Ecosystem health assessment of desert nature reserve with entropy weight and fuzzy mathematics methods: A case study of Badain Jaran Desert

A comprehensive ecosystem health assessment of the Badain Jaran Desert, the fourth largest desert globally, reveals that 68.1% of its area is in healthy or sub-healthy status, with only 4% and 0.2% classified as unhealthy and sick, respectively. The study utilized entropy weight and fuzzy mathematics methods to evaluate 11 key indicators—such as biomass, net primary productivity (NPP), and soil parameters—across the desert's spatial scale. Findings indicate that while the interior of the desert maintains ecological stability, peripheral areas with frequent human activity require urgent protection and restoration to mitigate further degradation. This research establishes a technical framework for ecosystem health assessment in arid desert reserves, offering critical support for monitoring, prevention, and sustainable management.

Cheng, W., Xi, H., Sindikubwabo, C., Si, J., Zhao, C., Yu, T., Li, A., & Wu, T. (2020). Ecosystem health assessment of desert nature reserve with entropy weight and fuzzy mathematics methods: A case study of Badain Jaran Desert. Ecological Indicators, 119, 106843. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106843