Constructing a Scientific Land Ecological Security Evaluation Indicator System: Principles and Methods

Abstract

This paper focuses on the assessment of land ecological security, aiming to study the land ecological security in Tai'an City, Shandong Province, China. It constructs an evaluation indicator system and utilizes the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) model for assessment while proposing improvement recommendations. The paper begins by introducing relevant concepts, emphasizing the importance of land ecological security in sustainable development. Land ecological security goes beyond the mere existence of land; it also considers the quality and sustainability of land ecosystems to ensure they can meet human needs while maintaining stability. The paper elaborates on the process of land ecological security assessment, including the establishment of an indicator system, categorization of land ecological states, data collection, analysis, and the formulation of improvement recommendations. The selection of evaluation indicators is based on their relevance to specific ecosystems and includes factors such as land use patterns, vegetation cover, soil quality, water resources, and wildlife diversity. Indicator weights are determined through expert opinions, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and data-driven methods. The paper also introduces the theoretical foundations of land ecology, including species diversity, energy flow, nutrient cycling, and the ecosystem services provided by land ecosystems. These theories provide the basis for understanding and researching land ecological security. Furthermore, the paper presents a socioeconomic overview of Tai'an City, including population, urbanization rate, GDP, and economic trends from 2015 to 2020, with a focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. The principles of indicator system construction are discussed, emphasizing scientific principles such as objectivity, representativeness, feasibility, and comprehensiveness. The paper highlights the need to consider various natural, social, and economic factors influencing land ecosystems when selecting evaluation indicators. Finally, the paper includes a case study that applies the constructed land ecological security assessment indicator system to an Asia-Pacific city. This case study assesses the ecological security of the city, analyzes the significance and impact of the assessment results, and provides recommendations for improvement, including increasing urban green area coverage, managing water resources, and addressing climate change. The results of the case study reveal a relatively healthy ecosystem in the Asia-Pacific city.