Revealing the Coupling Relationship between the Gross Ecosystem Product and Economic Growth: A Case Study of Hubei Province

A concerning trend of increasing decoupling between ecosystem services and economic growth has been identified in Hubei Province, China, particularly within UNESCO World Heritage Site Shennongjia. Analysis from 2010–2019 reveals a shift from weak to strong decoupling, indicating worsening environmental pressures despite economic development. Spatial analysis highlights significant local autocorrelation in northwest and southwest regions, with high correlation areas at risk of ecological degradation. The study recommends targeted strategies for cities—those with weak decoupling should focus on reducing pollutant emissions and leveraging innovation, while strongly decoupled cities must also expand ecological land. High-performing urban clusters like Wuhan show sustainable development potential, but others face ecosystem loss risks.

Guan, S., Liao, Q., Wu, W., Yi, C., & Gao, Y. (2022). Revealing the Coupling Relationship between the Gross Ecosystem Product and Economic Growth: A Case Study of Hubei Province. Sustainability, 14(13), 7546. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14137546