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Assessing the ecological security of the Three Gorges reservoir complex ecosystem based on the improved three-dimensional emergy ecological footprint model

  • 0State Key Laboratory of Water Resources Engineering and Management, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China; The National Key Laboratory of Water Disaster Prevention, Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, Nanjing 210029, China.
The Science of the Total Environment +

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May 11, 2024

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May 11, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The Three Gorges Project shows improving ecological security (ES) and sustainability, primarily due to inflow runoff. This study introduces a new model for assessing reservoir ecological security.

Area Of Science

  • Environmental Science
  • Ecosystem Management
  • Sustainable Development

Background

  • Ecological security (ES) is vital for watershed water security and sustainable development.
  • Reservoir complex ecosystems (RCEs) require accurate ES assessment.
  • The Three Gorges Project (TGP) serves as a critical case study for RCE evaluation.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To propose and validate a novel ecological security assessment model (ESM-IEEF3D).
  • To comprehensively evaluate the ecological security of the Three Gorges Project RCE from 1993 to 2022.
  • To provide policy insights for enhancing hydropower ecological security.

Main Methods

  • Development of an improved three-dimensional emergy ecological footprint (ESM-IEEF3D) model.
  • Integration of emergy flows during RCE construction and operation into EEF3D calculations.
  • Case study analysis of the Three Gorges Project (TGP) over a 30-year period.

Main Results

  • The TGP RCE generally maintained an ecological remainder state, with inflow runoff significantly boosting sustainability.
  • The three-dimensional emergy ecological footprint (EEF3D) showed a decreasing trend, indicating improved ecological security.
  • Resource dependency and ecological pressure from TGP on natural and socio-economic systems have decreased.

Conclusions

  • The TGP RCE exhibits safe resource utilization, healthy structural characteristics, and improving eco-economic coordination.
  • The novel assessment framework offers valuable insights for hydropower ecological security and sustainable development.
  • Understanding human-ecosystem relationships is enhanced through this comprehensive evaluation.

Keywords:

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