IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/ecomod/v505y2025ics0304380025001061.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Evaluating comprehensive watershed management sustainability based on the emergy ecological footprint model: A case study of Hainan Island, China

Author

Listed:
  • Lu, Xudong
  • Chen, Jiadong
  • Guo, Jianchao
  • Wu, Hui
  • Zuo, Qin
  • Chen, Yizhuang
  • Huang, Xian
  • Qi, Shi

Abstract

Comprehensive watershed management, which realizes the protection, optimal utilization and ecological restoration of regional soil and water resources is the primary method for controlling soil and water loss in China. However, the deployment of soil erosion control measures requires many resources that increase the environmental load and thus impact ecosystem sustainability. In this study, an emergy ecological footprint model based on emergy theory was developed, and to assess the sustainability of a comprehensive watershed management ecosystem on Hainan Island, China. The results show that: (1) Among the input resources, the emergy ecological footprint (EEF) of machinery was the largest, at 3213.89 hm²; among the construction resources, high-strength materials such as stone, concrete and steel bars were mainly used, and the EEF was greater than 60 %. (2) The primary sources of EEF for comprehensive watershed management were engineering measures project (8554.33 hm²), at >92 %. Gulley erosion control (GEC) was the largest source, followed by slope water works (SWW) and field roads (FR). (3) Renewable resources provide the main ecological carrying capacity (ECC) of the comprehensive watershed management ecosystem; however, the sum of ecological and economic benefit ECCs is 23.92 %. (4) Initially, the ecological profit and loss of the comprehensive watershed management ecosystem (CWME) was −7099.81 hm², and the ecological footprint intensity was 4.28, indicating an ecological deficit, which is not conducive to sustainable development. However, an ecological turning point occurred in 2025: the cumulative ECC exceeded the cumulative EEF, at which point CWME achieved an ecological surplus. Therefore, although the preconstruction period generates considerable ecological pressure, overall, comprehensive watershed management supports sustainable development of the ecological environment. This study provides new trade-off ideas for ecological restoration projects such as comprehensive watershed management.

Suggested Citation

  • Lu, Xudong & Chen, Jiadong & Guo, Jianchao & Wu, Hui & Zuo, Qin & Chen, Yizhuang & Huang, Xian & Qi, Shi, 2025. "Evaluating comprehensive watershed management sustainability based on the emergy ecological footprint model: A case study of Hainan Island, China," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 505(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:505:y:2025:i:c:s0304380025001061
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2025.111120
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304380025001061
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2025.111120?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yang, Qing & Liu, Gengyuan & Giannetti, Biagio F. & Agostinho, Feni & M.V.B. Almeida, Cecília & Casazza, Marco, 2020. "Emergy-based ecosystem services valuation and classification management applied to China’s grasslands," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 42(C).
    2. Lu, Yanhua & Yan, Lijuan & Li, Jie & Liang, Yunliang & Yang, Chuanjie & Li, Guang & Wu, Jiangqi & Xu, Hua, 2024. "Spatiotemporal evolution of county level ecological security based on an emergy ecological footprint model: The case of Dingxi, China," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 490(C).
    3. Xie, Hualin & Huang, Yingqian & Choi, Yongrok & Shi, Jiaying, 2021. "Evaluating the sustainable intensification of cultivated land use based on emergy analysis," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    4. Fartout Enayat, Fatemeh & Ghanbari, Seyed Ahmad & Asgharipour, Mohammad Reza & Seyedabadi, Esmaeel, 2023. "Emergy ecological footprint analysis of Yaghooti grape production in the Sistan region of Iran," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 481(C).
    5. Brown, Mark T. & Campbell, Daniel E. & De Vilbiss, Christopher & Ulgiati, Sergio, 2016. "The geobiosphere emergy baseline: A synthesis," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 339(C), pages 92-95.
    6. Yang, Z.F. & Jiang, M.M. & Chen, B. & Zhou, J.B. & Chen, G.Q. & Li, S.C., 2010. "Solar emergy evaluation for Chinese economy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(2), pages 875-886, February.
    7. Meng, Shiting & Huang, Qingxu & Zhang, Ling & He, Chunyang & Inostroza, Luis & Bai, Yansong & Yin, Dan, 2020. "Matches and mismatches between the supply of and demand for cultural ecosystem services in rapidly urbanizing watersheds: A case study in the Guanting Reservoir basin, China," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    8. Mosaffaie, Jamal & Salehpour Jam, Amin & Tabatabaei, Mahmoud Reza & Kousari, Mahammad Reza, 2021. "Trend assessment of the watershed health based on DPSIR framework," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Clasen, Arno P. & Agostinho, Feni & Sulis, Federico & Almeida, Cecília M.V.B & Giannetti, Biagio F., 2024. "Unlocking the potential of municipal solid waste: Emergy accounting applied in a novel biorefinery," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 492(C).
    2. Hu, Miao & Bian, Yongtao & Ji, Guangxing, 2025. "Assessing the sustainability of China's coastal regions: A perspective on local coupling and telecoupling," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 501(C).
    3. Ziwei Li & Qiuying Ma & Yong Wang & Fengxue Shi & Haibo Jiang & Chunguang He, 2024. "Study on the Structure, Efficiency, and Driving Factors of an Eco-Agricultural Park Based on Emergy: A Case Study of Jinchuan Eco-Agricultural Park," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-19, April.
    4. Hu, Jiayu & Ma, Xiaohan & Lyu, Yanfeng & Zhang, Xiaohong, 2024. "An integrated environmental-economic assessment of orange production in China during 2010–2020," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 498(C).
    5. Yun Liu & Johan Afendi Bin Ibrahim & Yen Sin Foo, 2024. "Emergy-Based Evaluation of the Sustainability of Agricultural Ecosystem in Dazhou, China, from 2002 to 2022," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-16, October.
    6. Lee, Dong Joo & Brown, Mark T., 2021. "Estimating the Value of Global Ecosystem Structure and Productivity: A Geographic Information System and Emergy Based Approach," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 439(C).
    7. Lu, Hongfang & Campbell, Elliott T. & Campbell, Daniel E. & Wang, Changwei & Ren, Hai, 2017. "Dynamics of ecosystem services provided by subtropical forests in Southeast China during succession as measured by donor and receiver value," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 23(C), pages 248-258.
    8. Chen, Yuhong & Lyu, Yanfeng & Yang, Xiangdong & Zhang, Xiaohong & Pan, Hengyu & Wu, Jun & Lei, Yongjia & Zhang, Yanzong & Wang, Guiyin & Xu, Min & Luo, Hongbin, 2022. "Performance comparison of urea production using one set of integrated indicators considering energy use, economic cost and emissions’ impacts: A case from China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PC).
    9. Yung-Jaan Lee, 2022. "Hybrid Ecological Footprint of Taipei," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-16, April.
    10. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Qian, Anqi, 2024. "Regional differences, dynamic evolution, and obstacle factors of cultivated land ecological security in China," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    11. Jiachang Gao & Yuhan Wang & Mei Zhang & Zenghui Huo, 2022. "Group Heterogeneity of Rural Households’ Satisfaction with Good Life from the Perspective of Rural Revitalization—A Case Study from Zhejiang Province of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-15, April.
    12. Wang, Xueqi & Liu, Gengyuan & Coscieme, Luca & Giannetti, Biagio F. & Hao, Yan & Zhang, Yan & Brown, Mark T., 2019. "Study on the emergy-based thermodynamic geography of the Jing-Jin-Ji region: Combined multivariate statistical data with DMSP-OLS nighttime lights data," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 397(C), pages 1-15.
    13. Lou, Bo & Ulgiati, Sergio, 2013. "Identifying the environmental support and constraints to the Chinese economic growth—An application of the Emergy Accounting method," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 217-233.
    14. Jingyang Liu & Jia Wan & Shirong Li & Yuzhe Shen & Wangya Han & Guohua Liu, 2024. "Spatial–Temporal Pattern of Coordination between the Supply and Demand for Ecosystem Services in the Lhasa River Basin," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-17, April.
    15. Xingguo Gu & Qixian Lai & Moucheng Liu & Ziqun He & Qingyang Zhang & Qingwen Min, 2019. "Sustainability Assessment of a Qingyuan Mushroom Culture System Based on Emergy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-13, September.
    16. Shuaiqi Chen & Ling Li & Xingming Li & Donghao Li & Yong Wu & Zhengxin Ji, 2023. "Identification and Optimization Strategy for the Ecological Security Pattern in Henan Province Based on Matching the Supply and Demand of Ecosystem Services," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-19, June.
    17. Ren, Siyue & Feng, Xiao & Wang, Yufei, 2021. "Emergy evaluation of the integrated gasification combined cycle power generation systems with a carbon capture system," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    18. Zhang, Xiaohong & Wu, Liqian & Zhang, Rong & Deng, Shihuai & Zhang, Yanzong & Wu, Jun & Li, Yuanwei & Lin, Lili & Li, Li & Wang, Yinjun & Wang, Lilin, 2013. "Evaluating the relationships among economic growth, energy consumption, air emissions and air environmental protection investment in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 18(C), pages 259-270.
    19. Paolo Vassallo & Claudia Turcato & Ilaria Rigo & Claudia Scopesi & Andrea Costa & Matteo Barcella & Giulia Dapueto & Mauro Mariotti & Chiara Paoli, 2021. "Biophysical Accounting of Forests’ Value under Different Management Regimes: Conservation vs. Exploitation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-20, April.
    20. Chen, Qiuwen & Ma, Xiaohan & Hu, Jiayu & Zhang, Xiaohong, 2023. "Comparison of comprehensive performance of kiwifruit production in China, Iran, and Italy based on emergy and carbon emissions," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 483(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:505:y:2025:i:c:s0304380025001061. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/ecological-modelling .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.