Essential Site Maintenance: Authorea-powered sites will be updated circa 15:00-17:00 Eastern on Tuesday 5 November.
There should be no interruption to normal services, but please contact us at [email protected] in case you face any issues.

loading page

Human--desertification coupling relationship in the karst region
  • Erqi Xu,
  • Hongqi Zhang
Erqi Xu
Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research CAS

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Hongqi Zhang
Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research CAS
Author Profile

Abstract

Forward and reverse successions of karst rocky desertification (KRD) occur simultaneously, and are linked to human activity, thus presenting a mutual feedback loop. Previous studies have focused on the unilateral human-driven mechanism of KRD or the impact of KRD on social-economic activities. These lack quantitative measurement and in-depth understanding of interactions involved. Therefore, this study builds and applies a novel model for measuring the coupling relationship and degree between KRD and social-economic activity in the Guizhou karst region of China. Results show an overall improvement but local deteriorations in KRD from 2000 to 2011; conversely, social-economic activity intensities increased during that time period. With their spatio-temporal variations, positive and negative human–desertification coupling relationships with an increased coupling degree are found. Different coupling relationship types between KRD and social-economic development, including urbanization, economic development and household income, are shown. KRD is found to be high positively coupled with specific human behavior intensities such as population movement, steep slope cultivation and ecological restoration. An inverted U-shaped curve is observed in the coupling index of KRD and urbanization within different development levels. Negative coupling at a low urbanization level indicates the limitation of the karst physical environment on social-economic development. Positive coupling with increasing urbanization implies a conflict between environment protection and social-economic development. A return to negative coupling in several counties with high urbanization levels indicates a win-win for ecology and economy. The effectiveness of the proposed coupling model is demonstrated, informing differentiated strategies for combating KRD and improving social-economic development.
22 Sep 2020Submitted to Land Degradation & Development
23 Sep 2020Submission Checks Completed
23 Sep 2020Assigned to Editor
27 Oct 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
31 Mar 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
18 Apr 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Major
16 May 20211st Revision Received
17 May 2021Submission Checks Completed
17 May 2021Assigned to Editor
22 Jun 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
19 Jul 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
19 Jul 20212nd Revision Received
20 Jul 2021Submission Checks Completed
20 Jul 2021Assigned to Editor
02 Aug 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
28 Aug 2021Editorial Decision: Accept