Exploitative intensity evaluating of Zhuhai coastal zone land resource by multidimensional-vectors model

Coastal zone, as the interactive area between ocean and land, is a very complex and fragile system. Coastal zone supports diverse and productive coastal ecosystems and provides significant ecological, cultural, and economic benefits to human beings. However, with the rapid growth in both population and economy, coastal ecosystems are being subjected to ever increasing pressure. Coastal zone that was formerly wisely used is being destroyed in the pursuit of economic wealth which has greatly threaded human's sustainable development. Beside excessive resource exploitation and environmental pollution, unreasonable land use is also another important fact which could cause great damages to the coastal ecosystems. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the degree of land exploitation and utilization in Zhuhai coastal zone which locates at the west of Pearl River Estuary. A new model named Multidimensional-Vectors Model which is suitable to coastal zone was established. Land-use data of Zhuhai coastal zone in 1995, 2000, and 2005 was used. The exploitative intensity of land-use between 1995 to 2000, and 2000 to 2005 was calculated by this model. Main characteristics of exploitative intensity of land in Zhuhai coastal zone can be generalized as follows: Areas with high exploitative intensity is mainly concentrated alone the coastal line except some small area scattered in the region far away from the sea. Area with high exploitative intensity from 1995 to 2000 is larger than that from 2000 to 2005, and the spatial distribution of high exploitative intensity during 1995 to 2000 period is more concentrative than that form 2000 to 2005.