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Land
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Spatial Governance Strategies for Enhancing Agricultural Livelihoods at Rural-Urban Transition
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Spatial Governance Strategies for Enhancing Agricultural Livelihoods at Rural-Urban Transition

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land Socio-Economic and Political Issues".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 3054

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Gui Jin

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Guest Editor
School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
Interests: sustainable development; poverty analysis; land use; resource economics; economic policy analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Baishu Guo

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Guest Editor
College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Hubei Normal University, Huangshi 435002, China
Interests: sustainable development; land use management
Dr. Zhihui Li

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Guest Editor
Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Interests: land use change; econometric modeling; resources management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Shaikh Shamim Hasan

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Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Gazipur Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh
Interests: food security; land use change; empowerment; survey research
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the acceleration of global urbanization and the deep integration of digital technologies, agricultural livelihoods in rural–urban transition zones are undergoing profound reconstruction. Utilizing land spatial governance and resource efficiency optimization as core drivers is no longer a long-term goal, but a tangible reality reshaping agricultural livelihood strategies and practices, thereby transforming traditional land-use patterns and rural development paradigms. The central challenge lies in the alignment between land spatial governance, resource efficiency strategies, and the authentic needs of farmers, particularly throughout the entire process of policy design and implementation. It is imperative for planners, administrators, technicians, and policymakers to incorporate farmers’ inputs, such as production habits, risk preferences, life experiences, and livelihood goals, into the planning process. This would enable the development of more practical guidelines, supportive measures, and development models when formulating land spatial plans and resource allocation policies. In this context, applying a “farmer-centered” approach to land spatial governance and resource efficiency enhancement, which integrates indigenous knowledge and farmer preferences, offers a new path for exploring diversified livelihood support strategies. This governance paradigm can understand and learn from farmers’ interests, demands, risk perceptions, and adaptive behaviors, which is crucial for effectively supporting agricultural livelihoods, achieving rural sustainable development, and upholding humanistic considerations during the rural–urban transition.

This Special Issue will collect papers (original research articles and review papers) that provide insights about the direct and indirect impacts of spatial governance strategies on agricultural livelihoods and sustainable development at the rural–urban transition.

This Special Issue will welcome manuscripts that link the following themes:

  • Agricultural livelihoods and rural–urban transition;
  • The spatiotemporal patterns of agricultural livelihoods;
  • The impacts of spatial governance strategies on agricultural livelihoods;
  • Farmer heterogeneity and differentiated governance strategies.

We look forward to receiving your original research articles and reviews.

Prof. Dr. Gui Jin
Dr. Baishu Guo
Dr. Zhihui Li
Prof. Dr. Shaikh Shamim Hasan
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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

  • rural–urban transition
  • agricultural livelihoods
  • spatial governance
  • resource efficiency
  • land-use planning
  • farmer preferences
  • sustainable development

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

34 pages, 3342 KB  
Article
The Impact of Rural Public Expenditure on Agricultural Economic Resilience in 30 Provinces of China—An Analysis of Absorption Capacity from a Cultural–Geographical Perspective
by Jingjing Qin, Xiang Luo, Xin Li and Chongming Li
Land 2026, 15(6), 955; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15060955 - 31 May 2026
Viewed by 252
Abstract
Whether rural public expenditure can be effectively absorbed and transformed into agricultural economic resilience at the local level is a critical issue affecting the long-term stable development of agriculture. From a cultural–geographical perspective, this study constructs a Rural Public Expenditure Absorption Capacity Index [...] Read more.
Whether rural public expenditure can be effectively absorbed and transformed into agricultural economic resilience at the local level is a critical issue affecting the long-term stable development of agriculture. From a cultural–geographical perspective, this study constructs a Rural Public Expenditure Absorption Capacity Index (ACI) encompassing three dimensions—geographical location, sociocultural structure, and institutional environment. Using panel data from 30 provinces in China covering the period 2011–2023, and employing a two-way fixed-effects model, a moderating effect model, and a Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (GTWR) model, this study systematically investigates the effects and underlying mechanisms of rural public expenditure on agricultural economic resilience. The results indicate that: (1) rural public expenditure is significantly and positively associated with agricultural economic resilience, and this finding remains robust after a series of robustness and endogeneity tests; (2) the resilience effects of rural public expenditure exhibit significant regional and structural heterogeneity, with significant effects observed only in eastern China and major grain-consuming regions. Across different expenditure categories, all types of expenditure promote agricultural economic resilience except science and technology expenditure, which exhibits a negative effect; (3) the moderating effect of absorption capacity demonstrates clear structural heterogeneity. Specifically, a significant positive matching effect exists between medical and health expenditure and absorption capacity, whereas education expenditure exhibits a negative moderating relationship; and (4) the GTWR results further reveal significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity in the interaction effects between rural public expenditure and absorption capacity, displaying an overall dynamic evolution pattern characterized by “synergistic enhancement—regional differentiation.” From a cultural–geographical perspective, this study provides empirical evidence on the local embeddedness mechanisms through which rural public expenditure influences agricultural economic resilience. It also offers policy implications for optimizing the structure of rural public expenditure, improving local fiscal resource absorption capacity, and promoting the sustainable development of the agricultural economy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Spatial Governance Strategies for Enhancing Agricultural Livelihoods at Rural-Urban Transition)
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19 pages, 405 KB  
Article
The Impact of Land Transfer on the Livelihood Resilience of Rural Households from the Perspective of Farmer Differentiation
by Shuqi Zhu, Yueqin Shen and Zhen Zhu
Land 2026, 15(5), 885; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15050885 - 20 May 2026
Viewed by 264
Abstract
The land transfer system is widely regarded as a key institutional arrangement for advancing agricultural modernization and rural transformation. Drawing on the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF) and from the perspective of farmer differentiation, this study investigates the effects of land transfer on rural [...] Read more.
The land transfer system is widely regarded as a key institutional arrangement for advancing agricultural modernization and rural transformation. Drawing on the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF) and from the perspective of farmer differentiation, this study investigates the effects of land transfer on rural household livelihood resilience using China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) data from 2012 to 2020. The results indicate the following: (1) Land transfer significantly improves rural household livelihood resilience overall, but this effect is mainly driven by land transfer-out. (2) Land transfer exhibits a clear threshold effect on livelihood resilience. Land transfer-out has a negative impact at low levels of off-farm employment but turns positive after the threshold is crossed, with increasing effects at higher levels of non-farm engagement. Land transfer-in has a significant positive effect on livelihood resilience only above a certain asset. (3) Farmer differentiation is a critical mechanism. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that differences in livelihood strategies and initial geographical conditions affect households’ reliance on land and agricultural productivity, thereby altering the impact of land transfer on livelihood resilience. These findings demonstrate that policies should adopt differentiated interventions rather than a one-size-fits-all approach in order to better align land transfer with the livelihood strategies of rural households. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Spatial Governance Strategies for Enhancing Agricultural Livelihoods at Rural-Urban Transition)
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27 pages, 12675 KB  
Article
Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Driving Mechanisms of Vegetation Net Primary Productivity in the Giant Panda National Park Under the Context of Ecological Conservation
by Wendou Liu, Shaozhi Chen, Dongyang Han, Jiang Liu, Pengfei Zheng, Xin Huang and Rong Zhao
Land 2025, 14(12), 2394; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14122394 - 10 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 691
Abstract
Nature reserves serve as core spatial units for maintaining regional ecological security and biodiversity. Owing to their high ecosystem integrity, extensive vegetation cover, and low levels of disturbance, they play a crucial role in sustaining ecological processes and ensuring functional stability. Taking the [...] Read more.
Nature reserves serve as core spatial units for maintaining regional ecological security and biodiversity. Owing to their high ecosystem integrity, extensive vegetation cover, and low levels of disturbance, they play a crucial role in sustaining ecological processes and ensuring functional stability. Taking the Giant Panda National Park (GPNP), which spans the provinces of Gansu, Sichuan, and Shaanxi in China, as the study region, the vegetation net primary productivity (NPP) during 2001–2023 was simulated using the Carnegie–Ames–Stanford Approach (CASA) model. Spatial and temporal variations in NPP were examined using Moran’s I, Getis-Ord Gi* hotspot analysis, Theil–Sen trend estimation, and the Mann–Kendall test. In addition, the Optimal Parameters-based Geographical Detector (OPGD) model was applied to quantitatively assess the relative contributions of natural and anthropogenic factors to NPP dynamics. The results demonstrated that: (1) The mean annual NPP within the GPNP reached 646.90 gC·m−2·yr−1, exhibiting a fluctuating yet generally upward trajectory, with an average growth rate of approximately 0.65 gC·m−2·yr−1, reflecting the positive ecological outcomes of national park establishment and ecological restoration projects. (2) NPP exhibits significant spatial heterogeneity, with higher NPP values in the northern, while the central and western regions and some high-altitude areas remain at relatively low levels. Across the four major subregions of the GPNP, the Qinling has the highest mean annual NPP at 758.89 gC·m−2·yr−1, whereas the Qionglai–Daxiaoxiangling subregion shows the lowest value at 616.27 gC·m−2·yr−1. (3) Optimal NPP occurred under favorable temperature and precipitation conditions combined with relatively high solar radiation. Low elevations, gentle slopes, south facing aspects, and leached soils facilitated productivity accumulation, whereas areas with high elevation and steep slopes exhibited markedly lower productivity. Moderate human disturbance contributed to sustaining and enhancing NPP. (4) Factor detection results indicated that elevation, mean annual temperature, and land use were the dominant drivers of spatial heterogeneity when considering all natural and anthropogenic variables. Their interactions further enhanced explanatory power, particularly the interaction between elevation and climatic factors. Overall, these findings reveal the complex spatiotemporal characteristics and multi-factorial controls of vegetation productivity in the GPNP and provide scientific guidance for strengthening habitat conservation, improving ecological restoration planning, and supporting adaptive vegetation management within the national park systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Spatial Governance Strategies for Enhancing Agricultural Livelihoods at Rural-Urban Transition)
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28 pages, 1009 KB  
Article
A Double-Edged Sword: Farmland Transfer and Productivity Gaps Among Farmers with Diverse Livelihood Capital
by Xueqi Wang, Yuefei Zhuo, Xiaoying Wang, Guan Li and Wei Zou
Land 2025, 14(12), 2383; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14122383 - 5 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 834
Abstract
The modernization of agriculture within developing nations represents a complex challenge at the intersection of social and economic systems. Enhancing agricultural labor productivity (ALP) is the key to increasing farmers’ incomes and promoting rural economic development in low- and middle-income countries. To reveal [...] Read more.
The modernization of agriculture within developing nations represents a complex challenge at the intersection of social and economic systems. Enhancing agricultural labor productivity (ALP) is the key to increasing farmers’ incomes and promoting rural economic development in low- and middle-income countries. To reveal the deep-seated factors that restrict the improvement of ALP, this study, based on the internal and external development constraints of farmers, uses the 2020 data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) database. It systematically analyzes the effects and internal logic of farmers’ livelihood capital and farmland transfer on ALP, employing both an endogenous switching regression model and a generalized structural equation model. The findings of this study are as follows: (1) Physical capital, financial capital and social capital can significantly increase the probability of farmers participating in the farmland transfer and transfer-in. Moreover, physical capital can significantly reduce the probability of farmers participating in the farmland transfer-out. (2) Physical capital is significantly and positively correlated with the ALP of both farmland transfer farmers and non-transfer farmers. Financial capital has a significant positive correlation with the ALP of transfer-in farmers. Social capital is significantly positively correlated with the ALP of non-transfer farmers. (3) Farmland transfer can significantly improve ALP, and the productivity-enhancing effect of farmland transferring-in is considerably more pronounced than that of transferring-out. (4) Mediation analysis reveals that physical and social capital enhance ALP by promoting farmer participation in the farmland transfer market. When classified by different transfer behaviors, physical capital enhances ALP by promoting both the transferring-in and transferring-out of land. Financial capital and social capital can promote farmers’ transfer-in of land to enhance ALP. (5) The heterogeneity analysis shows that, compared with the other two types of farmers, farmland transfer has the most significant effect on improving the ALP of livelihood capital-abundant farmers, while farmland transfer-in has the greatest efficiency improvement effect for capital-deficient farmers, and farmland transfer-out has the greatest efficiency improvement effect for capital-balanced farmers. By providing a detailed, evidence-based model of these complex interactions, this research contributes to the broader understanding of change management and innovation in the pursuit of sustainable and equitable rural futures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Spatial Governance Strategies for Enhancing Agricultural Livelihoods at Rural-Urban Transition)
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