Ecological security level of resource-based cities in the Yellow River Basin and trend of change

Abstract

[Objective] This study aimed to examine the boundary of ecological security level of resource-based cities in the Yellow River Basin, and analyze the transfer rule and convergence characteristics of ecological security level reflected in different time and space, in order to provide a reference for the high-quality development of resource-based cities. [Methods] The ecological security evaluation system of resource-based cities in the Yellow River Basin was established based on the state-stress-immunity (SDI) model, and the ecological security class boundary of these cities was estimated by the fuzzy matter-element model. The spatial and temporal distribution characteristics were analyzed based on the kernel density curve and Moran’s I index, the spatiotemporal transfer rules were analyzed by the Markov chain and spatial Markov chain, and the convergence characteristics were studied by convergence and absolute test. [Results] This paper defines the boundary value of ecological security level of resource-based cities in the Yellow River Basin. The ecological security level of resource-based cities in the Yellow River Basin still has a large space for improvement, and it presented a V-shaped development trend temporally and a high-low-high distribution pattern spatially. The transfer of ecological security level of these cities were path-dependent and showed a lock-in effect, and the change of ecological security usually occurred between adjacent levels. The difference of ecological security of resource-based cities in the Yellow River Basin showed obvious catch-up effect, which was more prominent in the lower reaches and the medium-value areas. [Conclusion] Based on the current situation that the ecological security level of resource-based cities in the Yellow River Basin is generally low, development policies should be formulated in different areas considering differences in development stage. Based on the transfer pattern of ecological security level of these cities, attention should be paid to the leading role of cities with higher ecological security level. Based on the catch-up effect of ecological security of these cities, complementary development of resource-based cities should be realized on the basis of strengthening regional coordinated development.

Keywords

• |ecological security|state-stress-immunity (sdi) model|fuzzy matter-element model|resource-based cities|yellow river basin