Sustainable development in mountainous areas is closely linked to human ecological well-being. The coordination of ecological conservation and economic development is an important issue that urgently requires exploration. This study, based on a re-examination of the relationship between ecological conservation and economic development, revises the coupling framework between ecosystem assets in mountainous areas and regional economic development. Utilizing county-level statistical data in conjunction with remote sensing data, the study employs the coupling coordination degree model to characterize the interactive relationship between mountainous ecosystem assets and regional economic development. Additionally, machine learning methods are integrated to measure the contributions of driving factors within different zones characterized by varying degrees of coupling and economic features. The study’s findings indicate: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the coupling coordination relationship between EA (Ecological Assets) and RE (Regional Economy) in the Qinling has been continuously improving. The northeastern part of the Qinling is an area where the coupling coordination status is relatively poor. (2) Urbanization contributes the most to the coupling coordination system across different zones, but this marginal impact is continuously diminishing with the increase in the urbanization rate. (3) The tourism industry, under the condition of lower secondary industry development levels, has a weaker driving effect on economic development. Moderate development of light industry would be more conducive to the coupling coordination of ecosystem asset protection and economic development in mountainous areas. The research findings can provide scientific reference for the formulation of green development strategies in mountainous regions.

中文翻译：

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山区生态系统资产经济耦合协调及其内生和外生驱动因素探索


山区的可持续发展与人类的生态福祉密切相关。生态保护与经济发展的协调是亟待探索的重要问题。本研究在重新审视生态保护与经济发展关系的基础上，修正了山区生态系统资产与区域经济发展之间的耦合框架。利用县级统计数据与遥感数据相结合，采用耦合协调度模型来表征山地生态系统资产与区域经济发展之间的交互关系。此外，还集成了机器学习方法，以衡量不同区域内驱动因素的贡献，这些因素具有不同程度的耦合和经济特征。研究结果表明：（1）2000—2020年，秦岭地区生态资产与区域经济耦合协调关系不断改善。秦岭东北部是耦合协调状况较差的地区。（2） 城市化对不同区域耦合协调系统的贡献最大，但这种边际影响随着城市化率的提高而不断减弱。（3）在初中产业发展水平条件下，旅游业对经济发展的驱动作用较弱。适度发展轻工业更有利于山区生态系统资产保护与经济发展的耦合协调。 研究结果可为山区绿色发展战略的制定提供科学参考。