Spatial differentiation of Central Asian cities under demographic and ecological transformation: an index-based approach and sustainable development strategies
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https://doi.org/10.32523/3107-278X-2026-156-3-178-192Keywords:
spatial differentiation, population and environmental pressure, climate migration, pseudo-urbanisation, sustainable development goals 11, sustainable development goals 13, Central Asia, Polycentric developmentAbstract
This paper examines spatial differentiation of urban systems in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan under simultaneous demographic and ecological pressure (2019–2024). An Eco-Demographic Stress Index (EDSI) is developed integrating normalised data on net migration balance, urban green space deficit, water stress risk, and urbanisation level. Typology of 21 regions identifies three stable types: absorber cores (EDSI ≥ 0.70; 7 units), buffer zones (0.40–0.69; 2 units), and active donors under critical ecological stress (< 0.40; 12 units). Differentiated planning strategies are proposed in alignment with SDG (sustainable development goals) 11 and SDG (sustainable development goals) 13.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Гульнара Нюсупова, Стивен С. Янг, Асем Сарсембаева, Асел Баятанова, Айгерим Нурболкызы, Чингиз Жумагулов (Автор)
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