A new approach to assessing natural capital consumption inequities from a nonlinear perspective.

The rate of decline in ecosystem services has been exacerbated by inefficient and inequitable natural resource use and management. This study analyzes the natural capital stock and outflow in the Arid and Semi-Arid Northern Region of China (ASRNC) from 2000 to 2020. The Gini coefficient and coefficient of variation are used in the equity assessment of natural capital consumption. Over-appropriation of natural capital is a prerequisite for the inequitable distribution of natural resources, and all variables were accounted for through a geographic probe. Since most of the variables in this study have a nonlinear relationship, an in-depth analysis was conducted using NARDL. The results show that (1) natural capital flow occupancy generally shows an upward and downward trend and peaks in 2015. Natural capital stock occupancy was on a linear upward trend over the study period, rising from 14.580hm2/cap to 18.272hm2/cap. Depletion of natural capital is increasing and construction land has become the land type that leads to deep footprint changes (2) A city's consumption of natural capital matches its ecological carrying capacity to contribute to economic growth. However, the Gini coefficient for the depth of the ecological footprint from 2000 to 2020 is on a fluctuating upward trend. It reached its maximum in 2020 (1.457), indicating that the inequitable use of natural capital stock is increasing. (3) In the long run, population density and urbanization rate have different adverse effects on utilizing natural capital stock. In addition, the equity of planted forest area on natural capital use is heterogeneous in the long and short term. There is a negative effect of planted forest area on natural capital stock under long-term development. The study helps to judge the equity of regional consumption of natural capital and provides a scientific basis for the harmonious development between socio-economic systems and ecosystems. • The inequities in natural capital consumption are accounted for in a condition allowing nonlinear development. • Longitudinally, a chain of three aspects, natural capital accounting - equity measurement - imbalance tracing, is dissected. • In the long term, planted forests can exacerbate regional water shortages and lead to an imbalance in the use of natural capital. • Constructing an equity assessment framework for natural capital depletion can help guide the sustainable development of natural resources in arid and semi-arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]