Abstract
Current studies on ecological sensitivity often suffer from fragmented indicator systems and weak comparability across regions. This study develops a vegetation-driven ecological sensitivity index (VESI) based on a meta-analysis framework, which systematically integrates empirical evidence from multiple regions, scales, and coefficient types. Meta-regression coefficients are employed as weights to quantify the average effects of external drivers on vegetation, providing both ecological mechanism support and statistical validity. Accordingly, we use the Cobb–Douglas functional form to construct the terrestrial ecological sensitivity index, embedding original factor data and their estimated effects. The results reveal distinct spatial patterns of ecological sensitivity in China, characterized by a “northwest high–southeast low” and “northern high–southern low” distribution. Extremely high and high sensitivity areas are concentrated in Northwest China, North China, and central Northeast China, where ecosystems respond strongly to external disturbances. Moderate sensitivity areas are mainly distributed in central and southwestern regions, the middle and lower Yangtze River basin, and southern hilly areas show relatively low sensitivity. The average ecological sensitivity index exhibits a declining trend during 2010-2020, with the proportion of extremely high sensitivity zones continuing to shrink. Case studies further highlight spatial heterogeneity: a resource-exhausted city (e.g., Ordos) shows the highest sensitivity with a slight decline, an alpine plateau region (e.g., Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture) displays high but declining sensitivity, whereas a rapidly urbanizing region (e.g., Shenzhen) and a coastal city (e.g., Xiamen) exhibit relatively low but rising sensitivity. This vegetation-driven framework provides a systematic, comparable, and mechanism-based tool for assessing ecological sensitivity, offering quantitative evidence to support ecosystem management and regional sustainability strategies.
Keywords: Driving factors, Meta-analysis, Cobb–Douglas function, Terrestrial ecological sensitivity, Vegetation.
 

Driving factors,Meta-analysis,Cobb–Douglas function,Terrestrial ecological sensitivity,Vegetation