This paper is the result of environmental geological survey engineering.

Objective In dry-hot valley areas, the human-environment conflict is prominent and the relationship between humans, land, and ecological balance remains unclear. In recent years, with the vigorous development of the specialty fruit industry in the valley, the mutual feedback between human activities and the environment has been significantly intensified. Under the combined impacts of frequent global extreme weather events, ecological risks may further escalate, and ecosystem services are likely to be severely affected. This study aims to provide a scientific basis for local ecological environmental protection and sustainable development through an in-depth assessment of ecological vulnerability in the Luolou River Basin, a typical dry-hot valley area.

Methods An evaluation index system for the ecological vulnerability of the Luolou River Basin was constructed based on natural and anthropogenic factors. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Entropy Weight Method (EWM) were combined to integrate subjective and objective weights, thereby determining the index weights for the comprehensive assessment of ecological vulnerability in the study area. Additionally, the GeoDetector model was employed to analyze the driving factors of ecological vulnerability.

Results (1) The ecological vulnerability of the Luolou River Basin is mainly at a moderate level, covering an area of 253.14 km², accounting for 35.18% of the total basin area. This is followed by slightly vulnerable and severely vulnerable areas, with areas of 138.58 km² and 132.84 km², accounting for 19.26% and 18.46% of the total area, respectively. The extremely vulnerable area is the smallest, with an area of 83.48 km² (11.6% of the total area). Areas with vulnerability below the slight level account for 34.76% of the total area, among which the minimally vulnerable area accounts for 15.5%. Areas with severe vulnerability and above account for 30.06% of the total area. (2) Land use type (X4) and soil thickness (X9) are the key driving factors affecting the ecological vulnerability of the Luolou River Basin, with q-values of 0.676 and 0.53, respectively. (3) The Luolou River Basin is divided into five ecological vulnerability zones: Jizushan Minimally Vulnerable Zone (Ⅰ), Ma'ershan Slightly Vulnerable Zone (Ⅱ), Huiyao-Qifeng-Mishailuo-Shangdaping Moderately Vulnerable Zone (Ⅲ), Xiyi-Beiya-Xinchengping Severely Vulnerable Zone (Ⅳ), and Wangying-Daleibo Temple-Xiadaping-Shidong Extremely Vulnerable Zone (Ⅴ). Based on the analysis and summary of the main ecological and environmental problems in each zone, scientifically sound and feasible ecological protection and restoration strategies are proposed.

Conclusions The ecological vulnerability of the Luolou River Basin is dominated by the moderate level, indicating that the overall ecosystem of the region is relatively unstable and has poor disturbance resistance. Areas with severe vulnerability and above are mainly distributed on both sides of the river valleys in regions such as Beiya-Huangping-Xincheng-Xiadaping and Luche-Xincheng-Xiadaping, especially in areas with an elevation below 2000 meters. The ecological vulnerability in this region is the result of the combined effects of human activities and natural factors.