Ecological status in the China-Pakistan economic corridor: assessments by RS and GIS

Assessing ecological status is essential for regional planning and ecological control. Remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS) technology were used here to construct an ecostatus as sessment system from topographical, biological, soil and human activity factors. The ecological status in the China-Pakistan economic corridor was assessed by analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to determine index weight. It was found that 2.48% (24162 km2)of there search area achieved high level of ecological status, distributed mainly in forest areas in north central parts of China-Pakistan economic corridor. Areas with good level accounted for 17.37% (169235 km2), distributed mainly in the southeastern agricultural areas with good natural conditions. General level area accounting for 46.65% (454510 km2)was the largest, distributed widely in the middle and western parts of Pakistan and in the central and eastern Kashi Prefecture. The area percent age of poor level was 33.50% (326390 km2), distributed mainly in the alpine and desert areas. The map for ecological status distribution provides data support and planning guidance to optimize industry type, structure, scale and layout of China-Pakistan economic corridor, to improve regional ecological protection facilities and measures, and to improve ecological environment management ability of investment area.