Abstract:

Grasping the sustainability status and development trend of the human-land system is very important to promote the regional sustainability. In this study， Wushen Banner in the Mu Us Sandy Land， Zhenglan Banner in the Otindag Sandy Land， Naiman Banner in the Horqin Sandy Land were selected as study areas. This research constructed a comprehensive evaluation index system including four aspects of the intensity of human activity， the deterioration of resource-energy status， the degree of environmental pollution and the regulatory capability. The portfolio empowerment-technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution and a triangular model were used to assess the sustainability level and development trend of the human-earth system during the period of 2000-2020. The results showed that： （1） It is evident that there is considerable spatial variation in the sustainability of human-land systems in the sandy areas of Inner Mongolia. However， the overall trend is one of improvement. （2） The characteristics of the subsystem changes indicate an overall fluctuating upward trend in the intensity of human activities in the study area from 2000 to 2020. This is evidenced by the fluctuating downward trend in the deterioration of the state of resources-energy and the degree of environmental pollution， as well as the ability to regulate and control the index， which showed an obvious upward trend. （3） From the perspective of overall sustainability， the Wushen banner demonstrated a notable shift from unsustainable practices to a more environmentally conscious approach， exhibiting a significant improvement in sustainability and ecological reflection from 2000 to 2020. Similarly， the Zhenglan and Naiman banners displayed a transition from unsustainable activities to a more sustainable and environmentally conscious path， with a notable advancement in sustainability and ecological reflection from 2000 to 2020. With the development of social economy and the increase of ecological governance， Sandy places in Inner Mongolia are actively exploring the road of green development. However， the balance between socio-economic development and resource and energy utilization， ecological and environmental protection is still facing challenges. In order to promote the sustainable development of the region， a differentiated management of the human-earth system is necessary for different dominant factors.

Key words: human-earth system, sustainability, triangular modeling, Mu Us Sandy Land, Otindag Sandy Land, Horqin Sandy Land