Abstract:

The coupling and coordinated development of the human-earth system lies at the core of achieving regional sustainable development and represents an urgent need for advancing ecological civilization construction in China. Exploring the coupling mechanisms and optimization pathways of the human-earth system in the Qilian Mountains holds profound theoretical and practical significance for scientifically guiding key ecological functional zones such as the Qilian Mountains to break away from traditional path dependence and explore new green development pathways that prioritize ecology. Employing the analytical paradigm of the “territorial system of human-environment interaction”， this study systematically examines the phased evolutionary characteristics and driving mechanisms of human-environment relationships in the Qilian Mountains region over the past five decades. It identifies that the human-environment interaction patterns in this region have undergone several stages： a phase of extensive development characterized by prominent human-environment conflicts， a phase of over-exploitation marked by intensified conflicts， a transition from conflict eruption to ecological restoration， and finally， a stage of exploring green development transformation toward harmonious coexistence between humans and the environment. Under the guidance of ecological priority， the green transformation of the Qilian Mountains region still faces multidimensional challenges， including fragile ecological conditions， persistent water resource constraints， and prominent conflicts between resource exploitation and conservation. Finally， from the perspective of the human-earth system， this study constructs an ecological protection-development framework for the Qilian Mountains. It proposes strategies in three key areas—strengthening ecosystem conservation and restoration， establishing an ecological economic system， and advancing the construction of the Qilian Mountains National Park—to promote synergistic benefits among ecological protection， economic development， and livelihood improvement. The study aims to provide pathway guidance for sustainable development in the Qilian Mountains region.

Key words: territorial system of human-environment interaction, Qilian Mountains, ecological protection and development