SDGs-Based River Health Assessment for Small- and Medium-Sized Watersheds

Chenyang Xue, Chaofeng Shao and Sihan Chen
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Chenyang Xue: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
Chaofeng Shao: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
Sihan Chen: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 5, 1-20

Abstract: A river health assessment index system was established, focusing on the realistic needs of county sustainable development and the refined management of small- and medium-sized watersheds. The index system takes into consideration the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the vulnerability characteristics of small- and medium-sized watershed ecosystems and consists of 15 indicators in four areas: clean water, sanitation, the present status of biodiversity and threats to biodiversity. This paper uses the minimum discrimination information principle to construct a dynamic combination-weighting technology composed of a subjective weighting method (document frequency method) and an objective weighting method (entropy weight method). Using the fuzzy matter-element analysis theory, a comprehensive river health assessment technology system was constructed. Baoxing County was chosen as the research area and the results reveal that: (1) Key indicators are the biodiversity index of fish, water use intensity, endemic or indicative species retention, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) emissions. (2) The Euclid approach degree of Baoxing County indicates that the entire river is in a moderate state of health. In the future, towns must take targeted measures to coordinate the relationship between the ecological environment and socio-economic development, and enhancement and releasing must be prioritised.

Keywords: SDGs; river health assessment; small- and medium-sized watersheds; fuzzy matter-element model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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