[Evaluation of Ecological Quality in the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle Based on Human Footprint].

Abstract

As an important economic center in western China, the rapid urbanization and economic development of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle needs to be coordinated with ecological environmental protection. In this study, we utilized remote sensing technology and multi-source data, leveraging the Google earth engine platform to construct the human remote sensing ecological index （HRSEI）, which included indicators of greenness, wetness, dryness, heat, and the human footprint. This index was used to assess the ecological quality of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle from 2013 to 2022. The results showed that during this period, the intensity of human activities in the region increased significantly, exerting a profound impact on ecological quality. The spatial distribution of ecological changes exhibited a core-periphery pattern, centered on Chengdu and Chongqing, radiating along major transportation corridors. Ecological quality demonstrated complex trends amidst rapid urbanization and economic growth. Among them, the largest area of ecological degradation involved transitions from "good" to "fair," accounting for 22.8%, followed by a change from "excellent" to "good" （7.3%） and a change from "fair" to "poor" （3.6%）. The deterioration of "poor" and "very poor" ecological quality was mainly concentrated around the core city and its transportation network, while "good" and "excellent" areas had improved their ecological quality. The ecological improvement and restoration of the "good" and "excellent" areas were closely linked to the implementation of regional environmental protection policies. Geo-detector analysis further revealed that the interactions between natural factors （such as elevation and temperature） and human activities （such as land use） had an important influence on the dynamic changes of ecological quality in the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle. This study provides a scientific basis for future coordinated regional development and ecological environmental protection.