Evaluation and Planning Application of Oasis Habitat Stability in Arid Regions Based on the PPSD Model: A Case Study of Wensu County, Xinjiang.

Oasis regions, with high population and wealth density, are vital for human habitation and ecological balance in arid areas, where their stability and sustainability are crucial for human habitation and ecological balance. Current research on oasis stability often focuses on the impact of natural and human factors on oasis systems, overlooking the interactive and dynamic role of human and natural facts as both enhancing and demanding entities from these ecosystems. This study introduces the PPSD (Promotion-Pressure-Support-Destruction) model to comprehensively assess human and natural influences on oasis stability. It quantifies human actions' promotion(such as water infrastructure and traffic development) and pressures (resource consumption and development intensity) on oases, as well as natural support (water, land, biodiversity) and destructive forces (disasters, climate). The study takes Wensu County in Xinjiang as the research subject, and reveals that the stability scores of the existing oasis regions in Wensu County are relatively high, with notable performance in the northwest of the western oasis and the south, east, and north of the eastern oasis. By analyzing the spatial distribution of 16 different combinations of the four forces, the county is divided into eight ecological zones: nature reserves, ecological improvement areas, maintenance zones, restoration areas, natural retention belts, natural development potential areas, and potential developing areas. Planning and conservation suggestions are proposed for each zone. Finally, integrating stability analysis with planning, a strategy for Wensu's oasis development is suggested, advocating for "optimize the western area along the Kumal River, control northern development towards the Hamantala Mountains, extend the eastern area of Qingnian Town, and connect the southern with the Aksu region." along with a phased land use planning and development sequence based on the suitable scale of the oasis.