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Evaluation of Human Settlement Environment and Identification of Development Barriers Based on the Ecological Niche Theory: A Case Study of Northern Shaanxi, China

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  • Zhicheng Zhang

    (School of Geography Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
    Research Center of New Urbanization and Land Problem, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
    Jiangsu Provincial Geographic Information Resources Development and Utilization Cooperative Innovation Center, Nanjing 210023, China)

  • Bin Fang

    (School of Geography Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
    Research Center of New Urbanization and Land Problem, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
    Jiangsu Provincial Geographic Information Resources Development and Utilization Cooperative Innovation Center, Nanjing 210023, China)

  • Xiuqing Li

    (School of Business, Xi’an University of Finance and Economics, Xi’an 710100, China)

  • Yirong Wang

    (School of Science and Engineering, Xi’an Siyuan University, Xi’an 710038, China)

Abstract

The quality of human settlement environment (HSE) is related to people’s well-being. Since the implementation of the Western Development Strategy and the Grain to Green Program, the HSE in northern Shaanxi has undergone a major transformation. In order to explore the evolution pattern and seek a coordinated development strategy for all systems in the whole region, this paper, from the perspective of “production–living–ecological”, evaluates the HSE niche breadth of northern Shaanxi based on the ecological niche theory, analyzes its spatial differentiation characteristics, and identifies the development barrier factors, with the help of ArcGIS spatial analysis tools and the barrier degree model. It is found that: from 2000 to 2020, (1) the niche breadth of HSE in northern Shaanxi is high in the north and low in the south, showing obvious spatial unevenness; (2) the development of transportation promotes the improvement of HSE, but also intensifies the spatial unevenness, and the uncoordinated development rate of transportation and production and living systems has seriously restricted the further development of HSE; (3) the niche breadth of the ecosystem for each county is much lower than that of the production and living systems, and the ecological environment becomes the short board of the improvement of HSE in northern Shaanxi. Based on the patterns and problems found in the study, this paper proposes a strategy to improve the HSE of northern Shaanxi by prioritizing the balanced development of production, living systems, and transportation, strictly implementing the concept of ecological priority, dynamically adjusting the hierarchy of policies, vigorously optimizing the industrial layout, and focusing on the joint improvement of the human settlement environment in the whole region. This study expands the theories and evaluation methods of HSE to a certain extent, and the results have guiding values for promoting the sustainable development of HSE in northern Shaanxi and even the whole Loess Plateau region.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhicheng Zhang & Bin Fang & Xiuqing Li & Yirong Wang, 2023. "Evaluation of Human Settlement Environment and Identification of Development Barriers Based on the Ecological Niche Theory: A Case Study of Northern Shaanxi, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-22, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:3:p:1772-:d:1040014
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hongjuan Zhang & Juan Feng & Zhicheng Zhang & Kang Liu & Xin Gao & Zidong Wang, 2020. "Regional Spatial Management Based on Supply–Demand Risk of Ecosystem Services—A Case Study of the Fenghe River Watershed," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-25, June.
    2. Miller, John S. & Hoel, Lester A. & Ellington, David B., 2009. "Can highway investment policies influence regional growth?," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 43(3), pages 165-176, September.
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