County Ecosystem Health Assessment Based on the VORS Model: A Case Study of 183 Counties in Sichuan Province, China

Abstract

The scientific assessment of the health level of county ecosystems is the basis for formulating county-based sustainable development strategies. In this paper, we take the county areas of Sichuan Province as the evaluation objects and combine the SDGs (the Sustainable Development Goals) to establish a county ecosystem health evaluation index system based on the VORS (Vigor–Organization–Resilience–Service) model. On this basis, we used the entropy weight method, the Moran index method, and the obstacle degree model to analyze the ecosystem health level, spatial distribution characteristics, and obstacles of 183 counties in Sichuan Province. The main results were as follows: (1) A total of 80.87% of the counties in Sichuan Province were at sub-healthy and healthy levels, concentrated in the southeastern part of Sichuan, and 19.13% of the counties were at an unhealthy level, mainly in the Aba, Ganzi, and Liangshan areas. (2) The health levels of county ecosystems in Sichuan Province had high spatial autocorrelation characteristics. The H–H (High–High) agglomeration area and the L–L (Low–Low) agglomeration area had significant agglomeration characteristics, which were distributed in the Cheng-Mian area and the northwestern Sichuan area, respectively. (3) The key indicators restricting the healthy development of urban ecosystems in Sichuan counties are economic vitality, economic resilience, and quality of life, all of which belong to the economic subsystems, with obstacles reaching 17.25%, 16.68%, and 13.52%, respectively. This study can provide theoretical and methodological support for research into ecosystem health evaluations at the county level, and provide a decision-making basis for promoting the health of county ecosystems and coordinating regional development in Sichuan Province.

A Multi-Scenario Simulation and Dynamic Assessment of the Ecosystem Service Values in Key Ecological Functional Areas: A Case Study of the Sichuan Province, China

“…Regarding its natural environment, the local climate is mainly subtropical, humid and semi-humid, and 96.6% of the water system in the region flows into the Yangtze River [44]. In addition, the local area boasts remarkable biodiversity, with 145 species of wild animals under key protection [45]. The forest stock volume stands at an impressive 1.897 billion cubic meters, contributing to a forest coverage rate of 39.6% [45].…”

“…In addition, the local area boasts remarkable biodiversity, with 145 species of wild animals under key protection [45]. The forest stock volume stands at an impressive 1.897 billion cubic meters, contributing to a forest coverage rate of 39.6% [45]. The grassland in Sichuan Province showcases an exceptional comprehensive vegetation coverage rate of 85.6%.…”

Spatial Heterogeneity of Watershed Ecosystem Health and Identification of Its Influencing Factors in a Mountain–Hill–Plain Region, Henan Province, China

“…The natural resources needed in the life activities of mankind should be provided by a healthy ecological environment [7]. As an important part of the evaluation of the regional landscape, ecosystem health assessment is an embodiment of the regional ecological environment, human activities, and socio-economic intensity, and it is a crucial assessment direction of sustainable development strategies [8,9]. Ecosystem health assessment can objectively evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the ecological environment and analyze the main regional environmental problems and driving factors, thus providing new ideas for the comprehensive management of the regional environment [10].…”

Spatial Relationships and Impact Effects between Urbanization and Ecosystem Health in Urban Agglomerations along the Belt and Road: A Case Study of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

“…Concomitantly, scholars have tried to incorporate ecosystem services into measurements of ecosystem health by constructing the vigor-organization-resilience-services (VORS) model [ 8 ], which effectively combines the health of the physical space of ecosystems with the human demand for ecosystem services to more comprehensively evaluate the state of spatial entities [ 12 , 13 ]. Notably, urban ecosystem health, an important monitoring indicator of sustainable development, provides the necessary conditions for human survival and development and has become the basis for regional sustainable development [ 14 , 15 ]. Currently, intensive human activities have significantly altered the structure and function of urban ecosystems, causing a spiraling decline in ecosystem health and, thus, posing a significant threat to the sustainability of human well-being [ 16 ].…”