Comprehensive assessment of ecological vulnerability in arid-semiarid regions based on the ACEVI model and ANP-EWM method: A case study of the HBOYUA (China)
As one of the “Nineteen Major Urban Agglomerations” in China, the Hohhot-Baotou-Ordos-Yulin Urban Agglomeration (HBOYUA) serves as a representative case of arid-semiarid regions in the northwest. Assessing its ecological vulnerability and exploring its spatiotemporal patterns is essential for region...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Ecological Informatics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S157495412500353X |
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| Summary: | As one of the “Nineteen Major Urban Agglomerations” in China, the Hohhot-Baotou-Ordos-Yulin Urban Agglomeration (HBOYUA) serves as a representative case of arid-semiarid regions in the northwest. Assessing its ecological vulnerability and exploring its spatiotemporal patterns is essential for regional sustainability. To address the need for large-scale and long time-series monitoring of ecological vulnerability dynamics in such environments, this study develops the Arid-Semiarid Regions Comprehensive Ecological Vulnerability Index (ACEVI). The index is constructed within the Pressure-Vulnerability-Adaptive (PVA) framework, and incorporates a hybrid weighting approach that combines the Analytic Network Process (ANP) with the Entropy Weight Method (EWM). The ACEVI utilizes multimodal data to integrate typical characteristic elements of arid-semiarid regions. Its weighting method takes full account of the interdependence among indicators within the same stratum and captures the evolving importance of each indicator over time. Applying the ACEVI to HBOYUA reveals that: Spatially, ecological vulnerability follows a gradient change, with higher vulnerability concentrated in the northern and western parts, particularly in densely populated urban cores, the Hobq Desert, and the Mu Us Sandy Land. In contrast, the southern and eastern regions exhibit lower vulnerability. Temporally, the region as a whole shows a steady decline in ecological vulnerability; however, central urban areas within each city exhibit a persistent and stable increase. These urban centers should thus be prioritized for ecological risk monitoring and targeted management interventions. The proposed index provides a theoretical basis for monitoring and assessing ecological vulnerability in arid-semiarid regions, contributing to their sustainable development. |
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| ISSN: | 1574-9541 |