Quantification of the coupling relationship between human footprint and ecological environment quality of artificial shorelines along the Yangtze River based on satellite observations

Quantifying the relationship between the extent of human impact and changes in ecological quality in the Yangtze River coastal area is essential for promoting sustainable development and ensuring the effective implementation of the Yangtze River Protection Policy. We incorporated aerosol optical depth (AOD) into the traditional remote sensing ecological index model and constructed an improved remote sensing ecological index (IRSEI). The spatio-temporal dynamics of human footprint (HFP) and ecological environmental quality within a 5 km buffer zone along the Yangtze River’s port, industrial and urban shorelines from 2001 to 2020 were examined. Based on the coupling coordination degree model and the four-quadrant model, we conducted a comparative and quantitative analysis of the spatial and temporal variations in the HFP and IRSEI. Finally, the causes of these spatio-temporal variations were discussed. The findings indicate that: (1) The HFP along the artificial shorelines of the Yangtze River increased steadily, while the IRSEI exhibited a gradual increase with fluctuations. (2) The HFP and IRSEI around urban shorelines were higher than those of the other two types of artificial shorelines. The level of coupling coordination between the HFP and IRSEI across the port, industrial, and urban shoreline zones demonstrated anl increasing trend, with growth rates of 8.5%, 7.9% and 10.2%, respectively. This indicates that the Chinese government has increasingly prioritized ecological protection in the process of developing and utilizing the artificial shorelines of the Yangtze River, which has yielded significant outcomes. The interplay between urbanization and ecological conditions has increasingly reflected a trend toward integrated development, along with substantial enhancements in environmental governance.