Evaluation of Urban Resource Environmental Carrying Capacity and Land Spatial Development Suitability in a Semiarid Area of the Yellow River Basin

Abstract

At present, the carrying capacity of resources and the environment in some areas has reached an upper limit, and the problems of ecological destruction and environmental pollution have become increasingly prominent. The overexploitation and disorderly development of land space, resulting in the spatial imbalance between the population economy and the resource environment, is one of the root causes of excessive resource consumption, ecological degradation, and environmental pollution. Resource and environmental carrying capacity and suitability evaluation of land space development is the basis of land space planning. It provides conditions for the modernization of land space governance. The framework provided by the “ Double Evaluation Guide (Trial) “ is universal. It is necessary to adapt it to local conditions and to achieve the ” Double Evalution” results, according to the characteristics of regional development. Taking Hohhot as the research area, which is based on the “Guide”, involves selecting convincing and credible evaluation factors and using the single factor integration method and the discriminant matrix method. The “double evaluation” of Hohhot was also analyzed. This provides basic data for regional high-quality development and land space planning. The results show the following: (1) The ecological function of Hohhot is good. The areas with low importance for ecological protection accounted for about 18%, the areas with medium ecological protection accounted for about 62%, and the areas with high ecological protection accounted for about 21%. (2) The carrying capacity of agricultural function in Hohhot is medium. The carrying capacity of the low polar region accounted for about 23%, the medium polar region’s carrying capacity accounted for about 71%, and the high polar region’s carrying capacity accounted for about 6%. (3) The urban function carrying capacity of Hohhot is medium. The carrying capacity of the low-grade area accounted for about 25%, the medium-grade area’s carrying capacity accounted for about 55%, and the high-grade area’s carrying capacity accounted for about 21%. (4) The overall agricultural production suitability grade of Hohhot is not suitable. (5) The suitability of urban construction in Hohhot is general. The unsuitable area accounts for about 40%, the more suitable area accounts for about 45%, and the most suitable area accounts for about 15%.