scholarly journals Assessment of the Sustainable Utilization Level of Water Resources in the Wuhan Metropolitan Area Based on a Three-Dimensional Water Ecological Footprint Model

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (24) ◽  
pp. 3505
Author(s):  
Dongzhe Liang ◽  
Hongwei Lu ◽  
Liyang Feng ◽  
Lihua Qiu ◽  
Li He
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Metropolitan Area ◽  
Capital Stock ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Ecological Footprint ◽  
Natural Capital ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Sustainable Utilization ◽  
Wuhan Metropolitan Area ◽  
Water Resources Utilization

The shortage and overexploitation of water resources restrict the sustainable development of metropolitan areas. To evaluate the sustainable utilization level of water resources, we identified the occupancy of natural capital stock and the consumption of natural capital flow by water resources consumption and analyzed the factors influencing water resources consumption in metropolitan area development. We took the Wuhan Metropolitan Area in China from 2010 to 2019 as the research object and introduced footprint depth and size, the water ecological footprint (WEF) model was expanded into the three-dimensional WEF model. Based on this model, an evaluation system for the sustainable utilization level of water resources was constructed with five indices—water ecological deficit, water ecological surplus, water ecological pressure, WEF depth, and WEF size. Finally, the driving factors of WEF change were analyzed using the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index. The evaluation of the sustainable utilization level of water resources showed that the Wuhan Metropolitan Area as a whole experienced water ecological surplus from 2010 to 2019, but there were different degrees of water ecological deficit in its inner urban areas, and the most serious cumulative deficit was 5.02 ha/cap in Ezhou. In 2011 and 2019, the sustainable utilization level of water resources in the metropolitan area reached a relatively unsustainable state. Xianning was the urban area with the most sustainable utilization level of water resources. During the study period, the metropolitan area did not occupy the natural capital stock of water resources, and the natural capital flow of water resources in the inner urban areas could meet the demand of the current consumption of the region in 2010 and 2016. The analysis of the driving factors of WEF change showed that economic development effect and population pressure effect had a positive driving effect on WEF change, while WEF intensity effect and water resources carrying capacity effect had the opposite effect. Finally, according to the research results, it can be seen that improving the efficiency of water resources utilization, protecting the natural capital stock of water resources, realizing differentiated regional development through the market economy and developing water policy can be helpful to improve the level of sustainable water resources utilization.

scholarly journals Fairness analysis and compensation strategy in the Triangle of Central China  driven by water-carbon-ecological footprints

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yizhong Chen ◽  
Hongwei Lu ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
Youfeng Qiao ◽  
Pengdong Yan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Regional Development ◽  
Ecological Footprint ◽  
Water Footprint ◽  
Natural Capital ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Evaluation Framework ◽  
Central China ◽  
Ecological Compensation ◽  
Carbon Footprints ◽  
Ecological Footprints

Abstract This study proposes water–carbon–ecological footprints to form footprint family indicators for identifying the ecological compensation and regional development equilibrium in the Triangle of Central China (TOCC). The occupation of natural capital stock and flow consumption can be illustrated through a three-dimensional ecological footprint model, and Gini coefficient is integrated into the evaluation framework for fairness measurement from various aspects. Quantificational ecological compensation standards can be given with concerns of ecological resource conversion efficiency and willingness to pay indicators. Results reveal that there exit rising trends in ecological and carbon footprints in the TOCC from 2000 to 2015, while its water footprint presents a fluctuating trend. A majority of average Gini coefficients exceed the warning value (i.e., 0.4) under different footprints, implying a relatively poor overall fairness of regional development. In terms of water footprint, the relatively higher compensation expenses exist in Jingmen, Xiangtan, and Yichun, while Yichang, Zhuzhou, and Fuzhou have higher received compensation values as compared with other cities. When it comes to carbon footprint, Wuhan, Loudi, and Xinyu should pay higher compensation expenses due to their overuse of biological resources. The highest amounts of compensation expense appear in Nanchang and Wuhan from the perspective of ecological footprint.

scholarly journals Natural Capital Evolution and Driving Forces in Energy-Rich and Ecologically Fragile Regions: A Case Study of Ningxia Province, China

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 562
Author(s):  
Shanshan Guo ◽  
Yinghong Wang ◽  
Huping Hou ◽  
Changyue Wu ◽  
Jing Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Capital Flows ◽  
Capital Stock ◽  
Ecological Footprint ◽  
Natural Capital ◽  
Capital Flow ◽  
Utilization Efficiency ◽  
Annual Rate ◽  
Fossil Energy ◽  
Ecological Deficit ◽  
Consumption Demand

Ningxia Province is rich in energy but fragile in ecology. How to coordinate sustainable utilization of natural capital and the fragile ecological environment is a significant guarantee for social-economic development. This study uses the improved three-dimensional ecological footprint to characterize the utilization status of natural capital flows and stocks in Ningxia Province from 2004 to 2017. Additionally, the driving factors behind changes in the natural capital stock are revealed by the partial least squares method (PLS). The results are as follows: (1) From 2004 to 2017, ecological footprint increased rapidly in Ningxia Province at an annual rate of 4.52%, resulting in a increase of the ecological deficit from 1.64 to 3.85 gha/cap at an annual rate of 6.8%, among which, Yinchuan city and Shizuishan city had the largest ecological deficit, while Guyuan city basically maintained ecological surplus. The fossil energy land and cropland were the main components of ecological footprint. (2) The consumption of capital stock in Ningxia Province continued to grow at an annual rate of 3.12%, from a value of 2.28 times overusing the existing area in 2004, increasing to 3.41 times in 2017. While the EF size increased slightly with an annual rate of 1.95%. The capital stock consumption was concentrated in Yinchuan and Shizuishan, and the capital flow consumption was concentrated in Wuzhong, Guyuan, and Zhongwei. (3) The capital flows of forest land and built-up land basically meet consumption demand, while the capital stock occupation of grassland, water and fossil energy land was serious. By 2017, the capital flow of cropland could basically satisfy people’s consumption demand. (4) The urbanization rate, GDP, the secondary industry output value and per capita consumption expenditure of urban residents were the main influence factors on the natural capital stock consumption. These findings not only are of real significance in promoting the coordinated development between economy and natural capital utilization in Ningxia Province but also have policy implications in improving the utilization efficiency of natural capital in energy-rich ecologically fragile regions.

The Time-Series Study of Xiangjiang River Water Carrying Capacity Based on the Ecological Footprint of Water Resource — The ChangZhuTan Region, for Example

2012 ◽  
Vol 518-523 ◽  
pp. 4362-4370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Zhang ◽  
Shan Shan Li
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Ecological Footprint ◽  
Utilization Efficiency ◽  
Xiangjiang River ◽  
Water Utilization ◽  
Surplus Value ◽  
Series Study ◽  
Water Resources Utilization

This paper is based on "the method of ecological footprint of water resource" and through establishing "ecological footprint of water resource" model to analyze the water resources utilization of ChangZhuTan region, Xiangjiang River. Time-series is applied to researching the water resources utilization of ChangZhuTan region , Xiangjiang River from 2003 to 2009. Meanwhile, the indicators like ecological footprint of water resource and so on in the following 6 years are predicted. Ecological footprint of water resource per ten thousand yuan GDP is introduced to analyze the water utilization efficiency of ChangZhuTan Region, Xiangjiang River quantitively. The result shows that, from 2003 to 2009, the water resources of ChangZhuTan Region, Xiangjiang River is in the state of ecological Surplus, but the ecological surplus value decreases year by year, which means that the sustainable utilization of Xiangjiang River is getting worse. The prediction also shows that the ecological footprint of water resource per ten thousand yuan GDP will increase year by year in the next 6 years, which means that the water utilization will be less efficient.

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