Impact of Urbanization on Ecosystem Health: A Case Study in Zhuhai, China

Abstract

The past decades have witnessed rapid urbanization around the world. This is particularly evident in Zhuhai City, given its status as one of the earliest special economic zones in China. After experiencing rapid urbanization for decades, the level of ecosystem health (ESH) in Zhuhai City has become a focus of attention. Assessments of urban ESH and spatial correlations between urbanization and ESH not only reveal the states of urban ecosystems and the extent to which urbanization affected these ecosystems, but also provide new insights into sustainable eco-environmental planning and resource management. In this study, we assessed the ESH of Zhuhai City using a selected set of natural, social and economic indicators. The data used include Landsat Thematic Mapper images and socio-economic data of 1999, 2005, 2009 and 2013. The results showed that the overall ESH value and ecosystem service function have been on the decline while Zhuhai City has continued to become more urbanized. The total ESH health level trended downward and the area ratio of weak and relatively weak health level increased significantly, while the areas of well and relatively well healthy state decreased since 1999. The spatial correlation analysis shows a distinct negative correlation between urbanization and ESH. The degree of negative correlation shows an upward trend with the processes of urban sprawl. The analysis results reveal the impact of urbanization on urban ESH and provide useful information for planners and environment managers to take measures to improve the health conditions of urban ecosystems.

Impact of Fast Urbanization on Ecosystem Health in Mountainous Regions of Southwest China

“…This method is applied in some studies about regional ecosystem health assessment. Cui [27] involved ecosystem services in ESH assessment of Zhuhai, China. Li select 27 indicators covering vigor, organization, resilience, and ecosystem service aspects to assess Beijing and Shanghai's urban ecosystem health from 2000 to 2011 [28].…”

Natural Resource Management in the Context of Sustainable Development of Territories Within Special Economic Zones

“…According to the authors, land use can also lead to massive changes in the concept of health of ecosystems located in special economic zones (Nan et al 2019). However, most experts believe that location and land plot are the most important criteria in establishing special economic zones, taking into account environmental sustainability (Ahmed et al 2020).…”

“…The foreign experience of land use and management of natural resources in the works of (Bürgi et al 2017), (Nawaz et al 2020), (Tasser et al 2017). Foreign works emphasize the peculiarities of natural resource management in special economic zones (Ahmed et al 2020), (Nan et al 2019), (Roy and Murthy 2009), (Villiers 2020).…”

Assessment of Ecosystem Health and Its Key Determinants in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River Urban Agglomeration, China

“…At present, mainly two research methods are used to evaluate ecosystem health: indicator species and index system methods [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. The indicator species method is mainly used to evaluate aquatic ecosystem health, whereas the index system method is more suitable for the study of composite ecosystems.…”

“…The Stress–State–Response (PSR) conceptual model was established by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the United Nations Environment Programme. The model was constructed based on an index system used for the evaluation of the landscape pattern of coastal ecosystem health, which is one of the most widely used methods for ecosystem health evaluation [ 13 , 14 ]. Costanza et al (1992) proposed a method that can be used to calculate ecosystem health by integrating ecosystem health indicators.…”