Differential Evaluation of Ecological Resilience in 45 Cities along the Yangtze River in China: A New Multidimensional Analysis Framework

Chong Li, Yibao Wang (), Wen Qing, Cuixi Li and Yujiang Yang
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Chong Li: School of Public Polcy and Management (School of Emergency Management), China University of Mining Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Yibao Wang: School of Public Polcy and Management (School of Emergency Management), China University of Mining Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Wen Qing: School of Public Polcy and Management (School of Emergency Management), China University of Mining Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Cuixi Li: School of Public Polcy and Management (School of Emergency Management), China University of Mining Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Yujiang Yang: School of Public Polcy and Management (School of Emergency Management), China University of Mining Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 10, 1-17

Abstract: The rapid pace of urbanization and global climate change necessitates a thorough assessment of urban ecological resilience to cultivate sustainable regional ecosystem development. Cities along the Yangtze River face an intensifying conflict between ecological preservation and socio-economic growth. Analyzing the ecological resilience of these urban centers is essential for achieving equilibrium in regional urban ecosystems. This study proposes a “system process space” attribute analysis framework, taking into account urban development processes, ecosystem structure, and resilience evolution stages. Utilizing data from 45 Yangtze River cities, we establish a “Driver, Pressure, State, Impact, and Response” (DPSIR) evaluation index system to evaluate changes in ecological resilience levels and evolution trends from 2011 to 2022. Our findings indicate that: (1) The ecological resilience index of Yangtze River cities increased from 0.177 to 0.307 between 2011 and 2022, progressing through three phases: ecological resilience construction, rapid development, and stable development. (2) At the city level, ecological resilience along the Yangtze River exhibits uneven development characteristics. Upstream cities display a significant “stepped” pattern, midstream cities exhibit a significant “Matthew effect”, and downstream cities present a pyramid-shaped pattern. While regional differences in ecological resilience persist, overall polarization is gradually decreasing, intercity connections are strengthening, and there is a growing focus on coordinated regional development. (3) The spatial distribution of ecological resilience in Yangtze River cities demonstrates both continuity and evolution, generally forming a “core-edge” clustered pattern. Based on these findings, we recommend enhancing inter-city cooperation and connectivity, addressing imbalances in urban ecological resilience, and promoting high-quality ecological resilience development along the Yangtze River through tailored development strategies for each city.

Keywords: cities along the Yangtze River Basin; UER (urban ecosystem resilience); DPSIR (driver, pressure, state, impact, and response); adaptive cycle; PLE (production–living–ecological); human and environment interaction; differential evaluation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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