Quantitative Evaluation for Coupling Coordinated Development between Ecosystem and Economic System-Case Study of Chinese Loess Plateau

In this study, models of coupling coordinated development (CCD) between ecosystems and economic systems are proposed to evaluate the CCD status of large-scale areas such as the Chinese Loess Plateau, aiming to support decision making to promote county-level coordinated development. In the generated model with the evaluation criteria, the CCD relationship of the plateau was assigned to three classes and 7 types and 12 subtypes. It demonstrates that the CCD status between the ecosystem and the economic system in the Chinese Loess Plateau is at a very low level. Results obtained from this project indicate this quantitative evaluation method is concise, applicable, and effective. Most importantly, the work has established a novel methodological framework for CCD evaluation of large-scale areas. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)UP.1943-5444.0000126. (C) 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers.