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Rethinking vulnerability and human behaviour in arid and semi-arid regions in northwestern China

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Abstract

The relationship between human behaviour and vulnerability is interactive, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. This paper analyses vulnerability and human behaviour in the core areas of Qilian Mountains National Park, which is located in Qilian and Sunan counties. We used the vulnerability index and grey correlation degree methods to analyse the data. The results show that from 2005 to 2017, the vulnerability degree in the Qilian Mountain area decreased gradually (Qilian County vulnerability decreased from 0.0357 to − 0.2237, and Sunan County vulnerability decreased from 0.1428 to − 0.4489). In 2017, the degree had reached its lowest value due to central and local government policy (− 0.2237 and − 0.4489). Considering that human behaviour contributed to the vulnerability degree, we find that land use and agricultural development mode, the acceleration of industrialisation and changes in the spatial patterns of human activities, and the development of urbanization and changes in resident identities are the main concepts driving the relationship between human behaviour and vulnerability. The innovative assessment indicators developed in this study can be applied to thoroughly explore the relationship between human behaviour and vulnerability and to find the influencing factors. Under certain conditions, this approach can be applied to vulnerability research in specific countries and regions.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful for the comments received from the anonymous reviewers, which helped improve this article.

Funding

This study is supported by Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (grant number 2016B47814).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Research Centre for Resettlement (NRCR), School of Public Administration, Hohai University, Focheng West Road, 211100, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China

    Yan Zou & Junzhuo Xu

  2. Centre for Social Responsibility in Ming (CSRM), Sustainable Mineral Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4067, Australia

    Ruilian Zhang

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  1. Yan Zou
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Zou, Y., Xu, J. & Zhang, R. Rethinking vulnerability and human behaviour in arid and semi-arid regions in northwestern China. Environ Monit Assess 192, 379 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08320-3

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