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2nd Edition: Land Use Change and Its Environmental Effects

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A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 October 2024 | Viewed by 7506

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jia Ning

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Guest Editor

Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Interests: land use and cover change; regional climate model; ecosystem services; surface radiation balance; biogeophysical mechanism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Yahui Wang

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Guest Editor

School of Geographical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Interests: land use change; spatial planning; land economy and policy; rural geography; regional sustainable development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Xue Wang

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Guest Editor

Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Interests: land use change; remote sensing monitoring; model simulation; environmental effects assessment; driving mechanisms analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Land use change has always been a research frontier and an important topic. Scientists have conducted continuous and in-depth research on the depth and breadth of global and regional land use changes. However, with the outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic, changes in the international trade situation, and adjustments in national/regional policies, new changes will inevitably occur in the global and regional land use patterns. At the same time, changes in land use will also trigger new changes in land productivity, climate, soil, water quality, and biodiversity. Quickly and accurately obtaining global or regional land use change information and quantitatively assessing the environmental effects of land use changes can provide a key scientific basis for coping with global changes and for the realization of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, as well as providing a scientific reference for the resolution of regional human–land conflicts and related policy formulation. Papers addressing the topic of global or regional land use change and its environmental effects are invited for this Special Issue, especially those combining a high academic standard coupled with a practical focus on providing optimal solutions for global or regional environmental issues.

Dr. Jia Ning
Dr. Yahui Wang
Dr. Xue Wang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

land use change
remote sensing monitoring
environmental effects
model simulation
land–food–energy–water nexus
sustainable development goals

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 6728 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Temporal and Spatial Analysis of Coupling Coordination in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Urban Agglomeration: Ecology, Environment and Economy

by Yanhong Zhao, Peng Hou, Jinbao Jiang, Jun Zhai and Yan Chen

Land 2024, 13(4), 512; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040512 - 13 Apr 2024

Viewed by 525

Abstract

With the rapid growth and development of urban areas, the economy has often been prioritized at the expense of the environment and ecological systems. However, it is essential to delve deeper into the relationship between the economy and the ecological environment. Therefore, this study introduces a comprehensive evaluation system that encompasses economic, ecological, and environmental factors in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomeration in China. The Criteria Importance Through Inter-criteria Correlation (CRITIC) method is utilized to determine the weights of various indicators, and coupling as well as coupling coordination models are employed to investigate the spatiotemporal trends and interrelationships of the three factors. The results indicate that the economic development index has displayed a consistent uptrend since 2000, with the economic development index from 2015–2020 increasing by approximately four times compared to 2000–2005. The ecological status index has also increased in the last five years, with a rise of about 0.05 from 2015–2020 compared to 2000–2005. The environmental status index has fluctuated but generally increased, with a rise of approximately 5.6 times from 2015–2020 compared to 2000–2005. The coupling degree of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomeration is relatively high, with intense coupling from 2005–2020, and moderate coupling from 2000–2005. Furthermore, the coupling coordination has continuously improved from mild maladjustment to barely coordinated from 2000 to 2020, indicating the enhancement of the coupling coordination of the three factors. It is crucial to acknowledge that there exists spatial heterogeneity in both the coupling degree and coupling coordination degree. This heterogeneity stems from the uneven progress in economic development, ecological conditions, and environmental status across various cities. Additional endeavors are required to foster the harmonized advancement of these factors across the entire region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition: Land Use Change and Its Environmental Effects)

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21 pages, 7441 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Response of Runoff Change to Soil and Water Conservation Measures in the Jing River Catchment of China

by Xiaoxin Li, Ruichen Mao, Jinxi Song, Junqing Gao, Aying Shi, Wei Xiang and Haotian Sun

Land 2024, 13(4), 442; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040442 - 31 Mar 2024

Viewed by 612

Abstract

Soil and water conservation measures (SWCMs) are vital in reducing runoff and ultimately affect water security and regional development. However, previous studies have mainly focused on the impact of a single SWCM, neglecting to distinguish between the effects of different SWCMs on runoff reduction. A Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was established in the Jing River catchment to identify the responses to runoff changes resulting from climate change and human activities. The model was used to quantitatively analyse the impact of different SWCMs on runoff reduction. The results indicated that human activities contributed significantly more to runoff reduction than climate change. The reduction benefits of different unit area changes for each SWCM on discharge, surface runoff and water yield at the outlet were ranked as follows: changing cultivated land to forest land > changing cultivated land to grassland > building terraces on a 5–15° slope > building terraces on a 5–25° slope > building terraces on a 15–25° slope. Regional authorities should comprehensively consider the effects of various SWCMs on water reduction, and optimise the layout of vegetation and terracing measures, to support the efficient utilization of water resources in the Jing River catchment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition: Land Use Change and Its Environmental Effects)

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16 pages, 1551 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Measurement of Agricultural Eco-Efficiency and Analysis of Its Influencing Factors: Insights from 44 Agricultural Counties in Liaoning Province

by Zhengyu Zhang and Gui Jin

Land 2024, 13(3), 300; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13030300 - 28 Feb 2024

Viewed by 680

Abstract

Agricultural eco-efficiency (AEE) considers economic and environmental benefits and is a key indicator of green agricultural development. To achieve the multiple goals of improving agricultural production efficiency, reducing agricultural environmental damage, and reducing the input of agricultural resources, this study enriches the case study of agricultural production performance evaluation at the county level by measuring the AEE of 44 agricultural counties in Liaoning Province based on panel data and a super-efficient slacks-based measure model including undesired outputs. A two-way fixed-effects model was used to analyze the impact of agricultural development, macro-environment, and policy support on AEE. We found that the average AEE of the counties in Liaoning Province in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 was 0.716, 0.735, 0.749, and 0.813, respectively, indicating a cumulative improvement rate of 13.55%. The average AEE levels gradually improved during the study period. Notably, the development of AEE among the counties was uneven. AEE was distributed in a “block-like” manner, and its local correlation presents a phenomenon of “small agglomeration and large dispersion”. In addition, the level of the agricultural economy, industrialization, and urbanization significantly promoted the improvement of AEE, and the promoting effects varied between different income levels and regions. Therefore, Liaoning Province needs to improve the AEE of each county according to local conditions and narrow the differences in AEE between counties. To continuously improve the level of rural economic development, lead the development of agricultural modernization with new urbanization, and comprehensively improve the overall AEE of counties. The research results are of guiding significance for deepening the study of AEE and can provide decision-making support for optimizing the mode of agricultural production and promoting the green development of regional agriculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition: Land Use Change and Its Environmental Effects)

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16 pages, 6161 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Patterns, Drivers, and Sustainable Utilization of Terrace Abandonment in Mountainous Areas of Southwest China

by Weiying Ren, Aoxi Yang and Yahui Wang

Land 2024, 13(3), 283; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13030283 - 25 Feb 2024

Viewed by 795

Abstract

Sloping farmland abandonment has become a typical land use pattern worldwide. Along with the aggravation of sloping farmland abandonment, terrace abandonment is also showing an increasing trend. Systematically clarifying the pattern and mechanism of terrace abandonment is a prerequisite for effective management. Based on the survey data of 145 villages, 697 rural households, and satellite remote sensing in Southwest China, this study uses spatial analysis and the Logit model to reveal the scale, pattern, and driving mechanism of terrace abandonment in the study area to provide scientific references for the sustainable utilization of terrace resources in mountainous areas. This study found that in the study area, 63% of the villages had experienced terrace abandonment, and nearly one-fifth of the rural households had abandoned terraces. The area of abandoned terraces accounted for 7.65% of the total area, and the scale of abandoned terraces reached 449,360 hectares, of which Chongqing has the highest proportion of terrace abandonment (11.5%), while Yunnan Province has the lowest (5.1%); the overall abandoned terraces show a pattern of higher in the east and lower in the west. Terrace abandonment is influenced by multiple factors. The rise in non-agricultural wages attracts rural labor migration as an external force, while the rising operating costs of mountain agriculture serve as internal drivers. Under the combined influence of internal and external factors, the abandonment of terraces in southwest mountainous areas is intensifying. The government should actively conduct assessments of terrace resources within the region and implement targeted measures to address terrace abandonment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition: Land Use Change and Its Environmental Effects)

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19 pages, 4046 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Land Use Change and Landscape Ecological Risk Assessment Based on Terrain Gradients in Yuanmou Basin

by Lei Zhao, Zhengtao Shi, Guangxiong He, Li He, Wenfei Xi and Qin Jiang

Land 2023, 12(9), 1759; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091759 - 10 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1104

Abstract

Investigating the distribution characteristics of landscape ecological risk (LER) on terrain gradients is of great significance for optimizing the landscape pattern of ecologically vulnerable areas in mountainous regions and maintaining the sustainable development of the ecological environment. The Yuanmou Basin is a typical ecologically vulnerable area in the southwestern mountainous region of China, where issues such as soil erosion are pronounced, becoming one of the main factors restricting regional economic development. This study selected the Yuanmou Basin as the study area, and, using land use data from 2000, 2010, and 2020, constructed an LER assessment model based on disturbance and vulnerability. By integrating elevation and topographic position index data, we examined the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of LER under different terrain gradients. The LER assessment results are summarized as follows: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the land use types of the Yuanmou Basin were mainly grassland, forest land and cropland. The land use showed a sharp increase in the cropland area and a simultaneous decrease in the grassland area, indicating a main land use evolution direction from grassland to cropland. (2) Over the span of 20 years, the average landscape ecological risk in the Yuanmou Basin slightly increased, specifically manifesting as a significant reduction in low ecological risk areas, while areas of medium and slightly lower ecological risks saw an increase. (3) The spatial distribution of LER in the Yuanmou Basin presents a pattern of being low on the periphery and high in the center, with significant positive spatial correlation, obvious spatial aggregation, as well as “high-high” and “low-low” clustering. (4) Low- and lower-risk areas in the Yuanmou Basin are distributed in the non-arid thermal zone and the medium–high terrain zone, while areas of medium, higher and high risk levels are mainly distributed in the arid thermal zone and the low terrain zone. The research results provide a scientific basis for optimizing and developing the land resources of the Yuanmou Basin. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition: Land Use Change and Its Environmental Effects)

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21 pages, 14317 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Historical Spatial Radiation Range of the Yongding River Corridor in Beijing Plain Section: Implications for Landscape Patterns and Ecological Restoration

by Ruiying Yang, Zhicheng Liu, Wenxin Kang, Junyi Su, Renfei Zhang and Xiaoming Xu

Land 2023, 12(9), 1656; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091656 - 24 Aug 2023

Viewed by 809

Abstract

The radiation range of the corridor effect holds great significance for the ecological restoration, planning, and sustainable development of river corridors. This study focuses on the Beijing plain section of the Yongding River, which has been cut off for half a century, and improves the research methodology. Utilizing land use data from 1967 and 1980, ArcGIS and Fragstats were employed to establish 5 km buffer zones on both sides of the Yongding River corridor. The buffer zone analysis method was then applied to investigate landscape pattern changes. Through SPSS correlation analysis and curve fitting, sensitive landscape indices were identified, and their change characteristics were analyzed to unveil the historical spatial radiation range and characteristics of the Yongding River corridor. The findings of this research are as follows: First, as the buffer width increases, the landscape pattern changes, showing a decrease in heterogeneity, an increase in aggregation and spread, and a good connection between dominant patches. Forest land exhibited higher levels of fragmentation and dispersion, cultivated land demonstrated improved dominance, and construction land became more regular and dispersed. Second, the spatial radiation range of the landscape level within the river corridor was approximately 4 km. The inflection point for the radiation range on forest land was found at 3.5–4 km, while for construction land, it occurred at 4.5 km. The outcomes of this study can be utilized to evaluate the impact of river corridors on landscape patterns in the period of good historical ecology. They also provide more targeted measures and scientific basis for landscape pattern protection and river ecological restoration planning after the restoration of water flow in the Yongding River plain. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition: Land Use Change and Its Environmental Effects)

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26 pages, 16336 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Relationship between Rural Spatial Form and Carbon Emission—A Case Study of Suburban Integrated Villages in Hunan Province, China

by Limei Song, Feng Xu, Ming Sheng and Baohua Wen

Land 2023, 12(8), 1585; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12081585 - 11 Aug 2023

Viewed by 875

Abstract

With the implementation of China’s rural revitalization strategy, the societies and economies of villages have been comprehensively developed, but the carbon emissions in rural areas have also been increasing year by year. Therefore, low-carbon control of the rural spatial form has become an important element of rural revitalization. This paper takes 18 suburban integrated villages in the plain terrain within Hunan Province, China, as the research object, quantifies the spatial morphology indicators of the overall rural community and the neighborhood building groups, and investigates the relationship between rural spatial form and carbon emissions in plain terrain, aiming to clarify the content of low-carbon control in rural spatial planning. The main conclusions are as follows. (1) The correlation between spatial form and carbon emissions at different levels of suburban integrated villages is “total volume form > neighborhood building groups combination form > overall layout form > neighborhood connection form”. When the scale of the villages is fixed, the spatial layout of the neighborhood building groups has a more direct influence on the carbon emissions of the residents. (2) The building density in the overall spatial form of the village has the greatest influence on the carbon emissions of the suburban integrated villages, and it is positively correlated. (3) There is a negative correlation between the form of neighborhood building groups and carbon emissions within a certain range. When the distance between the front and back of a building is 8–12 m, the carbon emissions of the building decrease with the increase in the degree of aggregation on the building, but when the distance between the front and back of a building reaches 12 m or more, the influence of the group layout form on the carbon emissions of the building is weakened. (4) Finally, based on the principle of “macro-control quantity and meso-control shape”, this paper proposes new control content and indicators for Hunan’s rural territorial space planning, which can provide a reference for low-carbon control in rural space form planning with suburban integration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition: Land Use Change and Its Environmental Effects)

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16 pages, 5567 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Land Cover Extraction in the Typical Black Soil Region of Northeast China Using High-Resolution Remote Sensing Imagery

by Binbin Ding, Jianlin Tian, Yong Wang and Ting Zeng

Land 2023, 12(8), 1566; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12081566 - 7 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 985

Abstract

The black soil region of Northeast China is one of the most fertile soil areas in the world and serves as a crucial grain-producing region in China. However, excessive development and improper utilization have led to severe land use issues. Conducting land cover extraction in this region can provide essential data support for monitoring and managing natural resources effectively. This article utilizes GF-6 remote sensing imagery as the data source and adopts the U-Net model as the backbone network. By incorporating residual modules and adjusting the convolution kernel size, a high-precision land cover extraction model called RAT-UNet is developed. Taking Qiqihar City as an example, the RAT-UNet model is applied to extract land cover information. The results are as follows: (1) The RAT-UNet model achieves high accuracy in land cover extraction, with the following accuracies for different land types: cropland (95.11%), forestland (93.61%), grassland (68.41%), water bodies (94.67%), residential land (89.40%), and unused land (87.25%). (2) The land cover extraction performance of the RAT-UNet model is superior to DeepLabV3, U-Net, SegNet, and LinkNet34 models. This research outcome provides methodological support for the intelligent and high-precision extraction of land cover information and also offers timely data for Qiqihar city’s land use planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition: Land Use Change and Its Environmental Effects)

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