Integrating key ecosystem services to study the spatio-temporal dynamics and determinants of ecosystem health in Wuhan’s central urban area

The central areas of many Chinese cities have experienced large-scale urbanization in recent decades, a trend that is affecting the quality of life of residents and posing challenges to the sustainable development of urban ecosystems. Hence, it is vital to conduct assessments of urban ecosystems’ health conditions to ensure their sustainability. In this study, the spatial and temporal dynamics of ecosystem health in the central city of Wuhan were analyzed using the Vigor-Organization-Resilience-Service (VORS) model. The sensitivity of ecosystem health at different scales was also investigated using hierarchical health assessment delineation and random forest regression methods. The results showed that the composite index of ecosystem health has been declining since 2000, highlighting the negative impacts of shrinking ecological space, declining service capacity and urban expansion. Health zoning divides areas into five categories. Meanwhile, the health zones are located in areas of dense shrubs, cropland and water bodies on the edge of the central city, while the weak zones are mainly in the core of the city, which is 99.33 % impervious surface. The main factors influencing ecosystem health, including impervious surface area, water bodies and topography, vary from region to region. The study proposes targeted ecological management strategies for different health zones in Wuhan, emphasizing ecosystem protection and providing guidance for sustainable urban development.