Unraveling the nonlinear relationship between ecosystem services and sustainable development goals based on machine learning
摘要
Ecosystem services (ESs) play a critical role in promoting the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As the forefront of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA), Guangxi offers a valuable case for examining the interplay between the SDGs and ESs. In this study, the SDGs were evaluated in Guangxi from 2005 to 2020. The InVEST model was used to measure various ESs, a spatial econometric model was used to examine the spatial correlation between ESs and SDGs, and explainable machine learning technology was used to reveal nonlinear correlations between the two. The results indicate that (1) with the launch of CAFTA, 2010 was a turning point for Guangxi’s overall SDGs, showing a slight decline from 2005–2010 and a significant upward trend from 2010–2020. (2) Guangxi’s overall ESs tended to decrease in the central and southern regions and increased radially in all directions. (3) The influence of ESs on the SDGs was not limited to only local areas but also extended to neighboring areas and even the whole region, with obvious indirect effects. (4) There was a significant nonlinear interaction between the SDGs and ESs. Under certain conditions, the indices of SDG1, SDG13, and SDG15 had strong positive effects on ESs. These findings deepen the understanding of ES-SDG relationships and offer a solid theoretical foundation for promoting sustainable coexistence between human societies and ecosystems.