC of Guangdong Province increased significantly during 2015–2019. The main factors influencing ECC included the damage of the ecological environment and economic development. These two driving factors showed a “U”-shaped relationship to the ECC of the PPRB, indicating a gradual emergence of the harmony of economic development and ecological damage. This study provides a theoretical basis for the ecological restoration and comprehensive ecological management in the PPRB.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X23004600Ecological carrying capacityPSR modelEF-NPP modelDriving factorSustainable development
spellingShingle Chen Jieying
Huang Xiaohui
Jing Ye
Wen Zhiliang
Zang Chuanfu
Spatial and temporal variation and driving factors of ecological carrying capacity in the Pan-Pearl River Basin, China
Ecological Indicators
Ecological carrying capacity
PSR model
EF-NPP model
Driving factor
Sustainable development
title Spatial and temporal variation and driving factors of ecological carrying capacity in the Pan-Pearl River Basin, China
title_full Spatial and temporal variation and driving factors of ecological carrying capacity in the Pan-Pearl River Basin, China
title_fullStr Spatial and temporal variation and driving factors of ecological carrying capacity in the Pan-Pearl River Basin, China
title_full_unstemmed Spatial and temporal variation and driving factors of ecological carrying capacity in the Pan-Pearl River Basin, China
title_short Spatial and temporal variation and driving factors of ecological carrying capacity in the Pan-Pearl River Basin, China
title_sort spatial and temporal variation and driving factors of ecological carrying capacity in the pan pearl river basin china
topic Ecological carrying capacity
PSR model
EF-NPP model
Driving factor
Sustainable development
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X23004600
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