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Causal Analysis of Ecological Impairment in Land Ecosystem on a Regional Scale: Applied to a Mining City Daye, China

Author

Listed:
  • Kai Guo

    (School of Geography and Remote Sensing, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China)

  • Yiyun Chen

    (School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China)

  • Min Chen

    (Guangzhou Urban Planning & Design Survey Research Institute, Guangzhou 510060, China)

  • Chaojun Wang

    (Jiangsu Vocational College of Medicine, Yancheng 224005, China)

  • Zeyi Chen

    (School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China)

  • Weinan Cai

    (School of Geography and Remote Sensing, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China)

  • Renjie Li

    (School of Geography and Remote Sensing, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China)

  • Weiming Feng

    (School of Geography and Remote Sensing, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China)

  • Ming Jiang

    (School of Geography and Remote Sensing, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China)

Abstract

We adopted a weight of evidence approach to establish a causal analysis of an impaired land ecosystem on a regional scale; namely, Daye, a traditional mining city in China. Working processes, including problem statements, a list of candidate causes, and a conceptual model were developed to represent a causal hypothesis for describing land degradation. Causal criteria were applied to integrate multiple lines of evidence. Then, various pieces of evidence were scored to either strengthen or weaken our causal assumptions. Results showed that habitat alteration, heavy metal accumulation, organic pollutants, water eutrophication, and nutrient runoff were the probable causes of land ecosystem impairment in Daye. Meanwhile, noxious gas, toxicants, altered underground runoff, atmospheric deposition, and acid rain were identified as possible causes. The most unlikely causes were altered hydrology, altered earth surface runoff, and soil erosion. Soil salinization, soluble inorganic salts, biological species invasion, and pathogens were deferred as delayed causes due to lack of adequate information. The causal analysis approach was applied to identify the primary causes of land degradation and implement accurate protective measures in an impaired land ecosystem.

Suggested Citation

  • Kai Guo & Yiyun Chen & Min Chen & Chaojun Wang & Zeyi Chen & Weinan Cai & Renjie Li & Weiming Feng & Ming Jiang, 2021. "Causal Analysis of Ecological Impairment in Land Ecosystem on a Regional Scale: Applied to a Mining City Daye, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-21, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:10:y:2021:i:5:p:530-:d:555880
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Oimahmad Rahmonov & Jacek Różkowski & Grzegorz Klys, 2022. "The Managing and Restoring of Degraded Land in Post-Mining Areas," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-3, February.
    2. Min Yang & Jianghua Zhang & Huaqing Chen & Hailing Ke & Youning Xu, 2023. "Human health risk assessment of toxic elements in soils and crops around Xiaoqinling gold-mining area, Northwestern China," Energy & Environment, , vol. 34(2), pages 283-303, March.

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