Ranking land degradation drivers in eastern Inner Mongolia using partial order theory and Hasse diagram analysis.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Geography
• Sustainable Development

Background:

• Land degradation (LD) is a significant global challenge, hindering sustainable development and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 15.3 (SDG 15.3) for land degradation neutrality.
• Eastern Inner Mongolia (EIM), an agro-pastoral transitional zone, faces escalating LD, necessitating identification of its primary drivers for effective ecological governance and land use management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the spatio-temporal patterns of land degradation in EIM from 1990 to 2020.
• To identify and rank the dominant drivers of land degradation in EIM across different periods.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Global 30m Land-Cover Dynamics Monitoring Product (GLC_FCS30D) to assess land cover changes.
• Employed Partial Order Theory (POT) and the Hasse Diagram Technique (HDT) to evaluate and rank the influence of twelve identified drivers (natural, human activities, economic, urbanization).

Main Results:

• Approximately 23% of EIM experienced land cover change between 1990 and 2020, with varying degradation and restoration rates across the three decades.
• The dominant drivers of LD varied spatially and temporally, with urbanization consistently ranked as the most influential driver.
• The ranking of drivers shifted over time, with economic factors gaining influence over human activities in the most recent period (2010-2020).

Conclusions:

• The study provides a comprehensive understanding of the spatiotemporal dynamics and primary drivers of land degradation in Eastern Inner Mongolia.
• Findings offer a scientific foundation for developing targeted land management and ecological restoration policies in the region.
• The research contributes valuable insights for optimizing land use strategies and advancing progress towards sustainable development goals.