A novel remote sensing ecological vulnerability index on large scale: A case study of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor region

Hongwei Wu; Bing Guo; Junfu Fan; Fei Yang; Baomin Han; Cuixia Wei; Yuefeng Lu; Wenqian Zang; Xiaoyan Zhen; Chao Meng

Ecological Indicators (Oct 2021)

A novel remote sensing ecological vulnerability index on large scale: A case study of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor region

Hongwei Wu,
Bing Guo,
Junfu Fan,
Fei Yang,
Baomin Han,
Cuixia Wei,
Yuefeng Lu,
Wenqian Zang,
Xiaoyan Zhen,
Chao Meng

Affiliations

Hongwei Wu: School of Civil Architectural Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, Shandong, China
Bing Guo: School of Civil Architectural Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, Shandong, China; Geomatics Technology and Application Key Laboratory of Qinghai Province, Xining 810001, China; State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Key Laboratory of UrbanLand Resources Monitoring and Simulation, Ministry of Natural Resources, Shenzhen 518000, China; Key Laboratory of National Geographic Census and Monitoring, Ministry of Natural Resources, Wuhan 430072, China; Key Laboratory of Land Use, MNR, China Land Survey and Planning Institute, Beijing 100035, China; Key Laboratory of Meteorology and Ecological Environment of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang 050021, Hebei, China; Key Laboratory of Digital Earth Science, Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Corresponding authors at: School of Civil Architectural Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, Shandong, China (B. Guo; J.F. Fan); State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China (F. Yang).
Junfu Fan: School of Civil Architectural Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, Shandong, China; Corresponding authors at: School of Civil Architectural Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, Shandong, China (B. Guo; J.F. Fan); State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China (F. Yang).
Fei Yang: State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Corresponding authors at: School of Civil Architectural Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, Shandong, China (B. Guo; J.F. Fan); State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China (F. Yang).
Baomin Han: School of Civil Architectural Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, Shandong, China
Cuixia Wei: School of Civil Architectural Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, Shandong, China
Yuefeng Lu: School of Civil Architectural Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, Shandong, China
Wenqian Zang: Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
Xiaoyan Zhen: Key Laboratory of Meteorology and Ecological Environment of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang 050021, Hebei, China
Chao Meng: Key Laboratory of Land Use, MNR, China Land Survey and Planning Institute, Beijing 100035, China

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 129
p. 107955

Abstract

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There were dramatic changes in the ecological vulnerability (EV) of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) region due to the effects of climate change and human activity. Obtaining field observation and statistical data for the evaluation of the EV of the CPEC region is difficult due to its transnational status. This study proposes a novel remote sensing ecological vulnerability index (RSEVI) based on the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), STRM3, DMSP-OLS, and NPP-VIIRS products. The RSEVI index was applied to the CPEC region to investigate the spatiotemporal changes in EV and the influencing factors during 2000–2019. The results showed that: (1) the large-scale application of the RSEVI index showed good applicability to the CPEC region, with a precision of 89.75%; (2) the average RSEVI value for the CPEC region was 0.83, thereby falling into a category of “intensive vulnerability”; (3) a stable trend in RSEVI was observed for the entire CPEC region during the study period, except for the Indus Basin where there was a significant change; (4) the increasing rate of the RSEVI in the northeastern parts exceeded that of other parts during 2000–2019; (5) precipitation, temperature, and vegetation coverage showed negative relationships with RSEVI, whereas RSEVI showed a positive relationship with slope. The RSEVI results indicated that ice and bare land were the most vulnerable, whereas cropland was the least vulnerable; (6) there were differences in the dominant factor and dominant interactive factor among different sub-regions. The results of this study could provide important decision support for the protection of the ecological environment and for economic development.

Published in Ecological Indicators

ISSN: 1470-160X (Print); 1872-7034 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science: Biology (General): Ecology
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/ecological-indicators

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