资源环境承载能力百年研究的系统综述

A systematic review of centenary studies on natural resources and environmental carrying capacity

承载能力是资源环境领域持续近两个世纪的经典命题,其概念与研究框架不断被更新,但始终聚焦在人地矛盾与可持续性。本文构建了人地关系分析框架,系统解析国外资源环境承载能力研究演化过程,通过国外趋势与国内外对比分析,提出中国资源环境承载能力研究重点方向。研究发现:(1)国外承载能力概念根植于(新)马尔萨斯主义理论,由资源供给、环境污染、生物圈退化等矛盾扩展为人地关系系统性矛盾,经历了资源承载能力(始于19世纪)、环境承载能力(始于20世纪70年代)、生态系统承载能力(始于20世纪90年代)、自然系统承载能力(始于21世纪10年代)4个研究阶段;(2)承载能力在国外不同学科领域具有不同的概念内涵,即使在同一学科领域也可能存在不同应用场景与适用范围,且由于挂钩政治经济学理论,因技术进步、市场机制与时空有限性等产生争议,因此其概念讨论与使用需加以约束和明确;(3)当前中国承载能力研究与国外几乎同步,其优势在于人地关系整体性与系统性的区域尺度研究,但在全球尺度、自然与社会科学理论方法融合等方面仍有对接和追赶空间。本文建议围绕学科融合与理论、尺度效应与机理、模型—数据融合与集成、不同空间单元与典型类型区应用、政策体系与机制等方面进行重点研究,继续深化创新中国特色承载能力研究与应用。

Carrying capacity,a concept entrenched in the natural resources and environmental field for nearly two centuries,has continually evolved to address the conflicts and sustainability of the human-nature relationship.This paper introduces an analytical framework for understanding carrying capacity within the context of the human-nature relationship.It systematically reviews the progression of international carrying capacity studies,analyzes global research trends,and compares these with Chinese studies,highlighting key research directions in China.Historically,carrying capacity traces its roots to(neo)Malthusian theories.Its evolution spans four distinct stages:resource carrying capacity(since the 1800s),environmental carrying capacity(since the 1970s),ecosystem carrying capacity(since the 1990s),and natural system carrying capacity(since the 2010s).The concept of carrying capacity varies widely across global disciplines and even within the same discipline,showcasing diverse applications.Carrying capacity has sparked controversy due to its connection to political economy theories and factors such as technological progress,market mechanisms,and spatial and temporal constraints.Therefore,it is imperative to engage in a restrained and explicit discussion and application of carrying capacity.Presently,China's carrying capacity studies align closely with the international community,capitalizing on regional-scale studies employing a holistic and systematic human-nature relationship approach.However,there is an opportunity for enhancement in terms of global-scale perspectives and the integration of natural and social sciences theories and methodologies.This paper proposes fostering innovation and application in carrying capacity research within the Chinese context.This entails integrating various disciplines and theories,exploring scale effects and mechanisms,utilizing model-data fusion and integration,applying case studies in various spatial units and typical zone types,and improving policy systems and institutions.