## 6 Conclusions  
This study introduces an innovative human-environment coupled system coordination framework specifically designed for China's lake-ring urban agglomerations. The framework reveals the spatiotemporal coupling effects of HF and EQ in five typical freshwater lake urban agglomerations in China. It constructs a dual-dimensional human-environment coordination zoning management mechanism, providing practical guidance for sustainable development in lake-ring urban agglomerations. The study finds that from 2000 to 2020, HF in China's lake-ring urban agglomerations increased steadily, while EQ fluctuation declined. HF expansion occurred mainly around lakefronts and transportation corridors, while EQ degradation was concentrated on urban edges and lakeside areas. The CCD between HF and EQ gradually increased in lake-ring urban agglomerations. High-CCD areas spread along urban edges and transportation corridors, while low-CCD areas are clustered in sparsely populated forested regions far from lakes. CCD is primarily driven by HF dimension factors, with economic activities and land use jointly dominating the coordination mechanism. EQ factors, though less influential, showed a noticeable interaction enhancement trend. Integrating the static quadrant distribution and dynamic evolution trend of HF and EQ, the study identified five types of human-environment coordinated development zones. HSEZ has a diversified land use structure, reflecting efficient coordinated development of the human-environment system. ECPZ is predominantly found in low-disturbance forested hills, acting as a key area for balancing ecological protection and moderate development. HRSZ is concentrated in croplands and urban-rural fringes with restoration potential, requiring urgent ecological restoration projects. HIRZ is mainly found in areas with a strong ecological base but increasing development intensity, requiring stricter land use control and green transformation. HCAZ is concentrated in urban cores, major transportation corridors, and lakeside development zones. These areas represent the highest-risk zones of human-environment conflict, requiring strict intervention measures. This study offers a scientific foundation for achieving differentiated human-environment coordination in China's lake-ring urban agglomerations.  
Conceptualization, S.X. and F.Y.; methodology, S.X.; software, S.X.; validation, S.X. and F.Y.; formal analysis, S.X.; investigation, F.Y.; resources, F.Y.; data curation, S.X. and F.Y.; writing--original draft preparation, S.X. and F.Y.; writing--review and editing, S.X.; visualization, S.X.; supervision, F.Y.; project administration, F.Y.; funding acquisition, F.Y. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
This research was funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China, grant Nos. 72174211, 51608535; Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation, grant No. 2018 JJ3667; Philosophy and Social Science Foundation of Hunan Province, grant No. 19 YBA347; Postgraduate Teaching Reform Project of Central South University, Grant No. 2020 JJGB139.  
Not applicable.  
The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due project requirements but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.  
The authors are grateful to the editor and reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions.  
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.