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Natural Environment Suitability of China and Its Relationship with Population Distributions

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  • Xiaohuan Yang

    (State Key Lab of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographical Sciences & Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100101, China)

  • Hanqing Ma

    (State Key Lab of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographical Sciences & Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100101, China
    Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

Abstract

The natural environment factor is one of the main indexes for evaluating human habitats, sustained economic growth and ecological health status. Based on Geographic Information System (GIS) technology and an analytic hierarchy process method, this article presents the construction of the Natural Environment Suitability Index (NESI) model of China by using natural environment data including climate, hydrology, surface configuration and ecological conditions. The NESI value is calculated in grids of 1 km by 1 km through ArcGIS. The spatial regularity of NESI is analyzed according to its spatial distribution and proportional structure. The relationship of NESI with population distribution and economic growth is also discussed by analyzing NESI results with population distribution data and GDP data in 1 km by 1 km grids. The study shows that: (1) the value of NESI is higher in the East and lower in the West in China; The best natural environment area is the Yangtze River Delta region and the worst are the northwest of Tibet and southwest of Xinjiang. (2) There is a close correlation among natural environment, population distribution and economic growth; the best natural environment area, the Yangtze River Delta region, is also the region with higher population density and richer economy. The worst natural environment areas, Northwest and Tibetan Plateau, are also regions with lower population density and poorer economies.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaohuan Yang & Hanqing Ma, 2009. "Natural Environment Suitability of China and Its Relationship with Population Distributions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 6(12), pages 1-15, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:6:y:2009:i:12:p:3025-3039:d:6402
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Saaty, Thomas L., 2003. "Decision-making with the AHP: Why is the principal eigenvector necessary," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 145(1), pages 85-91, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Shi-Xin Wang & Yao Yao & Yi Zhou, 2014. "Analysis of Ecological Quality of the Environment and Influencing Factors in China during 2005–2010," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-21, January.
    2. Zhen Yang & Xiangjun Ou & Huxiao Zhu, 2023. "Population Dynamics and Its Driving Forces in China from 2000 to 2020," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-17, June.
    3. Hejie Wei & Yingying Gao & Qing Han & Ling Li & Xiaobin Dong & Mengxue Liu & Qingxiang Meng, 2022. "Quality Evaluation and Obstacle Identification of Human Settlements in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau Based on Multi-Source Data," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-21, September.
    4. Dawei Liu & Chunping Xie & Chi Yung Jim & Yanjun Liu & Senlin Hou, 2023. "Predicting the Potential Distribution of the Alien Invasive Alligator Gar Atractosteus spatula in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-10, April.

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