Spatio-temporal analysis of the coupling relationship between urbanization and eco-environment in backward regions of China

The strategy of the Silk Road Economic Belt in China has promoted the urban development of the backward regions in the west, but it might also cause serious eco-environmental concerns. Studying the coupling relationship between urbanization and the eco-environment (UEE) is essential to promote the sustainable development in backward regions. This study developed a combined method of coupling coordination degree (CCD) model, linear regression, and gray relational analysis (GRA) model to investigate the spatio-temporal coupling relationship and the influencing factors between UEE in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (NHAR), a typical backward region along the Silk Road Economic Belt. Results show that (1) the economic urbanization and eco-environmental pressure made the largest contribution to the system of urbanization and eco-environment, respectively. (2) The overall CCD in NHAR showed a linear upward trend from 2001 to 2018, while the CCD of each district presented significant spatial difference. The CCDs in the more developed northern regions were generally higher than those in southern mountainous regions. (3) Furthermore, population factors were the main mechanism imposing stress on the eco-environment, and the factors of eco-environmental status had higher restrictive effect on urban development in NHAR. This study could provide theoretical basis for investigating the interaction between UEE in backward regions, which might enable policymakers to formulate targeted sustainable development plans.