Urban Human Settlement Vulnerability Evolution and Mechanisms: The Case of Anhui Province, China

Abstract

In this paper, taking the jurisdiction of Anhui Province as the research area, a vulnerability assessment index system of human settlements was constructed from “exposure–sensitivity–coping ability”. Based on the GIS spatial analysis method, the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of human settlements in Anhui Province were analyzed. The influences of human factors and natural factors on the spatial differentiation of human settlement vulnerability were explored by using geographic detectors, and the driving mechanism of the evolution of human settlement vulnerability was analyzed. An analysis of the results showed the following: ① With a change in the time scale, the human settlement vulnerability index showed a trend of decreasing year by year, the exposure and sensitivity show a downward trend year by year in the three major subsystems, and the coping ability shows an upward trend year by year. ② The evolution of the vulnerability subsystems of exposure, sensitivity, and coping ability in human settlement environments showed the directions of “medium–high–low (M−H−L)” in the early stage, “low–high–medium (L−H−M)” in the middle stage, and “low–medium–high (L−M−H)” in the later stage. ③ The causes of high vulnerability were as follows: The leading factors in the early stage were natural factors, the leading factors in the middle period were natural and human factors, and the leading factors in the later stage were human factors. ④ One−factor and two−factor interactive detection using a geodetector showed that urbanization, industrialization, land use control, and per capita income levels have become key and “short−board” factors that control the vulnerability of human settlements.

The Response of Carbon Storage to Multi-Objective Land Use/Cover Spatial Optimization and Vulnerability Assessment

“…Simultaneously, the conversion of high-carbon-density land types (forest and cropland) into low-carbon-density land types (built-up land) has led to a decrease in ecosystem carbon storage service capacity, indicating that LULC still has a negative impact on the ecosystem carbon storage services in the lower reaches of the YRB. Zheng et al [75], Fu et al [76], and Song et al [77] have independently emphasized the significant improvement in urban LULC intensity and the significant expansion of construction areas in the lower reaches of the YRB, including the areas of Shanghai Municipality, Jiangsu Province, and Anhui Province, respectively, following the implementation of the reform and opening up policy. Cai et al [78] have also demonstrated a continuous decline in carbon storage in the Yangtze River Delta region from 1995 to 2020.…”

Effect of Ecoliteracy on Farmers’ Participation in Pesticide Packaging Waste Governance Behavior: Evidence from Rural North China

“…It is urgent, then, to improve PPW management to support green agricultural development 9,10 .As important participants in PPW treatment, farmers are the main link for improving its e ciency 11 . China has contractually cooperated with farmers through project-based policies and public service outsourcing to standardize the performance of farmers' duties 12,13 . Although regulations have produced some achievements in PPW treatment, farmers' enthusiasm for PPW participation is generally low 14 , and the recovery rate is less than 15% 15 .…”