Direct and indirect impacts of urbanization on ecosystem health based on PLS-SEM in Xiangyang, China

Abstract This study proposes a framework for investigating the direct and indirect impacts of urbanization on ecosystem health by introducing partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM), the method is then applied to Xiangyang, Hubei Province, China. The validity and reliability evaluation show that PLS-SEM model is reasonable. The results showed that the level of ecosystem health in Xiangyang decreased significantly in 2010–2020. Only spatial urbanization (SU) had a direct impact on ecosystem health (-0.251/-0.262), showing a negative correlation. Population urbanization (PU) had an impact on economic urbanization (EU) (0.687/0.662), and economic urbanization (EU) had an impact on spatial urbanization (SU) (0.634/0.702). Population urbanization (PU) and economic urbanization (EU) have indirect effects on ecosystem health index (EHI). This study provides a quantitative method to determine the causes of the decline in ecosystem health, which is essential for more effective measures to maintain ecosystem health. The two objectives of this study are: (1) To establish a framework for analyzing the impacts of urbanization on ecosystem health; (2) To quantify the direct and indirect impacts and interactions of urbanization on ecosystem health.