Interaction between Urbanization and Eco-Environment in Hebei Province, China

Abstract

Understanding the complex interaction between urbanization and the eco-environment is necessary for rapid and quality urbanization, eco-environmental protection, and the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature within a region. Based on panel data from Hebei Province between 1985 and 2019, we suggested a symbiosis hypothesis of urbanization and the eco-environment (SHUE) and used the distance coordination coupling model, the Tapio decoupling model, and the symbiosis model to quantitatively determine the interaction relationship between urbanization and the eco-environment. We found that (1) the improved ‘Northam curve’ of urbanization in Hebei Province met the logistic equation. (2) During the study period, the coordinated coupling degree (CCD) of urbanization and eco-environment exhibited an overall upward trend, while the coupling type gradually changed from the endangered imbalance recession type to the coordinated development type. (3) The decoupling types showed strong and weak decoupling fluctuations, with a high frequency of strong decoupling; the growth rate of the urbanization index was higher than that of the eco-environment index; and there was a positive effect between urbanization and eco-environment indicating positive urbanization. (4) The research results verified SHUE. The symbiosis mode of urbanization and eco-environment was mainly asymmetric mutualism, with the two demonstrating mutual promotion and mutualism. However, in 2016–2019, the symbiosis mode became parasitic, urbanization development enforced upon the eco-environment. The study constructed a set of quantitative method to systematically discuss the interaction relationship from two dimensions: coupling and decoupling. The results provide reference for the coordinated development of urbanization and eco-environment in Hebei Province and consequentially enrich this research field.

System Dynamics Simulation and Influencing Factors of the Interaction between Urbanization and Eco-Environment in Hebei Province, China

“…In our previous study, we confirmed the symbiosis hypothesis between urbanization and eco-environment, and quantitatively characterized the interdependence between the two using the symbiosis model, which revealed the interaction and reaction between urbanization and eco-environment [34]. Therefore, this study continues to use the symbiosis degree model to quantitatively measure the symbiosis of the simulation results between urbanization and eco-environment.…”

“…In our previous study, based on panel data from 1985 to 2019 in Hebei Province, we proposed and verified the symbiosis hypothesis between urbanization and the ecoenvironment, and constructed a quantitative study method system in order to reveal the interaction relationship between them from the two dimensions of coupling and decoupling [34]. To further investigate the possible future development trends and the main factors affecting the interaction between urbanization and the eco-environment in Hebei Province, this study constructs an SD model and simulates the short-and long-term development trends through multiple scenarios.…”

“…Using the comprehensive evaluation index system for urbanization and eco-environment constructed in the previous study [34], the entropy weight method was applied in order to determine the weight of each evaluation index based on the simulation results of different scenarios. Linear weighted regression was used to calculate the comprehensive evaluation levels of urbanization and eco-environment for the four scenarios.…”

Research on the coordinated development between land urbanization and population urbanization in Shaanxi Province, China

“…Furthermore, numerous scholars have extensively studied the relationship between ecological environment, biological population factors, and economic development in the process of urbanization. The majority of their conclusions tend to indicate that urbanization has negative impacts on ecological environment and biological populations, while simultaneously playing a promoting role in social and economic development [19][20][21][22][23][24] . However, there were also some scholars who held different opinions.…”

Spatial and temporal evolution characteristics and influencing factors of coupling coordination degree of urbanization and eco-environment in the Huaihe Eco-economic Belt

“…With the urbanization of the Huaihe Eco-economic Belt in recent years, economic conditions and infrastructure construction have achieved better results [7,8], but in the process, some of the environment may be destroyed and available resources reduced [9,10], which can seriously affect the sustainable development of the region. Therefore, the harmonious development of urbanization and eco-environment has become an important way and the core of modernisation and sustainable development of China [11][12][13]. In this context, exploring the coupled and coordinated development of urbanization and the eco-environment in the Huaihe Eco-economic Belt can provide a reference for the region to achieve high-quality and differentiated development.…”