Regional assessment on ecological risk of ecosystems under natural hazards: an application in Guangdong Province (SE China)

Ecological risk studies have progressed significantly in recent decades. Although not completely theoretical compared with traditional fields of science, the ecological risk assessment, at practical level, shows very important to maintain a healthy ecosystem for human well-being. Ecological risk is a combination of hazard, vulnerability, and the exposed ecosystem values. By implementing this conceptual model, taking Guangdong Province in southeastern China as a case study, using the ArcGIS technique, an ecosystem-based assessment for ecological risks of tropical cyclones, rainstorm waterlogging, and geohazards, as well as their comprehensive ecological risk was applied to 21 administrative municipalities in the study area. The results show that Zhuhai, Jiangmen, Yangjiang, Zhanjiang, and Shenzhen were the top five municipalities with highest comprehensive hazards of multi-hazards. There were no high and very high grades of ecological risk for either single hazards or multi-hazards, but relatively, the four municipalities of Zhuhai, Jiangmen, Yangjiang, and Zhanjiang had the highest grades of moderate ecological risk in Guangdong Province. These findings intended to help with disaster mitigation and management decisions on a regional scale and hope to bring more attentions on ecological risk of ecosystems under natural hazards.