Abstract: Ecological restoration of territorial space is an important measure to implement the strategy of ecological civilization construction. Scientific delineation of ecological restoration zoning is the basic premise for the orderly promotion of ecological restoration of territorial space. Taking the Taohe River Basin as a case, we developed an analytical framework for assessing ecological resilience, focusing on ecosystem resistance capacity, ecosystem recovery capability, and ecosystem adaptability. Using this framework, we evaluated the ecological resilience of Taohe River Basin, outlined the zoning for ecological restoration of the territorial space, and proposed corresponding measures for ecological restoration. The results showed that there were substantial spatial differentiations of ecosystem resistance and adaptability indices in the Taohe River Basin, and a lack of natural transition between low-value areas and high-value areas. Spatial differences in ecosystem recovery index were evident, with higher ratings of ecosystem recovery capability from north-east to south-west. Ecological resilience showed circular distribution characteristics in space. Based on the results of resilience evaluation, the ecological restoration zoning of territorial space in Taohe River Basin was divided into five types, among which the vulnerable areas with low ecological resilience were distributed in the northern part of the basin, accounting for 7.49% of the basin area. The improvement area of ecological adaptability was mainly distributed in the Gannan Plateau, accounting for 34.04% of the basin area. The area of enhanced ecosystem recovery capability depended predominantly in the northern-central sector of the basin, encompassing 6.39% of the total basin area. Conversely, there was no designated area for boosting ecological resistance, constituting 16.57% of the total basin area. The protected areas with high ecological resilience were mainly distributed in the middle of the basin, accounting for 35.52% of the basin area. According to the zoning results, nature-based ecological restoration measures are proposed to improve forest and grassland coverage and increase landscape types, in order to provide reference for ecological protection and restoration.

Key words: ecosystem resistance, ecosystem recovery, ecosystem adaptability, Taohe River Basin