Method and Application of Ecological Environment Vulnerability Evaluation in Arid Oasis ——A Case Study of Turpan Oasis

The Turpan Oasis, located on arid and semi arid area in the east of Xinjiang, is affected by land degradation and desertification due to interaction of a set of natural and anthropogenic factors. It is a typical and key agricultural area with apparent oasis ecosystem vulnerability and sensitivity. Carrying out ecological environment vulnerability research in Turpan region has a great strategic meaning to eco environment restoration and eco environment long lasting development. In this study, the theory and method of ecological environment vulnerability were studied, and the concept of ecological environment vulnerability was put forward. From the characteristics and the causes of ecological vulnerability, we built multiobjective and multilayer ecological vulnerability evaluation index system framework, and a Pressure state respond (PSR) model was built to evaluate the ecosystem vulnerability. The results showed that: ① more than 80% of the total area has reached the moderate degree of ecological vulnerability, and nearly 1/6 of the total area is up to the serious level. ② There is a visible spatial distribution of the vulnerability degree in the whole study area, which is obviously increasing from the east to the west; meanwhile, the ecological vulnerability degree of inner oasis is significantly lower than the outward parts. ③ The results of the ecological vulnerability degree have a significant relationship with the land cover and land use, the vulnerability degree is increasing synchronous with the rise of the ratio of desertification land. ④ Desertification control and ecological water use guarantee are key points of the ecological restoration and reconstruction in the Turpan Oasis.