Study on the Correlation Mechanism Between the Spatial Distribution and Ecological Environmental Suitability of Traditional Villages in the Xiangjiang River Basin

Chuan He, Wanqing Chen (), Lili Chen and Jianhe Xu
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Chuan He: School of Architecture, Changsha University of Science and Technology, Changsha 410076, China
Wanqing Chen: School of Architecture, Changsha University of Science and Technology, Changsha 410076, China
Lili Chen: School of Architecture, Changsha University of Science and Technology, Changsha 410076, China
Jianhe Xu: School of Architecture, Changsha University of Science and Technology, Changsha 410076, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-24

Abstract: The spatial morphology of traditional villages stems from prolonged interactions between socio-economic conditions and the regional natural environment under specific historical contexts. Over time, these settlements have acquired distinct spatial patterns through continuous adaptation to their surrounding ecosystems. Nevertheless, accelerated urbanization now exerts dual pressures—disrupting the spatial order and degrading natural ecosystems. In this context, an integrated analysis of the relationship between village spatial patterns and ecological conditions is essential for elucidating their formative mechanisms. The Xiangjiang River Basin is Hunan’s cultural core, and the spatial distribution of traditional villages is directly related to environmental variables. This study uses bivariate spatial autocorrelation and geographically weighted regression to investigate the relationship between the spatial distribution of traditional villages and ecological environmental appropriateness. The findings indicate the following: (1) The spatial distribution density of traditional villages in the Xiangjiang River Basin exhibits a negative correlation with the Ecological Environment Index (EEI), as evidenced by a Moran’s I value of −0.228. This suggests that traditional villages tend to be less concentrated in areas with a higher ecological suitability. (2) Among natural factors, the Relief Degree of Land Surface (RDLS), the Temperature Humidity Index (THI), and the Land Cover Index (LCI) display positive correlations with village density, with regression coefficients of 0.865, 0.003, and 11.599, respectively. In contrast, the Water Resource Index (WRI) shows a negative correlation, with a coefficient of −6.448, and (3) the impact of ecological suitability factors on village distribution is spatially heterogeneous: microtopographic variation is the primary driver in flat terrains, whereas the ecological carrying capacity exerts a greater influence in mountainous areas. These findings clarify the role of ecological suitability in shaping the spatial characteristics of traditional villages and provide a scientific basis for developing protection strategies that integrate ecological sustainability with cultural–heritage preservation.

Keywords: traditional villages; ecological environmental suitability; correlation mechanism; Xiangjiang River Basin; spatial autocorrelation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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