IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i11p4941-d1666027.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Spatiotemporal Evolution and Driving Mechanisms of Composite Ecological Sensitivity in the Western Sichuan Plateau, China Based on Multi-Process Coupling Mechanisms

Author

Listed:
  • Defen Chen

    (College of Geography and Resources Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610000, China
    Key Laboratory of Southwest Land Resources Evaluation and Monitoring, Ministry of Education, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610000, China)

  • Yuchi Zou

    (College of Geography and Resources Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610000, China
    Key Laboratory of Southwest Land Resources Evaluation and Monitoring, Ministry of Education, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610000, China)

  • Junjie Zhu

    (College of Geography and Resources Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610000, China
    Key Laboratory of Southwest Land Resources Evaluation and Monitoring, Ministry of Education, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610000, China)

  • Wen Wei

    (College of Geography and Resources Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610000, China
    Key Laboratory of Southwest Land Resources Evaluation and Monitoring, Ministry of Education, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610000, China)

  • Dan Liang

    (College of Geography and Resources Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610000, China
    Key Laboratory of Southwest Land Resources Evaluation and Monitoring, Ministry of Education, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610000, China)

  • Weilai Zhang

    (College of Geography and Resources Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610000, China
    Key Laboratory of Southwest Land Resources Evaluation and Monitoring, Ministry of Education, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610000, China)

  • Wuxue Cheng

    (College of Geography and Resources Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610000, China
    Key Laboratory of Southwest Land Resources Evaluation and Monitoring, Ministry of Education, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610000, China)

Abstract

The Western Sichuan Plateau, an ecologically critical transition zone between the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and the Sichuan Basin, is also a typical fragile and sensitive area in China’s ecological security. This study established a multi-process evaluation model using the Spatial Distance Index Method, integrating cluster analysis, Sen–Mann–Kendall trend detection, and OWA-based scenario simulations to assess composite ecological sensitivity dynamics. The optimal geodetector was further applied to quantitatively determine the driving mechanisms underlying these sensitivity dynamics. The research showed the following findings: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the ecological environment of the Western Sichuan Plateau exhibited a phased pattern characterized by significant improvement, partial rebound, and overall stabilization. The composite ecological sensitivity grading index showed a declining trend, indicating a gradual reduction in ecological vulnerability. The effectiveness of ecological restoration projects became evident after 2010, with the area of medium- to high-sensitivity zones decreasing by 24.29% at the regional scale compared to the 2010 baseline. (2) The spatial pattern exhibited a gradient-decreasing characteristic from west to east. Scenario simulations under varying decision-making behaviors prioritized Jiuzhaigou, Xiaojin, Jinchuan, Danba, and Yajiang counties as ecologically critical. (3) Driving force analysis revealed a marked increase in the explanatory power of freeze-thaw erosion, with its q-value rising from 0.49 to 0.80. Moreover, its synergistic effect with landslide disasters spans 74.19% of county-level units. Dominant drivers ranked: annual temperature range ( q = 0.32) > distance to faults ( q = 0.17) > slope gradient ( q = 0.16), revealing a geomorphic-climatic-tectonic interactive mechanism. This study provided methodological innovations and decision-making support for sustainable environmental development in plateau transitional zones.

Suggested Citation

  • Defen Chen & Yuchi Zou & Junjie Zhu & Wen Wei & Dan Liang & Weilai Zhang & Wuxue Cheng, 2025. "Spatiotemporal Evolution and Driving Mechanisms of Composite Ecological Sensitivity in the Western Sichuan Plateau, China Based on Multi-Process Coupling Mechanisms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-26, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:11:p:4941-:d:1666027
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/11/4941/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/11/4941/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jiaquan Duan & Yue ‘e Cao & Bo Liu & Yinyin Liang & Jinyu Tu & Jiahui Wang & Yeyang Li, 2023. "Construction of an Ecological Security Pattern in Yangtze River Delta Based on Circuit Theory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-16, August.
    2. Haisheng Tang & Lan Wang & Yang Wang, 2025. "Spatial and Temporal Variation Characteristics of Vegetation Cover in the Tarim River Basin, China, and Analysis of the Driving Factors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-26, February.
    3. Shuai Li & Zhongyun Ni & Yinbing Zhao & Wei Hu & Zhenrui Long & Haiyu Ma & Guoli Zhou & Yuhao Luo & Chuntao Geng, 2022. "Susceptibility Analysis of Geohazards in the Longmen Mountain Region after the Wenchuan Earthquake," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-30, March.
    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. Yan-Ning Wang & Han Chen & Bin-Song Jiang & Jing-Rui Peng & Jun Chen, 2022. "Cause Analysis and Preventive Measures of Guizhou D2809 Train Derailment Accident in Guizhou, China on 4 June 2022," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Shuai Li & Haiyu Ma & Di Yang & Wei Hu & Hao Li, 2023. "The Main Drivers of Wetland Evolution in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Plain," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-25, February.
    3. Zhiye Wang & Chuanming Ma & Yang Qiu & Hanxiang Xiong & Minghong Li, 2022. "Refined Zoning of Landslide Susceptibility: A Case Study in Enshi County, Hubei, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-22, August.
    4. Bo Wen & Chenxi Liu & Jingchao Cai & Jing Guo & Guoping Ren, 2025. "Restoration of Ecological Connectivity in Zhaotong City Under the Interference of Human Activities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-20, February.
    5. Hao Mei & Jin Yang & Mingshun Xiang & Xiaofeng Yang & Chunjian Wang & Wenheng Li & Suhua Yang, 2022. "Evaluation and Optimization Model of Rural Settlement Habitability in the Upper Reaches of the Minjiang River, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-18, November.
    6. Yuhan Bai & Jiajia Zhao & Hangrui Shen & Xinyao Li & Bo Wen, 2024. "The Evolution of Forest Landscape Connectivity and Ecological Network Construction: A Case Study of Zhejiang’s Ecological Corridors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-24, July.
    7. Dongjie Guan & Qiongyao Chang & Lilei Zhou & Kangwen Zhu & Guochuan Peng, 2024. "Construction and Optimization of Ecological Security Pattern Network Based on the Supply–Demand Ratio of Ecosystem Services: A Study from Chengdu–Chongqing Economic Circle, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-22, June.

    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:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:11:p:4941-:d:1666027. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.