Assessment of Terrestrial Ecosystem Health in the Yellow River Basin

Recently, research on ecosystem health assessment has become dominance in environmental and ecological science. In this paper, terrestrial ecosystem in the Yellow River Basin was chosen as the assessment subject and characteristics of the ecological pattern, functions and pressure were analyzed. 29 sub-watersheds were selected as assessment units and the terrestrial ecosystem health from 2000 to 2010 was assessed by using RS and GIS technologies with natural social economical features and influence factors. The results showed: (1) the overall health condition of the terrestrial ecosystem was moderate; (2) in the view of spatial distribution, ecosystem health condition in the upper reaches was better than that in the middle and lower reaches, and the condition in the lower reaches turned the worst; (3) in the view of time distribution, the terrestrial ecosystem health was degenerated from 2000 to 2010 and health conditions of only a few sub-watersheds were improved.