Spatial Delineation for Great Wall Zone at Sub-Watershed Scale: A Coupled Ecological and Heritage Perspective

Abstract

The Great Wall is a world-famous World Heritage Site facing serious environmental and structural fragmentation problems. This study considered the watershed an essential basis for delineating the Great Wall cultural zone boundary. The relevant watersheds and their scope in the Beijing Great Wall cultural zone were determined, and a sub-watershed classification index system was constructed. The sub-watershed type conservation areas were classified using the k-means clustering method. The relationships among heritage, ecological, socioeconomic, and hydrological elements were analyzed to obtain the essential characteristics of the spatial differentiation of watershed types. Heritage had a promoting effect on urbanization; urbanization had a pressurizing effect on the ecological environment, whereas heritage had a binding effect on the ecological environment. The protected areas defined at the sub-watershed scale in this study have better connectivity and integrity. Not only does it help to monitor, prevent and control the various natural and human-related issues and hazards that occur at the watershed scale, but it also helps in informing the sustainable conservation and development of the Great Wall.