Spatial Heterogeneity and Formation Mechanism of Eco-Environmental Quality in the Yellow River Basin

The Yellow River Basin (YRB) serves as a crucial ecological security barrier in China, and the scientific evaluation and understanding of the formation mechanisms of ecological environment quality (EEQ) in the YRB are of great importance for implementing dynamic regional ecosystem planning and protection. Therefore, this study aims to explore the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and formation mechanisms of the EEQ in the YRB from 2000 to 2020, based on land use remote sensing monitoring data, utilizing research methods such as the ecological environment quality index, centroid analysis, and the geographic detector. The results are as follows: From 2000 to 2020, the overall EEQ in the YRB showed a slight increasing trend, with a significant growth trend in the upstream and middle reaches, and a decreasing trend in the downstream. The spatial heterogeneity of the EEQ in the YRB was significant, with a south-high and north-low distribution pattern overall. During the study period, the spatial distribution pattern of the EEQ was relatively stable, with a notable increase in EEQ in the northwest of the YRB. The EEQ in the study area was jointly affected by natural and socio-economic factors, with precipitation, terrain fluctuation, and temperature being the dominant factors. The upstream EEQ was most affected by temperature, the EEQ of the middle reaches was most affected by precipitation, and the downstream EEQ was more vulnerable to the interference of slope and topographic relief. The influencing factors had a synergistic effect on the EEQ, and the explanatory power of socio-economic factors for a single-factor explanation of the EEQ was relatively low, but the explanatory power of the interaction between natural and socio-economic factors was significantly enhanced. These results can provide valuable insights for guiding and informing policy-making decisions related to ecological protection in the YRB.