Measuring coordination of economy-society and resource-environment based on major function oriented zoning: a case study of Pearl River Delta

A reasonable coordination degree assessment of the social-economic development level and the resource-environment quality level are essential to identify the key factors of the development, and vital to determine the appropriate development strategy and achieve sustainable development. The major function oriented zoning plays a role in spatial coordination mainly by spatial guidance and restriction, so, the proposal of major function oriented zoning gives a new train of thought to generate a coordination evaluation of economy-society and the resource-environment system. From the view of major function oriented zoning that considers resource environmental bearing capacity, existing development density and development potential, this paper constructs an index system and model of coordination evaluation with a case study on Pearl River Delta. The results have shown: (1) It can reveal the conflicts of economic-social development and resource-environment quality to accurately consider resource environmental bearing capacity, existing development density and development potential; (2) The coordination degree between social-economy system and resource-environment system in Pearl River Delta continued to decline in the past 10 years. The spatial extent of coordination evolves from coordination in the whole Pearl River Delta to imbalance in the core areas, and at present, the uncoordinated areas have already diffused from core areas to the outlying regions; (3) Most regions of the Pearl River Delta are in uncoordinated condition when considering the coordination degree of economic-social development and resource-environment quality, not as coordinated as some scholars considered.