Spatiotemporal evolution of ecological vulnerability on the Loess Plateau

作者：Xianqi Zhang, Yunan Zheng, Yang Yang, He Ren, Jiawen Liu · 发表于：Ecological Indicators · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.113060 · 被引用次数：24 · 研究领域：Climate change impacts on agriculture、Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology、Land Use and Ecosystem Services

• A new ecological vulnerability assessment system was developed using SRP and IFAHP. • From 1990 to 2020, policy measures reduced vulnerability in the Loess Plateau. • The study was analyzed from a provincial perspective to guide regional development. • Vegetation coverage is the most important factor in ecological vulnerability. The Loess Plateau, located in the northwest of China, is one of the country’s most ecologically fragile regions and a significant source of sediment transported by the Yellow River. Given its ecological importance, a comprehensive assessment of its vulnerability is essential for informing sustainable development initiatives. This study evaluates the ecological vulnerability of the Loess Plateau and aims to provide a theoretical basis for promoting long-term ecological restoration in the region. The “Sensitivity-Resilience-Pressure” (SRP) model was employed to select indicators for assessing ecological vulnerability, while an improved fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (IFAHP) was used to determine the relative weights of these indicators. Using GIS-based overlay analysis, an ecological vulnerability index was calculated, enabling the assessment of spatiotemporal changes and identification of key influencing factors. The results indicate a decreasing trend in ecological vulnerability over the past three decades, with vulnerability levels showing a distinct northwest-to-southeast gradient. Significant spatial variation was observed, with the highest lev...