Ecosystem health assessment and approaches to improve Sichuan Province based on an improved vigor organization resilience model

Ecological degradation is a global issue that seriously threatens sustainable human development, and the evaluation of ecosystem health (EH) is the primary condition for regional ecological restoration work. In this study, we optimized the classic vigor organization resilience (VOR) model and analyzed the spatial distribution pattern of the ecosystem health index (EHI) in Sichuan Province in 2020 and 2005. We determined the land spatial ecosystem restoration zone (ESZ), ecological degradation zone (EDZ), and ecological improvement zone (EIZ) in Sichuan Province. The results indicate that (1) the kappa values of the VOR models for 2020 and 2005 were 33.84 and 32.74, respectively, which were below 100. (2) The ranges of EHI values in Sichuan Province in 2020 and 2005 were 0.238–0.892 and 0.218–0.896, respectively. (3) The areas of EDZ and EIZ were 41781.84 and 26032 km2, accounting for 8.58 and 5.35% of the total area of Sichuan Province, respectively. (4) The total area of the ESZ accounts for 36.46% of that of Sichuan Province. This study is beneficial for eco-environmental management departments to develop ecological restoration strategies based on local ESZ, EDZ, and EIZ.