Comprehensive evaluation of regional resources and environmental carrying capacity using a PS-DR-DP theoretical model

Abstract

The concepts of regional resources and environmental carrying capacity are important aspects of both academic inquiry and government policy. Although notable results have been achieved in terms of evaluating both these variables, most researchers have utilized a traditional analytical method that incorporates the "pressure-state-response" model. A new approach is proposed in this study for the comprehensive evaluation of regional resources and environmental carrying capacity; applying a "pressure-support", "destructiveness-resilience", and "degradation-promotion" ("PS-DR-DP") hexagon interaction theoretical model, we divided carrying capacity into these three pairs of interactive forces which correspond with resource supporting ability, environmental capacity, and risk-disaster resisting ability, respectively. Negative carrying capacity load in this context was defined to include pressure, destructiveness, and degradation, while support, resilience, and promotion comprised positive attributes. The status of regional carrying capacity was then determined via the ratio between positive and negative contribution values, expressed in terms of changes in both hexagonal shape and area that result from interactive forces. In order to test our "PS-DR-DP" theory-based model, we carried out a further empirical study on Beijing over the period between 2010 and 2015. Analytical results also revealed that the city is now close to attaining a perfect state for both resources and environmental carrying capacity; the latter state in Beijing increased from 1.0143 to 1.1411 between 2010 and 2015, an improved carrying capacity despite the fact that population increased by two million. The average contribution value also reached 0.7025 in 2015, indicating that the city approached an optimal loading threshold at this time but still had space for additional carrying capacity. The findings of our analysis provide theoretical support to enable the city of Beijing to control population levels below 23 million by 2020.

Resources and Environmental Pressure, Carrying Capacity, And Governance: A Case Study of Yangtze River Economic Belt

“…Such a circulation of 'action-feedback-action' constitutes a PCG model for regional resources and the environment. REP reflects the pressure on resources and the environment caused by socioeconomic activities, such as population growth, resource consumption, and environmental pollution [30]. The status of RECC reflects the support of the resources for regional socioeconomic development, ecological environment basis and environmental protective capability of the region.…”

“…During the 200 years since its conception, the research on carrying capacity has changed from researches of biotic population growth law to the comprehensive carrying capacity covering natural resource endowments and human development demands [12]. The scopes of carrying capacity applications have been expanded, such as land resource carrying capacity [13,14], water resource carrying capacity [15][16][17], environmental carrying capacity [18][19][20], ecological carrying capacity [21][22][23], cultural carrying capacity [24,25], social carrying capacity [26,27] and comprehensive resources and environmental carrying capacity [28][29][30][31]. The progression of carrying capacity has gradually attached importance to the influence of human activity factors on the carrying capacity [12].…”

“…Although the existing literature has studied various focuses and models on RECC [48], some limitations exist: (1) The current research area on RECC mainly aims at a single city [30,31], which lacks an analytical framework for the RECC at the large watershed scale. Therefore, it lacks the comparison among regions based on more detailed indicators.…”

Development of a comprehensive assessment model for coral reef island carrying capacity(CORE-CC)

“…Accompanied with the development and enlarging range of human activities, the research on carrying capacity has changed from researches of biotic population growth law to the comprehensive carrying capacity covering natural resource endowments and human development demands 18 . The scopes of carrying capacity applications have been expanded, such as land resource carrying capacity 19 , 20 , water resource carrying capacity 21 , 22 , environmental carrying capacity 23 , 24 , ecological carrying capacity 25 , 26 , social carrying capacity 27 , 28 and comprehensive carrying capacity 29 – 31 . The progression of carrying capacity has gradually attached importance to the influence of human activity factors on the carrying capacity 19 .…”

Assessment of Relative Water Resources Carrying Capacity and Sustainable Development in Chengdu,China

“…With the rapid development of the economy and the continuous growth of the population, the demand for water resources is also increasing day by day. Various pollutions have also aggravated the shortage of water resources [1,2]. The shortage of water resources will limit the development of cities and even the country.…”