Although the relationship between the size of urban industrial land use and pollutant emissions has been widely discussed from different perspectives (e.g., the scale and crowding effects), the results of various studies have revealed positive, negative, and combined impact relationships. However, how the expansion of urban industrial land use affects SO2 emissions remains unknown. We need to clarify this relationship in order to facilitate the realization of China’s pollution reduction and emission reduction goals. This study used the panel data from 294 cities spanning from 2011 to 2019 to construct a spatial econometric model. The objective was to explore the correlation between the scale of urban industrial land and sulfur dioxide emissions in China. The results show that a large scale of urban industrial land use corresponds to lower sulfur dioxide emissions per unit of industrial added value. By gaining a deeper understanding of the relationship between the scale of urban industrial land use and sulfur dioxide emissions, policymakers can further reduce pollutant emissions by rationalizing the planning of urban industrial land use and industrial layout. In addition to promoting industrial agglomeration and economies of scale in cities with extensive industrial land use, this strategy can support the development of efficient and environmentally friendly industries in areas with limited industrial land use. Optimizing the technology and encouraging the development of green industries can help reduce environmental pollution and promote sustainable urban development.
The Tibetan Plateau is vital for animal husbandry in China, and relies heavily on its natural grasslands. However, grassland degradation, increasing livestock numbers, and uneven grazing practices are exacerbating the grass-livestock imbalance. Cultivated grasslands are a key strategy to address this issue. In this review, we evaluate the current status, challenges, and suggestions for developing and managing Tibetan Plateau cultivated grasslands. While discernible advancements have been made in the cultivated grasslands in this region, persistent challenges exist. These challenges stem from issues like low awareness and enthusiasm among farmers and herders, uneven cultivated grassland distribution, and limited scientific and technological contributions. Based on these challenges, we propose strengthening the promotion of artificial forage, implementing a rationalized grassland layout, and improving the scientific and technological contributions to forage species selection, sowing, management, and storage. In summary, cultivated grasslands in the Tibetan Plateau offer promising prospects but still face significant challenges. Overcoming these obstacles will require innovative approaches to unlock the full potential of cultivated grasslands in this unique ecological niche.
Under global change and climate variations, determining the impacts of climate change and human activities on cropland net primary productivity (NPP) in Bangladesh, India and Myanmar (BIM) is of great significance for identifying yield-limiting factors, making adaptive agricultural management plans, and improving yields. Based on the GLOPEM-CEVSA model, through an integration of remote sensing data and LAI simulation, we investigated the impacts and spatiotemporal changes of water and human activities on BIM from 1982 to 2015. Three types of cropland NPPs were considered: actual NPP (NPPA), NPP affected by temperature and water (NPPWT), and NPP only affected by temperature (NPPT). Our analysis revealed that the water factor plays a predominant role in determining the NPP level in the BIM. Temperature variability was found to be conducive to NPPT, exhibiting an increasing trend of 10.66 g C m-2 yr-1. However, this trend was partially offset by precipitation variability, resulting in a net increase of 0.96 g C m-2 yr-1. In comparing temperature-driven NPP to temperature and water-driven NPP, water stress caused NPPT to decrease by 65.46% compared to NPPWT for the entire region. Cropland NPP in northwestern India and the central Deccan Plateau were significantly affected by water stress. Moreover, the influence of water on NPP in the BIM exhibited a substantial upward trend from 1982 to 2015, with Myanmar experiencing the most significant increase. The gap between NPPWT and NPPA in BIM demonstrated a notable decreasing trend during the same period, underscoring the positive impact of human activities on NPP. Inferences drawn from our findings suggest that with the implementation of rational and efficient crop management practices, there is a 36.80% potential improvement in NPPA compared to NPPWT in the BIM region, with India and Myanmar showing potential increases of 39.20% and 38.29%, respectively. These insights provide guidance for practical measures aimed at water resource management to enhance cropland productivity in the BIM, and they present a methodology for quantifying the effects of climatic changes and human activities at a regional scale.
As an important hub on the East Asian-Australian Flyway (EAAF), Hongze Lake is an important migratory stopover and wintering site for hundreds of thousands of birds. However, research on bird community diversity in this area is still lacking. We conducted a bird survey from July 2020 to June 2021 using the line transect method on the terrestrial habitat, as well as the fixed-point method in the lake wetland at the Sihong Hongze Lake Wetland National Nature Reserve located in northwestern Hongze Lake, and analyzed the temporal-spatial variation in the bird community. The results showed that a total of 170432 detections of 215 bird species belonging to 18 orders and 55 families were recorded. In terms of species composition, the proportion of terrestrial birds was relatively high, followed by waterfowl richness, with high numbers of Anatidae species and shorebirds. For bird species abundance, waterfowl had the highest abundance of common coot (Fulica atra), belonging to the Rallidae family, followed by Anatidae and Ardeidae species. The abundance of shorebirds was extremely low, and that of non-waterfowl was also low. In terms of temporal patterns, the number of bird species and richness index were higher in spring and autumn but lower in winter and summer. The bird abundance was the highest in winter, and the remaining three seasons were similar in terms of bird abundance. The diversity index and evenness index were higher in spring, summer and autumn, and lowest in winter. For the spatial pattern, the open water in the western part of the reserve included the most densely distributed areas for birds, and the number of bird species and their abundance were both the highest in that part. There were significant differences in the bird community structures among the four habitats. The species number and richness index of birds in the reed habitat were the highest, and the bird abundance was also high, but the diversity index and evenness index were low. Although the bird abundance in the lake habitat was much higher than in the other habitats, the diversity index, evenness index and richness index were the lowest. The numbers of bird species and individuals in tourist attraction land and farmland were low, but the diversity index, evenness index and richness index were high. Our results reveal the spatial and temporal patterns of bird species diversity and abundance in Sihong Hongze Lake Wetland National Nature Reserve, and reflect the effects of different habitat types on bird diversity.
One of the major management problems in and around protected areas is the intensifying conflict between local people and wildlife, especially large carnivores. Livestock depredation and human fatalities caused by attacks of carnivores are found to be serious obstacles in conflict management. This study aims to explore the patterns, costs, causes and perceptions of human large carnivore conflict in the Nawalpur area of Chitwan National Park. The patterns of livestock loss and human casualties due to large carnivores (Panthera tigris and Panthera pardus) were analysed using the secondary data reported to Chitwan National Park from 2001 to 2019. To understand the people’s perception towards carnivores and wildlife conservation, 150 victim respondents were asked, with one household selected from each grid. During 19-year study period, a total of 521 incidents caused by large carnivores were reported, which included 33 human casualties and 488 livestock depredations. Tiger was responsible for the maximum conflict incidents in Nawalpur. The total relief provided for human deaths and injuries was US\$17524.41, whereas US\$13702.18 was used to compensate for livestock depredation in the Nawalpur area by authorities of the Chitwan National Park. More than 64% of the respondents liked the presence of carnivores in their area and had a positive attitude toward the conservation of large carnivores, even though the carnivores were responsible for livestock depredation and human injury and death. People’s satisfaction with the relief scheme provided by the government depended on ethnicity, gender, age class, occupation, education, insurance, and livestock ownership, but they believed the scheme was not effective. Hence, an effective relief scheme and awareness about the process of relief funding should be conducted in conflict areas. Conducting awareness programs for local communities about large carnivores, their behavior, and preparing predator-proof corrals would be helpful in minimizing conflict in the study area.
Human settlement is a necessary factor for human survival and development. The scientific assessments of the natural suitability and appropriateness of human settlements contribute to addressing the discord between ecological environments and economic development and fostering sustainable development in the relationship between humans and nature. Building upon established methods for assessing human settlement suitability, this study investigated the natural suitability of the living environment in the urban agglomeration of mid-southern Liaoning. Based on this exploration, the suitability of the degree of human settlements for the population distribution in the study area from 2000 to 2020 was calculated. The results revealed three important points. (1) Nearly one-fifth of the study area, the area around the offshoot of Changbai Mountain, is a critically suitable area. More than half of this area, generally the buffer zone connecting the Liaohe Plain and the offshoot of Changbai Mountain, is generally suitable for human settlements. The proportion of suitable areas is only 25.53%, mostly on the Liaohe Plain along the Liaodong Peninsula by the Yellow Sea. (2) The overall spatial distribution of human settlement exhibits a pattern that is moderate-low in the middle and high on both sides; and higher in the southern part and lower in the northern part. (3) The human settlement suitability degree is higher in the western regions and lower in the eastern regions, with Shenyang and Panjin in the west having the highest suitability, while Benxi in the east exhibits the lowest habitat suitability. From 2000 to 2020, except for Shenyang and Panjin where suitability remained constant, the suitability degree of other cities has improved. Among them, Dandong experienced the most significant increase in suitability.
Promoting industrial carbon reduction is an inevitable step for achieving the Chinese carbon peak and neutrality targets. Based on the industrial energy consumption data of Shaanxi Province from 2011 to 2020, this study uses the IPCC calculation method to calculate the industrial carbon emissions in Shaanxi Province. The prediction model for industrial carbon emissions in Shaanxi Province was constructed based on the STIRPAT model from three aspects: population, economy, and technology. By setting three scenario models, the industrial carbon emissions from 2021 to 2035 and the time to achieve peak carbon neutrality were then predicted. The results show that the industry in Shaanxi Province cannot achieve a carbon peak under the baseline scenario, although it can achieve carbon peaking in 2030 under a low-carbon scenario or in 2025 under an enhanced low-carbon scenario. The predicted carbon peak values are 209.11 million t and 188.36 million t, respectively. Based on the results of this study, four policy recommendations are proposed: (1) strengthen publicity and education efforts to increase public participation in energy conservation and emission reduction; (2) promote the green transformation of industry and develop a green economy, including the active development of energy-saving and emission reduction technologies; (3) accelerate the implementation of industrial carbon reduction; and (4) promote the development and utilization of clean energy and increase efforts to adjust the energy structure.
Based on the panel data of Guangxi from 2005 to 2017, the spatiotemporal characteristics and determinants of urban carbon emissions in Guangxi were analyzed using the extended STIRPAT model and the Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (GTWR) model. The main findings of our research can be summarized as follows. While the total carbon emissions of cities in Guangxi consistently increased from 2005 to 2014, the growth trend slowed after 2014, leading to a stabilization in the total emissions. In addition, there are significant differences in the total carbon emissions among the cities. The central and northeastern regions have higher emissions, while the southwestern region has lower emissions. Finally, there are variations in the degrees and directions of the impacts that factors have on carbon emissions among the different time periods and cities. Urban land use is a key factor driving carbon emissions, and it has a negative impact on most cities in Guangxi. Meanwhile, factors such as industrial structure, population urbanization, population concentration, and economic growth have significant positive effects on carbon emissions in Guangxi. The influence of urban roads on carbon emissions is generally positive, while the degree of openness to the outside world and environmental regulations has relatively weaker impacts on emissions. In summary, in order to promote the low-carbon transition of Guangxi and achieve high-quality development, the cities in Guangxi should implement differentiated urban carbon reduction strategies that are focused on optimizing urban land use and industrial structure.
Poplar has gained popularity among farmers of Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh, and the foothills of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh due to their fast growth rate and suitability for industrial uses such as pulp and timber production. Integrating poplar trees into agroforestry systems optimizes land resources and economic gains, as successful techniques have been developed to coordinate crop timing and arrangements effectively. Integrating poplar trees with agricultural crops provides additional income streams for farmers and contributes to soil conservation, biodiversity enhancement, and other environmental benefits. Farmers in these regions typically employ effective spacing of 5 m×4 m for block plantation and 1 m×3 m for row plantation. In the present study, a systematic literature review encompassing 137 English-language journal articles was conducted to assess the economic benefits of Poplar using discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis, considering short-rotation poplar (SRC) and very short-rotation poplar (vSRC) plantations alongside annual crops. The findings revealed that increasing canopy density led to a decline in crop yields by 37%, 70%, and 99% at canopy densities of 30%, 60%, and 90%, respectively, from early spring to harvest. Cost-benefit analysis in Saharanpur district, India, indicated average annual net returns of USD 346.36 for Poplar-based agrisilviculture, while monoculture yielded USD 140.73 per annum. Furthermore, economic analysis in Yamunanagar and Haridwar districts showed benefit-cost ratios ranging from 2.35 to 3.7. Additionally, Poplar block and boundary plantations were found to sequester significantly more carbon in long-lived biomass, serving as substitutes for fossil fuels (5.45 and 1.84 t ha-1 yr-1) in poplar-based systems with block and boundary plantations. The study suggested expanding spacing between tree rows may mitigate resource competition between plantations and crops. The study inferred that Poplar-based agroforestry may play a crucial role in climate mitigation programs by effectively sequestering atmospheric carbon and offering fuel, fodder, timber, and wood products, thereby alleviating pressure on existing natural forests.
In recent years, the “power restriction” measures were taken in many localities, industrial electricity consumption was interrupted, mainly in the “two high” (high energy consumption and high pollutant emission) enterprises. Take the “power restriction” event in 2021 as an example, this event affected a wide range of regions and disrupted people’s livelihood. It not only refers to the power switch and rationing measures taken by individual regions, but also includes differentiated policies implemented by over 20 provinces to limit power supply and industrial production. This paper investigated in detail and summarized the different requirements of power restriction across the country, through the comparison of annual growth rates of power generation and industrial added value，the comparison results of energy intensity, electricity production, power consumption and the industrial growth rate in each province are analyzed. Industrial enterprises and related industrial chains were most heavily affected by the “power restriction” event，mainly in steel, cement, electrolytic aluminum, industrial silicon, textile printing and dyeing, chemical fiber, chemical and other enterprises with high energy consumption and high pollutants emission. The measures to limit electricity will affect the normal production of enterprises to a certain extent, leading to not only the decrease of production efficiency, but also the increase of energy consumption and pollutant emission per unit product. Energy management measures such as differentiated electricity price have limited effect on the output of “two high” industrial products, and the economic leverage of differentiated electricity price is gradually being diluted by the price rise of end products. This paper analyzed the reasons and explored several key problems that need special attention. then recommended certain countermeasures for its appropriate application in the future.
Coastal wetlands are of paramount importance as major reservoirs of blue carbon (C), playing a crucial role in providing nature-based solutions to mitigate climatic changes. This research aimed to analyse the dynamics of total blue C (TBC) and its components; viz. soil organic C (SOC), below ground C, and above ground C; as well as how they are influenced by land use/ land cover (LULC) categories and wetland situations. Subsequently, study sites were identified as one restored wetland and another degraded wetland in the Medinipur Coastal Plain, India. The LULC categories were analyzed using Pleiades 1A and 1B satellite imagery, corresponding to the restored and degraded wetland, respectively. The quantification of SOC was based on point-specific sample data collected from both wetlands (nr=250; nd=84). Above ground biomass (AGB) was appraised employing allometric relationships involving field-measured dendrometric variables. Below ground biomass values were calculated using indirect allometric equations that take into account the AGB values. Integrating all the components, TBC stock of the restored and degraded wetlands were estimated at 246710.91 Mg and 7865.49 Mg, respectively. In the restored wetland, dense mangrove and open mangrove exhibited higher concentrations of blue C components, while other LULC categories demonstrated moderate to low densities. In the degraded wetland, the open mangrove category recorded high densities of C pools, whereas herbaceous vegetation, bare earth and sand, and waterbody exhibited lower concentrations. The results portrayed significant disparities (P<0.05) in blue C pools among different LULC categories in both wetlands. Furthermore, it was evident that wetland type and LULC category had notable (P<0.001) impacts on TBC dynamics, both individually and in combination. Overall, this research may aid in effective management of coastal wetlands as blue C sinks, emphasizing their significance as essential elements of climate change mitigation strategies.
In areas with a high geological background of heavy metals, some edible plants could pose a serious threat to human health. In order to find effective methods to remove heavy metals or reduce their harm, this study investigated the enrichment conditions of five soil heavy metals, Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn and Cr, in four edible plants in a mining area, Baoshantao, in eastern China that has a high geological background of metals, and two groups of experiments were designed to investigate the effects of passivators on their enrichment. The results showed that the soil heavy metal content in the study area has a certain degree of spatial variability. The five heavy metal element contaminants in the soil are in the order of Cd>Cu>Zn>Pb>Cr. The enrichment coefficients and the transfer coefficients of different edible plants were different for the different heavy metals. The two groups of passivators showed better passivating effects with an increase in passivating agent dosage. The smaller the enrichment coefficient of water spinach, the lower the bioavailability. The results of this study can provide a scientific basis for the restoration of soil heavy metal pollution and the safe use of land in areas with a high geological background of heavy metals.
To investigate the impact of anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) treatment with different processing duration on tomato continuous cropping soil, a total of eight treatments were designed, which included two treatment temperatures of 10 ℃ and 30 ℃, and four treatment times of 3, 4, 5 and 7 weeks (w). The results showed that whether the temperature was 10 ℃ or 30 ℃, the pH values, TOC and available K contents in the soil treated by the ASD method were significantly increased (P<0.05), while the EC values and NO3- contents in soils treated by ASD were significantly reduced compared with the untreated group (P<0.05). The Fusarium oxysporum population in soils treated by ASD decreased with the extension of the treatment time. When the treatment temperature was 30 ℃, the effect on the removal of the NO3- that had accumulated in soils treated by ASD was significantly better than the treatment temperature of 10 ℃ (P<0.05). When soil was treated by ASD for more than 5 w at 30 ℃, the NH4+ content in soil was significantly increased (P<0.05) compared with the untreated soil. In conclusion, NO3- accumulation in soils could not be completely eliminated with treatment by ASD, even when the treatment time at 10 ℃ was prolonged. Whether the treatment temperature was 10 ℃ or 30 ℃, the F. oxysporum population in soils treated by ASD decreased significantly with the extension of the treatment time to more than 5 w compared with treatment only for only 3 w.
People’s health is the basis for the progress of social civilization and an important symbol of national prosperity and national strength. Using the entropy method, spatial autocorrelation, spatio-temporal geographic weighted regression and other methods, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the high-quality development level of public health in Guizhou Province from 2011 to 2020 and an evolutionary analysis of the spatio-temporal divergence. The results revealed four key aspects of the state of public health in Guizhou Province. (1) The overall level of public health is constantly improving, but structural imbalance is prominent. (2) From the spatial dimension, the spatial differences in the level of public health have gradually moved from significant to a state of equilibrium. The northeastern cities were more strongly driven by the radiation of the peripheral cities, while this effect was weaker in the southwestern cities. From the time dimension, the spatial pattern shows a clear gradient, with a faster vertical growth rate. (3) The overall spatial correlation of the level of public health is weak, with more cold spots than hot spots, showing a distribution pattern of “strong in the northeast and weak in the southwest”. (4) The new rural cooperative medical care participation rate, (rural) per capita health expenditure, and the electronic health record creation rate have become the most important drivers affecting the high-quality development of public health in Guizhou Province.
Based on the population and economic data of the Wumeng Mountain Area from 2000 to 2020, this study explored the imbalanced spatiotemporal patterns of population and economy in the area using methods such as the geographic concentration, gravity model, imbalance index, and inconsistency index. The study also analyzed the influencing factors using geodetectors and spatiotemporal geographically weighted regression models. The results show four key aspects of this phenomenon. (1) The spatial distributions of the population and economic geographic concentrations deviate from their ideal distributions. The population distribution shows a spatial pattern of being higher in the northeast and lower in the southwest, while the economic distribution shows a spatial pattern of being higher in the south and lower in the north. (2) The population and economic gravity centers have shifted toward the northeast and south relative to the geometric center of the mountain area, respectively, and the economic center has shifted more than the population center. (3) The degree of imbalance between the population and economic distributions is decreasing, but regional development disparities still exist. The region with inconsistent spatial distributions between population and economy remains stable, showing a "north high, south low" pattern, with an increase in the number of counties dominated by the economy and reductions in the numbers of counties in other categories. (4) Economic power, social consumption level, industrial structure, urban development level, government regulation capacity, and health care infrastructure are the main factors affecting the inconsistent distributions of population and economy in Wumeng Mountain Area, and the effects of these factors are reflected in the promotion of economic development.
In the context of the “Belt and Road Initiative”, the sustainable development of border cities is paramount for facilitating intergovernmental exchanges. Using the system dynamics approach, we integrated border policy factors to create the Border City Coordinated Development (BCCD-SD) model, encompassing three dimensions: Economic, Social, and Resource-Environment. Furthermore, a comprehensive evaluation indicator, the City Coordinated Development Index (CCDI), was devised. Using Lincang City in Southwest China as a case study, this article examines the trends in city development under three scenarios: Inertial Development, Rapid Development, and Green Development. The research findings demonstrate that the model adeptly captures trends in the city coordinated development indicators. Among the three scenarios, the rapid development scenario stands out, yielding the most favorable economic indicators, superior public infrastructure, and the highest employed population. However, the rapid development path, which is heavily focused on economic growth, intensifies resource and environmental pressures, giving rise to sustainability challenges. In contrast, although the green development scenario trails slightly in economic performance compared to rapid development, it fosters a larger urban population and transition of the employed population into citizens while excelling in resource and environmental aspects. Overall, the CCDI attains its highest score under the green development scenario, surpassing those of rapid and inertia development, signifying superior city development coordination along the green path. This scenario effectively combines economic growth, social progress, and resource-environment protection. This study also emphasizes the pivotal role of ports in the coordinated development of border cities and underscores the necessity of expediting the transition from a “gateway” economy to a “port+” economy. One objective of this article is to encourage border cities to serve as more effective windows to the outside world, promote regional coordination, and achieve high-quality development.
The present world pattern has undergone major changes, the trend of world multi-polarization is constantly emerging, and peace and development remain the main themes of today’s society. The formal signing and implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is important for meeting the needs of peace and development of many countries and regions. China is in a new era of reform and opening-up, and the RCEP content is in line with China’s concept of pursuing a path of rejuvenation. Based on the locations of important borders, Yunnan Province has become one of the key places for China’s opening-up and development regarding Southeast Asia and South Asia, and the high-quality development of its tourism service trade is of great significance. This study first used the grounded theory analysis method to organize, analyze and process the records of international conferences and government press conferences held in Yunnan Province, as well as important related issues since the signing of RCEP. Then, the social network analysis method was used to analyze the social recognition degree of RCEP in promoting the high-quality development of the tourism service trade in Yunnan Province from the perspectives of different levels and group consensus. The results show that cooperation is the key macro driving force for RCEP in promoting the high-quality development of the tourism service trade in Yunnan Province. Regarding the opportunities and environment of the transportation dividend, policy dividend and investment dividend, port construction, border township construction and exhibition-related construction are important cooperation contents, so they are conducive to the recovery of the tourism industry in a broader development space. Competition can improve the driving force of RCEP in promoting the high-quality development of the tourism service trade in Yunnan Province at the micro level, and has more practical significance. For example, RCEP can better rely on its own geographical advantages and international market competitiveness, optimize the use of resources inside and outside ports, and use high-tech products to form a more green, ecological, organic and sustainable development. In different levels of social identity, RCEP’s power of cooperation is more strongly recognized, while the power of competition is less recognized. However, from the perspective of grouping the various groups, RCEP’s powers of cooperation and competition are jointly recognized by the other groups, indicating that cooperation and competition are necessary for the realization of RCEP’s power. The results of this study provide a certain reference for understanding the dynamics of RCEP in more detail from more angles and for the local implementation of RCEP rules and measures.
The establishment and management of protected areas (PAs) often involve modifying traditional land use rights and changing the production and living activities of locals, which can lead to changes in the factors that drive land use transitions. Our understanding of the spatiotemporal patterns of land use transition and the contributions of social-ecological drivers remains incomplete. In this study, we focused on the Yarlung Zangbu Grand Canyon National Park and examined how social-ecological factors influence land use transitions by developing a theoretical model of land use transitions within PAs. Our findings revealed that cropland, shrubland, grassland, and wetland experienced net losses in area, while forestland, water, ice/snow, barren land, and impervious land exhibited fluctuating growth patterns from 1985 to 2020. The net decrease in grassland was 157425.60 ha, while the net increase in forest was 140709.20 ha. The quality of land habitat increased from 0.5158 to 0.6656. Land use dominant and recessive transitions displayed varying spatial characteristics and scales across different time periods. In particular, the degree of influence of policy factors on land use dominant transition declined from 0.0800 in 1985-1990 to -0.0432 in 2010-2020, while its influence on land use recessive transition declined from 0.00058 in 1985-1990 to 0 in 2010-2020. The results show that social-ecological factors intricately influenced different types of land use transitions, leading to a shift from a balanced state to a new equilibrium. These results enhance our understanding of the spatiotemporal patterns and complex dynamics of land use transitions within PAs, providing insights and practical implications for effective land management in PAs by considering the land-human relationships.
Karst regions are the typical areas of interaction between human society and natural ecosystems. Understanding the historical mechanisms of the evolution of social-ecological systems (SES) is crucial for the future sustainable management of karst regions. This study selected Guangxi, a typical karst mountainous region in Southwest China, as the study area, and used population, cropland area, and forest coverage as the SES elements. Based on the framework of SES research in the karst region, it adopted segmented linear regression to identify the stages of the interactions among these elements, to reveal the evolutionary stages of social development from the long-term perspective. In addition, the driving factor indicators were constructed from the aspects of natural environment, social development, government policy, and climate change, and then the feedback changes brought about by the evolution were investigated. The results show that the evolution of SES in Guangxi from 1363-2020 can be divided into seven stages. In the first, second, and early period of the third stages, the government of Guangxi mainly focused on agricultural activities, although the only way to meet the growing demand for food was by expanding the area of cropland, and the timber trade’s pursuit of economic development, resulting in an increase in rocky desertification. In the fourth stage, the ecological environment improved under the implementation of measures such as the control of rocky desertification and the compensation of forest ecological benefits. After the fifth stage, the effect of rocky desertification control has been remarkable. Although the implementation of relevant policies has alleviated the environmental problems to some extent, the continual changes in the structure and function of SES can challenge further progress towards sustainability in karst regions. This study aims to provide a reference for the long-term national spatial planning and the development of environmental policies in karst regions.
The Weihe River Basin has a significant number of tributaries and a delicate ecological environment. Understanding the spatial and temporal evolution and determinants of landscape ecological risk in the Weihe River Basin (WRB) can improve the scientific protection and development of its watershed ecosystems. This study is based on land use statistics from the WRB for a 30-year period represented by 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020. An initial model for the assessment of landscaping ecological hazards was created using the software that was also used to generate the landscape ecological risk index, such as ArcGIS 10.4 and Fragstats 4.2-64. Next, the spatial and temporal evolution of landscape ecological risk in the vicinity of the study area was characterized by the trajectory of the center of gravity migration and the spatial autocorrelation of GeoDa. Finally, Geodetector was used to analyze ecological risk drivers in the landscapes. According to the findings, the high-risk and relatively high-risk regions are steadily expanding, while the low-risk and relatively low-risk areas dominate the ecological risk landscape in the WRB. Within the Weihe River Basin, Xianyang and Xi'an are the areas to which the high-risk centers of gravity are migrating. Positive spatial correlations were found between the landscape ecological hazards in the study area, most prominently in the form of high-high and low-low aggregations. The primary drivers are the interplay between the GDP component, temperature, and elevation as a single factor.
A comprehensive assessment of climate change vulnerability is imperative for formulating effective adaptation strategies and advancing sustainable development goals. As one of the most climate-vulnerable regions globally, the Pan-Third Pole area lacks transnational vulnerability assessments, which poses a significant obstacle to efficient climate adaptation. This study conducted transnational comparisons based on primary micro-survey data collected uniformly across Nepal, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar, which are all located in the Pan-Third Pole region. Evaluating and comparing the vulnerabilities employed an extended framework of climate change indicators. The findings reveal substantial variations in vulnerability among the countries, with Cambodia exhibiting the highest vulnerability, followed by Thailand, Myanmar, and Nepal in descending order, primarily due to differences in exposure. Household exposure to climate change also varied significantly. Sensitivity scores decreased in the order of Nepal > Cambodia > Thailand > Myanmar, with demographic factors, tap water accessibility, and land being the major contributors and sources of differentiation among the countries. Regarding adaptability, Thailand demonstrated the highest adaptability, with human and financial capital as the key differentiators. The outcomes underscore the need for tailored policy measures addressing the diverse vulnerabilities, including enhancing household disaster prevention and capital protection. Furthermore, targeted international investments are crucial for improving adaptability among smallholders in this unique region.
Achieving common prosperity is the essential requirement of Chinese modernization, and the integration of culture and tourism is of great significance as an important path to narrow the regional gap, and effectively “improve quality” and “increase income”. This study used the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2010 to 2019, and conducted empirical tests by using the panel fixed effects model and the mediation effects model. The results indicated that the integration of culture and tourism can significantly promote the realization of common prosperity. This integration can promote common prosperity by increasing the income and consumption level of urban and rural residents, the degree of equalization of basic public services and the capacity for sustainable development. Spatial analysis shows that there are regional differences in the promotion of common prosperity by cultural and tourism integration, which is particularly obvious in ethnic and non-ethnic areas. Finally, in response to the existing problems identified in the above analyses, countermeasure recommendations that align with the actual development are put forward.
The temporal-spatial pattern of linear cultural heritage in the context of the tourism industry is closely linked to heritage management. Using the 1800 km long Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal as an example, this study compared the dynamic evolution of tourism businesses in Beijing, Liaocheng, and Yangzhou at three time points (2010, 2015, and 2019) via nearest neighbor analysis, kernel density estimation, and the standard deviational ellipse. Next, a Geo-detector was used to examine the influencing factors. The results reveal significant growth regardless of the quantity or agglomeration degree from 2010 to 2019, and the direction of industrial expansion is consistent with the flow direction of the canal. Moreover, the explanatory powers of factors related to socioeconomic development and canal resources are obviously stronger than those of the natural environment. The findings of this study offer theoretical constructs and policy recommendations for the sustainable development of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and other linear cultural heritage sites.
The exploration of ecological safety in tourism sites can provide a concrete path for sustainable tourism development in a region. Based on the “Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response” (DPSIR) model, we constructed an index system for the evaluation of tourism ecological security (TES) in the Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB) from 2005 to 2020. This index system was used to explore the characteristics of spatial and temporal dynamic evolution with the help of entropy weight TOPSIS method, dynamic index of TES and Markov probability transfer matrix, and a standard deviational ellipse (SDE) model and GM(1,1) model were constructed for spatial pattern analysis and prediction. The results indicate four key aspects of this system. (1) In terms of spatiotemporal evolution, the tourism ecological safety index (TESI) of the SREB increased, the TES levels of the northwestern and southwestern provinces and cities differed significantly, and the quality conditions of TES in the southwestern provinces and cities were better than in the northwest. (2) In terms of dynamic evolutionary characteristics, the speed of change at each level of the SREB was slow, but the level of TES has improved. The TES level has not shifted by leaps and bounds, and the shifts in the level type show “path dependence” and “self-locking” effects. (3) In terms of spatial and temporal distribution patterns, the spatial pattern of TES in the SREB is a “northwest-southeast” movement trend, and the spatial distribution appeared as “aggregation” from 2005 to 2020. The prediction results show that the center of gravity of TES in the SREB will shift to the southeast from 2025 to 2035, and the spatial spillover effect will be reduced. (4) In terms of driving factors, the number of star-rated hotels, and the amounts of industrial wastewater emissions, tourism foreign exchange earnings, forest coverage, and other parameters are the key factors affecting TES, and the booming tourism industry requires the interconnection and interpenetration of various factors. The results of this study can provide a reference for tourism development and ecological environmental protection in the Silk Road Economic Belt.
The analysis of the spatial distribution of tourism resources and the identification of its influencing factors are crucial for supporting the sustainable development of regional tourism. This study established a comprehensive database of tourism resources in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (Ningxia) through a combination of literature review and field research. It examined the quantitative, qualitative, and categorical characteristics of tourism resources in Ningxia, and determined the spatial patterns based on kernel density and spatial association analysis. This study also comprehensively evaluated the societal, economic, and environmental factors influencing the spatial distribution of tourism resources in the entire region by employing the geographical detector model to quantify the influence of each factor. The following results were obtained. (1) There were 29218 individual tourism resources in Ningxia, comprising eight main types, 23 subtypes, and 105 fundamental types, and they exhibit a hierarchical pyramidal structure. (2) The tourism resources in Ningxia displayed characteristics of “widespread regional dispersion and limited regional agglomeration”. The spatial distribution of tourism resources was highly imbalanced, and most types of tourism resources exhibit strong positive spatial correlation. (3) The altitude, annual precipitation, population density, distance from urban centers, urbanization rate, and per capita GDP were identified as significant factors influencing the spatial distribution of tourism resources in Ningxia. Based on the results, we recommend that the government should formulate tourism development policies in Ningxia based on local conditions to effectively address the spatial imbalances, enhance the sustainability of tourism development, and continue to promote high-quality tourism development in Ningxia.
The cognition of low-carbon tourism among tourists is closely related to education level. In this study, the degree of coordination of low-carbon cognition with different educational levels is assessed by the coupling model in Wutai Mountain, and the effect of each factor on low-carbon cognition is analyzed by the geographical detector. The results show that: (1) The six cognition aspects of low-carbon tourism gradually transition from the level of intermediate coordination to good coordination with the advancement of the education level. Both the low-level and lower-level tourists belong to the lag type of low-carbon visiting cognition, and the higher-level tourists belong to the lag type of low-carbon shopping cognition, while the high-level tourists show the lag type of low-carbon food cognition. (2) According to the individual factors and interactive effects in the geographical detector, each impacting factor has a decisive effect on tourists’ cognition of low-carbon tourism, and the effect of any two factors after interaction shows either a double-factor or nonlinear enhancement. The findings of this study provide valuable practical implications for helping tourism destinations to educate tourists and improve their low-carbon tourism options. At the same time, this study will provide theoretical standards for measuring tourists’ cognition of low-carbon tourism, so as to enrich and improve the theoretical research related to low-carbon tourism.
As a pivotal element within the modern service industry, tourism possesses the capacity to reconfigure regional economic dynamics, alter resource flow patterns, and notably influence urban green development. By establishing an evaluation index system for urban green development across 60 prefecture-level cities within the Yellow River Basin from 2006 to 2021, this study employs the spatial Durbin model to delve into the nonlinear relationship between the tourism economy and urban green development. Furthermore, it investigates the heterogeneous impact of the tourism economy on green development across varying levels of urbanization. This study reveals several key findings: (1) Both tourism economy and urban green development exhibit significant spatial clustering, with tourism economy showing “midstream>downstream>upstream” and urban green development showing “downstream>midstream>upstream”. (2) The tourism economy exerts a non-linear positive influence on the green development of cities, characterized by a non-linear inverted “S” shape in its direct impact and a nonlinear “S” shape in its indirect impact. (3) As urbanization rate level escalate, the positive influence of the tourism economy on urban green development follows a non-linear trajectory, initially declining before ascending. Specifically, when the urbanization rate level is below the first threshold value, the tourism economy notably promotes urban green development. However, between the first and second threshold values, this positive impact diminishes, only to rebound beyond the second threshold value.
With the promotion of the rural revitalization strategy, cultural and creative industries of tourism have gradually become an important driving force for rural revitalization. Since the economic level of minority areas is low and the concept of industrial development lags behind, developing the cultural and creative industries of tourism has a positive role in cultural revitalization and economic structure transformation. In recent years, Ebian Yi Autonomous County (Ebian County) has relied on rich intangible cultural heritage resources and achieved fruitful results in the development of cultural and creative products of rural tourism, adding vitality to its rural tourism and rural revitalization. Starting from the economy and the development of cultural and creative industries empowered by intangible cultural heritage (ICH), this study analyzed the impact of related cultural and creative products of Ebian County on its economic development in the five-year period from 2018 to 2022 by means of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Three main conclusions could be drawn. (1) The impact of intangible cultural heritage cultural and creative industries of Ebian County on the economy has been positive and expanding gradually with time. (2) The number of inheritors and workshops, and the business income of workshops are the three major factors affecting the development of cultural and creative industries. (3) Ebian already has a good foundation of cultural and creative industries of intangible cultural heritage, so the investment of funds and training of talents have played a major role in promoting the development of cultural and creative industries of intangible cultural heritage.
