Delineation of the Yellow River Riparian Zone Boundary in the Ulan Buh Desert Based on Eco‐Hydrological Processes

ABSTRACT

The riparian interface within desert ecosystems represents a critical yet fragile nexus for hydrological regulation and aeolian hazard control. In the Ulan Buh Desert, the effectiveness of this zone is currently undermined by ill‐defined spatial boundaries and fragmented management strategies that fail to address the complex synergy between water, vegetation and sand fixation. To bridge this gap, we proposed a ‘coupled multi‐criteria zoning framework’ that integrates eco‐hydrological processes with anthropogenic stressors. By quantifying the spatial heterogeneity of the sand fixation‐vegetation‐potential climatic water surplus system, we delineated four distinct functional zones along the Yellow River corridor. Importantly, our analysis reveals a pronounced disproportionate leverage effect: the eco‑agricultural coordination zone, which occupies only 10.67% of the landscape, exhibits a higher normalized sand‑fixation benefit index than most areas with larger areal extents. This finding challenges the conventional ‘uniform restoration’ approach, highlighting the urgent need for precision management in high‐leverage areas. The proposed framework not only overcomes the limitations of single‐indicator assessments but also provides a scalable, spatially explicit decision‐making tool for optimizing trade‐offs in arid land management worldwide.