Analysis on coupling and coordination of urbanization and ecological resilience in Hexi Corridor Economic Belt, China

The model of extensive economic growth has intensified the tensions between urban development and ecological resilience. Taking the ecological context, resource and environmental costs, as well as the urbanization development into consideration, we constructed an ecological resilience evaluation system based on scale-density-morphology and a dual dimensional urbanization evaluation system based on population-economy. We measured the level of urbanization and ecological resilience in the Hexi Corridor Economic Belt, and explored the spatiotemporal variations and coordination relationship and between urbanization and ecological resilience based on a coupled coordination degree model. From 2010 to 2023, urbanization levels in the Hexi Corridor Economic Belt fluctuated between 0.42 and 0.49, exhibiting a spatial pattern characterized by low at the center and high at the east and west sides. With respect to urbanization modes, Jinchang was rapid development type, Zhangye was population lagging type, Jiuquan was slow developing type, and Jiayuguan and Wuwei had risen from a slow developing type to a rapid developing type. The ecological resilience levels in the Hexi Corridor Economic Belt fluctuated from 0.46 to 0.45, showing a significant ecological deficit. This ecological resilience exhibited a spatial distribution pattern marked by high values in the northwest and low values in the southeast. In term of ecological resilience category, Jiayuguan was an ecological surplus type, Zhangye and Wuwei were ecological deficit type, Jiuquan and Jinchang were dual-low type concerning both scale and density. Urbanization and ecological resilience was basically coordinated, showing a spatial pattern of low in the middle and high at east and west sides. The heterogeneity of the coupling and coordination effects of the ecological resilience subsystem was significant, the scale resilience hindered Jiayuguan and Wuwei, promoted Zhangye and Jiuquan, and transformed Jinchang from a promoting effect to a blocking effect. Density resilience had promotive effects in Jiayuguan and Wuwei, but inhibitive effects in the other three cities. Morphological resilience had inhibitive effects in Jiayuguan and Zhangye, but promotive effects in the other three cities.