Environmental function zoning at regional scale: A case study in Pinghu, China

Environmental function zoning (EFZ) is one of the substantial means in environmental management for source control and precision management. This study proposed a management framework for EFZ at a regional scale. It includes the steps of: (i) data collection and analysis; (ii) environmental function assessment; (iii) environmental function zone division; and (iv)environmental goals, management and control measures making. A study case in Pinghu, Zhejiang, China was selected for demonstration. By incorporation of relevant planning/zoning, satellite positioning and field works and applying dominant environment function identification method, the schema of Pinghu EFZ was determined. The results showed that the framework for EFZ could allow the derived environmental function zones maintaining or achieving the corresponding environmental functions. It thus shed the lights for relevant studies.