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Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Economic Density and Vegetation Cover in the Yellow River Basin: Unraveling Interconnections

Author

Listed:
  • Benxu Wang

    (College of Economics and Management, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Xuanqin Yang

    (College of Economics and Management, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Yaquan Dou

    (Research Institute of Forestry Policy and Information, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China)

  • Qingjun Wu

    (College of Economics and Management, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Guangyu Wang

    (Faculty of Forestry, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada)

  • Ya Li

    (College of Economics and Management, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China)

  • Xiaodi Zhao

    (Research Institute of Forestry Policy and Information, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
    Faculty of Forestry, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada)

Abstract

Vegetation, serving as the primary constituent of terrestrial ecosystems, plays a crucial role in regulating energy flow and material cycles and providing vital resources for human socio-economic activities. This study analyzes the spatio-temporal patterns of economic density and vegetation coverage in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) based on forest resource inventory and socio-economic data from 448 counties in 2008, 2013, and 2018. A three-tiered criterion layer is constructed using economic density as the core explanatory variable, encompassing social development factors, land use factors, and natural factors. A two-way fixed effects model is then utilized to analyze the impact of economic density on vegetation coverage. Results reveal that: (1) Spatially, economic density demonstrates a “low in the west and high in the east” pattern, with an overall upward trend in the YRB. Conversely, vegetation cover exhibits a “high in the west and low in the east” pattern, displaying a downward trend. (2) Over the 2008–2018 period, a significant negative correlation between economic density and vegetation cover is observed in each county of the YRB, with vegetation cover decreasing by 1.108% for every 1 unit increase in economic density. Notably, the upstream areas of the YRB experience a significant increase in vegetation coverage, while the middle and lower reaches witness a decrease. (3) Considering control variables, the proportion of the primary industry, urbanization rate, forest protection level, and cultivated land area exert a significant influence on vegetation coverage across the entire basin. Policymakers should formulate relevant policies to achieve sustainable development in the YRB, as discussed in the proposed countermeasures. This study delineates a practical pathway for high-quality economic development and high-level ecological protection in the YRB, offering a valuable reference for analogous research in other regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Benxu Wang & Xuanqin Yang & Yaquan Dou & Qingjun Wu & Guangyu Wang & Ya Li & Xiaodi Zhao, 2024. "Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Economic Density and Vegetation Cover in the Yellow River Basin: Unraveling Interconnections," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-22, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:13:y:2024:i:4:p:475-:d:1371482
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Giovanni Forzieri & Vasilis Dakos & Nate G. McDowell & Alkama Ramdane & Alessandro Cescatti, 2022. "Emerging signals of declining forest resilience under climate change," Nature, Nature, vol. 608(7923), pages 534-539, August.
    2. Xiaojing Zhao & Xuke Li & Guoqu Deng & Yanling Xi, 2023. "Decoupling Relationship between Resource Environment and High-Quality Economic Development in the Yellow River Basin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-18, June.
    3. Ahlfeldt, Gabriel M. & Pietrostefani, Elisabetta, 2019. "The economic effects of density: A synthesis," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 93-107.
    4. Pei Li & Ye Tian & JunJie Wu & Wenchao Xu, 2021. "The Great Western Development policy: how it affected grain crop production, land use and rural poverty in western China," China Agricultural Economic Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 13(2), pages 319-348, January.
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