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Jiang H, Qin M, Wu X, Luo D, Ouyang H, Liu Y. Spatiotemporal evolution and driving factors of ecosystem service bundle based on multi-scenario simulation in Beibu Gulf urban agglomeration, China. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:542. [PMID: 38735886 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12663-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Rapid urbanization is profoundly impacting the ecological environment and landscape patterns, leading to a decline in ecosystem services (ES) and posing threats to both ecological security and human well-being. This study aimed to identify the spatial and temporal patterns of ecosystem service bundles (ESB) in the Beibu Gulf urban agglomeration from 2000 to 2030, analyze the trajectory of ESB evolution, and elucidate the drivers behind ESB formation and evolution. We utilized the Patch-generating Land Use Simulation (PLUS) model to establish baseline (BLS), carbon sequestration priority (CPS), and urbanization priority (UPS) scenarios for simulating land use patterns in 2030. Following the assessment of ecosystem service values (ESV) through the equivalent factor method, we identified the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of ESB using the K-means clustering algorithm. By employing stability mapping and landscape indices, we identified and analyzed various types of ESB evolutionary trajectories. Redundancy analysis (RDA) was employed to pinpoint the drivers of ESB formation and evolution. The results revealed that from 2000 to 2030, land use changes were primarily observed in cropland, forestland, and construction land. Between 2000 and 2020, 92.88% of the region did not experience shifts in ESB types. In UPS, the ESB pattern in the study area underwent significant changes, with only 76.68% of the region exhibiting stabilized trajectories, while the other two scenarios recorded percentages higher than 80%. Key drivers of ESB-type shifts included initial food provision services, elevation, slope, changes in the proportion of construction land, and population change. This multi-scenario simulation of ESB evolution due to land use changes aids in comprehending potential future development directions from diverse perspectives and serves as a valuable reference for formulating and changing ecological management policies and strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbo Jiang
- College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Menglin Qin
- School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China.
| | - Xinyu Wu
- College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Dingding Luo
- College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Huiting Ouyang
- School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Yuting Liu
- School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
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Mingyue L, Xuejun S, Shengnan L, Jie W, Zijian L, Qianggong Z. Hydrochemistry dynamics in a glacierized headwater catchment of Lhasa River, Tibetan Plateau. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 919:170810. [PMID: 38336076 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Mountain glaciers are essential for supplying water resources that sustain downstream communities and livelihoods, yet the hydrogeochemical dynamics at glacier terminals and the impact of glacier retreat on downstream water chemistry are not fully understood. This study addresses this by conducting comprehensive observations and analysis of water chemistry at refined spatial and temporal resolutions in the Lhasa River Valley Glacier No. 1 (LRVG-1) catchment, a vital source of drinking and irrigation water for the local population on the Tibetan Plateau. Our findings reveal a weakly alkaline water environment within this glacierized basin, with HCO3- and Ca2+ as the dominant anions and cations, respectively, resulting in a hydrochemical pattern classified as HCO3--Ca2+ type. Solute concentrations increase along the glacier meltwater pathway, influenced by water-rock interaction, dilution, and diverse sources. The cations are predominantly from carbonate weathering, constituting 72.86 % of the total cations, followed by sulfide oxidation (11.08 %), glacier meltwater inputs (8.13 %), and silicate weathering (7.93 %). The contribution of cations from glacier meltwater diminishes as they travel along the glacier meltwater flow pathway. Our study indicates the localized yet significant impact of glacier meltwater on hydrochemistry, particularly in the vicinity of the glacier terminus. We recommend considering glacial meltwater and the entire glacier watershed as a continuum, essential for understanding the cumulative effects of glacier melt and human activities on water quality. This perspective is crucial for predicting future river chemistry trajectories in high-mountain basins and informing policy-making for water quality conservation across the Tibetan Plateau.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Mingyue
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Sun Xuejun
- School of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Li Shengnan
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wang Jie
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Lu Zijian
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhang Qianggong
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Lhasa Earth System Multi-Dimension Observatory Network (LEMON), Lhasa 850000, China.
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Wu M, Wan B, Wang D, Cao Z, Tan X, Zhang Q. Effects of environmental factors on the river water quality on the Tibetan Plateau: a case study of the Xoirong River, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:112660-112672. [PMID: 37837590 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30259-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
Climate, topography, and landscape patterns affect river water quality through processes that influence non-point source pollution. However, little is known about the response of the water quality of rivers on China's Tibetan Plateau to these environmental factors. Based on the water quality parameters data of the Xoirong River on the Tibetan Plateau in western China, the redundancy analysis and variation partitioning analysis were adopted to determine the main influencing factors affecting river water quality and their spatial scale effects. The major water pollutants were further analyzed using the partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Another mountainous river with a similar latitude, the same stream order, and low anthropogenic disturbance in central China, the Jinshui River, was also selected for comparative discussion. The results indicated that the overall river water quality on the Tibetan Plateau was superior to that of the Jinshui River. At the catchment scale, the cumulative explanatory powers of the influencing factors of both rivers were greatest. Landscape composition and configuration were the determinant factors for the overall water quality of the two rivers, while the river on the Tibetan Plateau was also significantly affected by climatic and topographical factors. Regarding the main water quality issue, i.e., total nitrogen, agricultural production activities might be the main cause of the river on the Tibetan Plateau. This study unveiled that the river water quality on the Tibetan Plateau is sensitive to climate and topography through comparative studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghui Wu
- School of Geography and Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Basin Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
- Danjiangkou Wetland Ecosystem Field Scientific Observation and Research Station, the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Hubei Province, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Bo Wan
- School of Computer Science, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Dezhi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Basin Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China.
- Danjiangkou Wetland Ecosystem Field Scientific Observation and Research Station, the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Hubei Province, Wuhan, 430074, China.
| | - Zhenxiu Cao
- School of Geography and Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Basin Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
- Danjiangkou Wetland Ecosystem Field Scientific Observation and Research Station, the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Hubei Province, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Xiang Tan
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Basin Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
- Danjiangkou Wetland Ecosystem Field Scientific Observation and Research Station, the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Hubei Province, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Quanfa Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Basin Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
- Danjiangkou Wetland Ecosystem Field Scientific Observation and Research Station, the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Hubei Province, Wuhan, 430074, China
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Li M, Zhang B, Zhang X, Zhang S, Yin L. Exploring Spatio-Temporal Variations of Ecological Risk in the Yellow River Ecological Economic Belt Based on an Improved Landscape Index Method. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1837. [PMID: 36767204 PMCID: PMC9914419 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20031837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Intense human activities have led to profound changes in landscape patterns and ecological processes, generating certain ecological risks that seriously threaten human wellbeing. Ecological risk assessment from a landscape perspective has become an important tool for macroecosystem landscape management. This research improves the framework and indices of the ecological risk assessment from a landscape perspective, evaluates the land use pattern and landscape ecological risk dynamics in the Yellow River Ecological Economic Belt (YREEB), analyzes the spatiotemporal variation, and identifies key areas for ecological risk management. The results indicate the following: The main land use types in the region are grassland and cropland, but the area of cropland and grassland decreased during the study period, and with the accelerated urbanization, urban land is the only land use type that continued to increase over the 20-year period. The ecological risk in the YREEB tended to decrease, the area of low ecological risk zones increased, while the area of high ecological risk zones gradually decreased. Most areas are at medium risk level, but the risk in central Qinghai and Gansu is obviously higher, and there is a dispersed distribution of local high- and low-risk zones. A total of 37.7% of the study area is identified as critical area for future risk management, and the potential for increased risk in these areas is high. These results can provide a basis for sustainable development and planning of the landscape and the construction of ecological civilization in ecologically fragile areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meirui Li
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Baolei Zhang
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Xiaobo Zhang
- Zaozhuang Municipal Bureau of Natural Resources and Planning, Zaozhuang 277099, China
| | - Shumin Zhang
- Research Institute of Regional Economy, Shandong University of Finance and Economics, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Le Yin
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China
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Zhou X, Yang L, Gu X, Zhang L, Li L. Scarcity Value Assessment of Ecosystem Services Based on Changes in Supply and Demand: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Delta City Cluster, China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph191911999. [PMID: 36231297 PMCID: PMC9565914 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191911999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Rapid urbanization and economic development have resulted in a mismatch between the supply and demand of ecosystem services. The theoretical value of ecosystem services (ESTV) is not suitable for determining ecosystem service compensation, posing challenges for integrated regional ecological development. A scarcity value model was used to analyze the influence of changes in supply and demand on the scarcity value of ecosystem services (ESSV) in the context of land-use change. The spatio-temporal distribution characteristics and trends of the ESSV from 2010 to 2020 were assessed in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) urban agglomeration in China, and the driving factors were analyzed to provide theoretical guidance for horizontal ecological compensation across regions. The results show the following: (1) In the scenario that did not consider the impact of supply and demand changes on the scarcity value, the total ESTV decreased by 8.67% from 2010 to 2020, and high-value areas shifted to the west and south, whereas low-value areas shifted to the central and northern region and the Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai Ringbelt. The ESTV was low in Shanghai and Jiangsu and high in Zhejiang. (2) In the scenario that considered changes in the supply and demand of ecosystem services, the ESSV increased from RMB 213 million in 2010 to RMB 1.323 billion in 2020; an increase of 521.13%. The scarcity value showed high variability within the provinces, with a larger difference between Zhejiang and Jiangsu and a smaller difference between Anhui and Shanghai. The ESSV was higher in counties with increased urbanization and high population density and lower in counties with slower economic growth and fewer people. (3) Regional ecological integration planning and management should be strengthened, and the ESSV might be considered as the reference standard for ecological compensation. The ESSV showed that spatio-temporal heterogeneity might guide the conversion from ecological resources to ecological capital and promote the regulatory role of market mechanisms to achieve horizontal payments for ecosystem services across regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoping Zhou
- School of Government, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Lan Yang
- School of Government, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Xiaokun Gu
- School of International and Public Affairs, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200030, China
- China Institute for Urban Governance, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200030, China
- Institute of Healthy Yangtze River Delta, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200030, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-137-6173-8348
| | - Lufa Zhang
- School of International and Public Affairs, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200030, China
- China Institute for Urban Governance, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200030, China
- Institute of Healthy Yangtze River Delta, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Li Li
- School of Government, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
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Spatial-temporal evolution of ESV and its response to land use change in the Yellow River Basin, China. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13103. [PMID: 35908084 PMCID: PMC9338978 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17464-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The value of ecosystem services, as well as their temporal and spatial characteristics, can be used to help areas develop focused and localized sustainable ecological management plans. Thus, this study conducted in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) of China, analyzed the ecosystem service value (ESV) and its spatial–temporal variation characteristics. This study used the equivalent factor and geospatial exploration methods, introduced the elasticity coefficient, and explored the response of ESV change to land-use change, based on the land use cover data from 1990 to 2020. The results showed that from 1990 to 2020, YRB ecosystem service value showed an overall increasing trend, mainly because the ecological construction project increased forest and grasslands in this region. In the past 30 years, spatial characteristics of ESV in YRB was relatively stable. The high-value areas were mainly distributed in the upper Yellow River Basin, while the low-value areas were mainly distributed in the lower Yellow River Basin, as the cold and hot spots were reduced. The ESV barycenter coordinates showed the direction of the transfer trajectory, which is first to southwest, northeast, and then to southwest. From 2000 to 2010, YRB land-use change had greater impact on ESV. Since 2010, the disturbance of ecosystem services by land-use change has decreased. Consequently, the elastic index of the upstream and Loess Plateau regions were significantly higher than that of other regions, and the impact of land-use change on ecosystem services was more obvious, due to improved large-scale ecological construction projects implementation. Conclusively, this study recommends the use of comprehensive spatial–temporal assessment of ESV for sustainable development and ecological protection in the YRB.
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Du Y, Li X, He X, Li X, Yang G, Li D, Xu W, Qiao X, Li C, Sui L. Multi-Scenario Simulation and Trade-Off Analysis of Ecological Service Value in the Manas River Basin Based on Land Use Optimization in China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19106216. [PMID: 35627758 PMCID: PMC9141732 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19106216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Rapid socio-economic development has had a significant impact on land use/cover (LULC) changes, which bring great pressure to the ecological environment. LULC changes affect ecosystem services by altering the structure and function of ecosystems. It is of great significance to reveal the internal relationship between LULC changes and ecosystem service value (ESV) for the protection and restoration of ecological environments. In this study, based on the spatial and temporal evolution of ecological service values in the Manas River basin from 1980 to 2020 and considering ecological and economic benefits, we coupled the gray multi-objective optimization model (GMOP) and patch-generating land-use simulation (PLUS) model (GMOP–PLUS model) to optimize the LULC structure under three scenarios (a natural development scenario, ND; ecological priority development scenario, (EPD); and balanced ecological and economic development scenario, EED) in 2030, and analyzed the trade-offs and synergies in the relationships among the four services. We found that from 1980 to 2020, farmland and construction land expanded 2017.90 km2 and 254.27 km2, respectively, whereas the areas of grassland and unused land decreased by 1617.38 km2 and 755.86 km2, respectively. By 2030, the trend of LULC changes will be stable under the ND scenario, the area of ecological land will increase by 327.42 km2 under the EPD scenario, and the area of construction land will increase most under the EED scenario, reaching 65.01 km2. From 1980 to 2020, the ESV exhibited an upward trend in the basin. In 2030, the ESV will increase by 7.18%, 6.54%, and 6.04% under the EPD, EED, and ND scenarios, respectively. The clustering of the four services is obvious in the desert area and around the water system with “low–low synergy” and “high–high synergy”; the plain area and mountainous area are mainly “high–low trade-off” and “low–high trade-off” relationships. This paper provides a scientific reference for coordinating economic development and ecological protection in the basin. It also provides a new technical approach to address the planning of land resources in the basin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjun Du
- College of Water and Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China; (Y.D.); (X.L.); (X.L.); (G.Y.); (D.L.); (W.X.); (X.Q.)
- Key Laboratory of Modern Water-Saving Irrigation of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Shihezi 832000, China
| | - Xiaolong Li
- College of Water and Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China; (Y.D.); (X.L.); (X.L.); (G.Y.); (D.L.); (W.X.); (X.Q.)
- Key Laboratory of Modern Water-Saving Irrigation of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Shihezi 832000, China
| | - Xinlin He
- College of Water and Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China; (Y.D.); (X.L.); (X.L.); (G.Y.); (D.L.); (W.X.); (X.Q.)
- Key Laboratory of Modern Water-Saving Irrigation of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Shihezi 832000, China
- Correspondence:
| | - Xiaoqian Li
- College of Water and Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China; (Y.D.); (X.L.); (X.L.); (G.Y.); (D.L.); (W.X.); (X.Q.)
- Key Laboratory of Modern Water-Saving Irrigation of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Shihezi 832000, China
| | - Guang Yang
- College of Water and Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China; (Y.D.); (X.L.); (X.L.); (G.Y.); (D.L.); (W.X.); (X.Q.)
- Key Laboratory of Modern Water-Saving Irrigation of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Shihezi 832000, China
| | - Dongbo Li
- College of Water and Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China; (Y.D.); (X.L.); (X.L.); (G.Y.); (D.L.); (W.X.); (X.Q.)
- Key Laboratory of Modern Water-Saving Irrigation of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Shihezi 832000, China
| | - Wenhe Xu
- College of Water and Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China; (Y.D.); (X.L.); (X.L.); (G.Y.); (D.L.); (W.X.); (X.Q.)
- Key Laboratory of Modern Water-Saving Irrigation of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Shihezi 832000, China
| | - Xiang Qiao
- College of Water and Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China; (Y.D.); (X.L.); (X.L.); (G.Y.); (D.L.); (W.X.); (X.Q.)
- Key Laboratory of Modern Water-Saving Irrigation of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Shihezi 832000, China
| | - Chen Li
- Faculty of Geography, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China;
| | - Lu Sui
- Faculty of Public Administration, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830000, China;
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Sarkar B, Islam A. Assessing poverty and livelihood vulnerability of the fishing communities in the context of pollution of the Churni River, India. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:26575-26598. [PMID: 34855169 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17719-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The present study exhibits a critical outlook on the poverty and livelihood vulnerability of the fisherman community in the context of persistent water pollution of the Churni River. The logistic regression model has identified eight factors influencing the poverty of the study area while the entropy weight method identifies the livelihood vulnerability of the fishermen. The livelihood vulnerability index of the upper stretch of the river is higher (0.65-0.67) compared to that of the lower stretch (0.46-0.57). The typical spatiality in poverty and livelihood vulnerability is triggered by the fragility of fishing livelihoods in the wake of lower concentrations of dissolved oxygen (DO), and higher BOD, COD, ammonia, nitrate and phosphate mainly due to industrial water pollution. For example, average DO ranges from 1.65 mg/l (upper stretch) to 2.50 mg/l (lower stretch) while the average BOD ranges from 5.44 mg/l (lower stretch) to 9.42 mg/l (upper stretch). This pollution induces acute ecological stress concerning declining fish diversity (from 41 to 16 fish species at the upper stretch and 41 to 23 fish species at the lower stretch during 1980-2018) as well as productivity of the existing fish species. Therefore, paralysed fishing economy and high dependency of the fishermen on the Churni River have forced them to revolve into the vicious cycle of poverty and enduring fragile livelihoods. Thus, the fishermen adopt few coping strategies like access to the nearby wetland for fishing, diversity in earning strategy and environmental movements against pollution to reduce the intensity of vulnerability. The present study would help the regional planners to frame the participatory plans for the sustainability of the riverine ecology and economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biplab Sarkar
- Department of Geography, Aliah University, 17 Gorachand Road, Kolkata, 700014, India
| | - Aznarul Islam
- Department of Geography, Aliah University, 17 Gorachand Road, Kolkata, 700014, India.
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