Integrating DPSIR and Ecology-Production-Life Space Frameworks for Assessing Multi-Basin Water Ecological Security in Kashgar Prefecture, Xinjiang, China

Against global ecological and environmental challenges, water ecological security in arid desert regions is of great significance to regional ecological balance and socio-economic development. This study focuses on the Kashgar Prefecture, specifically the Yarkant River Basin and Kashigaer River Basin, in Xinjiang, China. Employing the perspective of the “Ecology-production-life Space” and the Drive-Pressure-Status-Influence-Respond (DPSIR) model, this study utilizes the objective entropy value method to construct a comprehensive evaluation index system to assess the status of water ecological security and its spatial security in the three regions from 2012 to 2019. The results show that the two major river basins and Kashgar Prefecture present an underbalanced state of production-led ecology, and life space lagging in the Ecology-production-life Space, with different trends and substantial fluctuations in the comprehensive indices of ecology, production, and life of the three. From the DPSIR model, the changes in the indices of the dimensions of the three are complicated, and the response indices are generally low. The composite indices of the two basins and the Kashgar Prefecture are in fair condition, which is affected by the synergistic influence of human activities and natural factors. The production pressure threatens the safety of water ecology, while the ecological protection has a certain degree of effectiveness, but still needs to be improved overall. The rate of improvement is slow due to the limitations of production-led and ecological lag in the future, although there is an upward trend. This study establishes a coupled, complementary assessment framework integrating spatial patterns and causal chains. It validates an evaluation model applicable to discontinuous multi-basin networks in an arid desert region, revealing the evolution patterns and core contradictions of water ecological security in arid multi-basin areas. The results of this study can provide a scientific basis and data support for the study of water ecological security in arid desert multi-basin watersheds.