Assessment and zoning of eco-environmental sensitivity for a typical developing province in China

Irrational exploitation and utility of resources and extensive economic growth have become the primary causes of deterioration of ecological environment in many provinces in China. Ecological environment deterioration necessitates ecological zoning and planning in order to regulate human activities and guide the sustainable use of resources and ecological services. Eco-environmental sensitivity assessment is a basis upon which the establishment of rational zoning and planning rests. This research focused on evaluating the eco-environmental sensitivity in Anhui province, a typical province confronted with contradiction between socio-economic development and resource restriction. A multifactor assessment approach to zoning the eco-environmental sensitivity for the province in complex ecological environment and physical geographic condition was presented by incorporating remote sensing, Geographic information system, and observation and statistical data. Based on these, to support landscape and urban planning and design, rational deployment of resources and arrangement of industry, and promote sustainable development of ecology, society and economy, the recommendations for ecological construction and regional development were proposed for different zones of principal functions, and an ecological security pattern was constructed from one ecological functional core, four ecological functional zones, six ecological functional belts, three types of ecological functional corridors, and some ecological functional patches.