Ecological Risk Assessment and Protection Zone Identification for Linear Cultural Heritage: A Case Study of the Ming Great Wall

A significant portion (63.49%) of the Ming Great Wall Heritage (MGWH) faces low to medium ecological risk, with the highest risk areas (16.61%) concentrated at lower and medium elevations (200–1000 m). The study identified four protection zones—Protection-Restricted, Restoration-Moderate exploited, Restoration-Restricted, and Protection-Moderate exploited—based on preservation status and risk analysis using GeoDetector, principal component analysis, and bivariate autocorrelation. Ecological risks transition from human-dominated at lower elevations to natural factors at higher elevations, with a trend of increasing then decreasing risk as elevation rises. The research emphasizes the need for 'cultural heritage protection first' policies, restricting development while prioritizing ecological restoration and environmental management. This approach provides a scalable model for assessing and mitigating risks in large linear cultural heritage sites.

Li, L., Feng, R., & Xi, J. (2021). Ecological Risk Assessment and Protection Zone Identification for Linear Cultural Heritage: A Case Study of the Ming Great Wall. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(21), 11605. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111605