Search Results (48)

Although measurements of urban shrinkage in China have received much attention, most have relied on statistical yearbook data based on political–administrative city boundaries, and remote-sensing-based quantification is mainly one-dimensional. This has caused problems in incorporating rural areas and spatiotemporal inconsistencies, as well as an inadequate understanding, which has subsequently resulted in an inaccurate shrinkage identification. This study merely utilized the latest multisensory and time-series remote sensing data, including nighttime light, land use, and population grids, to quantify the spatiotemporal patterns of multidimensional shrinkage based on the county-level urban entity mapping of Yangtze River Delta urban agglomerations (YRD-UAs) from 2003 to 2023. County-level urban entities were acquired from a pioneering mapping effort that utilized city-specific commuting distance and land use maps. The results demonstrated that urban entities in 215 counties grew at a generally slowing pace. The degree of economic, population, and space shrinkage was mainly slight, and the shrinking trajectory was dominated by temporary shrinkage. Most counties experienced population shrinkage in their coastal-oriented distribution, whereas economic shrinkage affected the fewest counties, with the lowest spatial clustering occurring northward. Population shrinkage also displayed the highest spatial autocorrelation, but its agglomeration weakened against space shrinkage clustering. This study concluded that the exclusive utilization of remote sensing products to measure urban-entity-based multidimensional shrinkage reduced the uncertainty associated with rural area inclusion and resulted in satisfactory assessment accuracy. The spatiotemporal patterns of multidimensional shrinkage suggested strengthening ecological land allocation within urban entities across the entire region, implementing polycentric development strategies in the north, as well as enhancing county-level economic governance in the northwest. This study presents a spatiotemporally comparable methodology for quantifying the multidimensional shrinking of county-level urban entities at a large scale and contributes to further optimizing the developments of YRD-UAs. Full article

Evaluating the economic value of carbon sinks is fundamental to advancing carbon market mechanisms and supporting sustainable regional development. This study focuses on Fujian Province in China, aiming to assess the spatiotemporal evolution of carbon sink value and analyze the influence of socio-economic drivers. Carbon sink values from 2000 to 2020 were estimated using Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP) simulation combined with the carbon market valuation method. Eleven socio-economic variables were selected through correlation and multicollinearity testing, and their impacts were examined using Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (GTWR) at the county level. The results indicate that the total carbon sink value in Fujian declined from CNY 3.212 billion in 2000 to CNY 2.837 billion in 2020, showing a spatial pattern of higher values in the southern region and lower values in the north. GTWR analysis reveals spatiotemporal heterogeneity in the effects of socio-economic factors. For example, the influence of urbanization and retail sales of consumer goods shifts direction over time, while the effects of industrial structure, population, road, and fixed asset investment vary across space. This study emphasizes the necessity of incorporating spatial and temporal dynamics into carbon sink valuation. The findings suggest that northern areas of Fujian should prioritize ecological restoration, rapidly urbanizing regions should adopt green development strategies, and counties guided by investment and consumption should focus on sustainable development pathways to maintain and enhance carbon sink capacity. Full article

Under the synergy of urban heritage conservation and regional cultural continuity, this study explores the spatial features of “mausoleum–city symbiosis” landscapes in Huangling County’s gully regions. Focusing on Fangzhou Ancient City, we address historical spatial degradation caused by excessive industrialization and disordered urban expansion. A methodological framework is proposed, combining low-altitude UAV-derived high-density point cloud data with RandLA-Net for semi-automatic semantic segmentation of buildings, vegetation, and roads by integrating multispectral and geometric attributes. Key findings reveal: (1) Modern buildings’ abnormal elevation in steep slopes disrupts the plateau–city visual corridor; (2) Statistical analysis shows significant morphological disparities between historical and modern streets; (3) Modern structures exceed traditional height limits, while divergent roof slopes aggravate aesthetic fragmentation. This multi-level spatial analysis offers a paradigm for quantifying historical urban spaces and validates deep learning’s feasibility in heritage spatial analytics, providing insights for balancing conservation and development in ecologically fragile areas. Full article

With the increasingly urgent demand for the localization of the United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs), the construction of an evaluation system and the practice paths of counties, as important spatial units of China’s sustainable development, urgently need to be deepened. Based on the articulation of the SDGs and China’s national conditions, this study innovatively designed an indicator delivery framework covering the United Nations level to the county level; constructed a county-level sustainable development evaluation indicator system that includes three dimensions, including economic development, social culture, and ecological environment; adopted the entropy weight method to determine the weights of indicators; and introduced a dynamic evaluation and analysis model utilizing three analytical methods, namely coupling coordination analysis, obstacle analysis, and Dagum decomposition, to evaluate the level of sustainable development of 76 counties in the 2010–2021 period considering both time and space. The results show that (1) the national county sustainable development index (CSDI) was significantly improved, regional differences were narrowed, the central region has the best overall performance, and the western region has the fastest growth rate; (2) economic development has become the main driving force, and the economic gap between regions has gradually narrowed, but the spatial heterogeneity of the environmental and social dimensions is still prominent; (3) the eastern region has generated positive spillover effects on the central and western regions through industrial transfer and technology diffusion, while the northeastern region develops relatively slowly due to the lagging industrial transformation; and (4) the degree of coupling coordination rises as a whole, but the differences in synergistic ability between regions are obvious. This study provides a scientific basis for the formulation of differentiated sustainable development policies for counties and emphasizes the key role of regional synergy mechanisms in narrowing the development gap. Full article

Karst topography comprises a fragile ecological environment with a significant potential for carbon sequestration. It is characterized by severe rocky desertification, particularly in China’s karst fault basin. Therefore, there is a crucial need to scientifically evaluate the variations in carbon storage over time and space in this area to ensure effective land space planning and regional ecological security, especially considering the dual carbon target. Using land use data (1985–2020) from the karst fault basin in Southwest China, the study employed the InVEST model to evaluate temporal and spatial variations in carbon storage. A time span of 35 years was examined, and predictions regarding carbon storage in 2050 were formulated under three different conditions: natural evolution, ecological protection, and cultivated land protection. These predictions were based on natural, social, and economic driving factors. The results revealed a fluctuating downward trend in regards to carbon storage in the study area from 1985 to 2020, with a total decrease of 2.1 × 10⁶ t. After 2000, there has been significant improvement in the dynamic degree of land use for forest land, grassland, and construction land compared to the levels before 2000. Additionally, many land use types with high carbon density transitioned into those with lower carbon density. Spatially, the carbon density in the karst fault basin was higher in the north and lower in the central and southern basins. At the county spatial scale, except for the northern and central parts of the study area, there was a decrease in total carbon storage in the remaining counties. By 2050, under the ecological protection scenario, total carbon storage is projected to increase by approximately 6 × 10⁶ t, whereas under the natural evolution and cultivated land protection scenarios, it is expected to decrease by 2 × 10⁶ t and 3 × 10⁶ t, respectively. Specifically, under the natural evolution scenario, only five counties will experience an increase in carbon storage, while the other counties will witness a decrease. The findings of this study offer a scientific basis for enhancing ecosystem carbon services through land management practices and the control of rocky desertification in the karst fault basin. They can inform decision-making processes regarding carbon sequestration, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable land use planning in the region. Full article

Territorial Space (TS) is characterized by its multifunctionality. The identification and management of Territorial Spatial Functions (TSFs) across multi-scale is crucial for achieving the SDGs. However, previous studies have primarily concentrated on the variations in TSFs within the administrative or grid units at a single scale, with multi-scale investigations remaining a challenge. This study focuses on the typical karst region of Guangxi province in China and develops a Multi-Scale Fusion model (MSF) for assessing TSFs and employs a coupling coordination degree (CCD) model to examine the TSFs relationships. Furthermore, principal component analysis (PCA) is used to classify various types of influencing factors, and the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) index is employed to identify the primary types of influencing factors at the county level. The study integrates coupling coordination types and advantage factors into the zoning process. The results demonstrate: (1) Ecological function is the dominant function. At the administrative unit scale, production and living functions exhibit a spatial pattern of “high in the southeast and low in the northwest”, while ecological function shows the opposite pattern. Under grid units scale and multi-scale fusion, the high and low texture characteristics of production and ecological functions are more pronounced. (2) TSFs are primarily characterized by slight and moderate disorder. Slight disorder is widely distributed, while moderate disorder is predominantly found in the northwest karst mountainous regions. In contrast, coordinated relationships are more frequently observed in urban areas. (3) The driver types of TSFs can be categorized into four categories: Terrain-Population, Agriculture Development, Location-Economy, and Non-Agriculture Development. By integrating the TSFs relationships, six zones are delineated. Based on this, precise and differentiated optimization suggestions are proposed to promote orderly utilization and sustainable development of TS. Full article

The Yellow River Basin (YRB) serves as a critical ecological functional and economic zone in China. However, due to the rapid economic and social development, the YRB has encountered dual pressure from the anthropogenic disturbances and climate change, leading to intensified conflicts among production, living, and ecological spaces (PLES). In this study, we examined the spatiotemporal evolution pattern and transition mode of the PLES from 1980 to 2020 at the county level, evaluated the eco-environmental effects, and identified the key driving factors. The results indicate that land-use changes in the YRB are marked by a continuous increase in living space, while ecological spaces initially decreased before increasing, and production spaces initially increased before decreasing, with the year 2000 serving as a pivotal point in these transitions. At the county level, land-use transformations in the YRB have significant spatial differentiation. The north region of the Hu Line is predominantly characterized by a reduction in ecological space, whereas the south primarily exhibits declines in production space and increases in living space in the downstream region. Consequently, the environmental quality index (EQI) also exhibits a trend of an initial decline followed by an increase. Frequent mutual conversions between production and ecological spaces influenced by major national ecological conservation policies after 2000, as well as pressure from living spaces on production spaces influenced by population and GDP growth, have been the primary manifestations of spatial transformation in the region. These findings suggest that with the implementation of appropriate governance measures, exploring the transformation of PLES at a finer county level can provide a clearer pattern of spatiotemporal changes, supporting detailed basin management for sustainable development. Full article

Spatial planning, recognized as a systematic policy instrument for regional development and governance, plays a crucial role in achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality. This study establishes a framework for carbon sources/sinks estimation and carbon compensation optimization and conducts empirical research in a representative coal resource-based city. We analyzed the spatial–temporal distribution characteristics of net carbon emissions in Huaibei from 2006 to 2020 using a spatial correlation model and an improved Carnegie–Ames–Stanford approach (CASA). Then, we applied the normalized revealed comparative advantage (NRCA) index and the SOM-K-means clustering model to categorize the carbon pattern into payment, balance, and compensation areas. These areas were further integrated with the “Three-zones and Three-lines” to reclassify nine spatial partition optimization types. Finally, we proposed a targeted emission reduction and sink enhancement optimization scheme. We found that urban carbon emissions and carbon sinks exhibit a significant mismatch, with the net carbon emission intensity reaching 166.76–383.27 t·hm⁻² from 2006 to 2020, showing a rapid increase followed by stabilization. The high-value area, centered in Xiangshan District, exhibits a circularly decreasing spatial characteristic, gradually extending to the central city of Suixi County. In the optimized payment area, the level of the carbon emission contributive coefficient surpasses the ecological support coefficient (3.92 < ECC < 6.04, 2.09 < ESC < 3.58). The optimized space in the balance area type is primarily situated in mining subsidence areas, leading to a lower overall level (0.42 < ECC < 0.57, 0.49 < ESC < 1.13). The optimized space in the compensation area type (2.24 < ECC < 3.25, 4.59 < ESC < 5.69) requires economic or non-economic compensation from the payment area. The study combines the “Three-zones and Three-lines” with the results of carbon compensation to formulate an urban emission reduction and sink enhancement program, which not only helps to consolidate the theory of low-carbon cities but also effectively promotes the realization of the regional carbon peak goal. Full article

With rapid economic development and the change in land use patterns, the region faces the environmental challenge of increasing carbon emission risk. The research on analyzing and identifying carbon emission risk of land use is helpful to realize regional sustainable development. This study takes the Yanshan-Taihang Mountain area of Hebei Province as a case study. Based on the remote sensing monitoring data of land use in 2010, 2015, and 2020, the carbon emissions of land use are calculated by direct and indirect calculation methods. Then, the carbon footprint pressure index and land use carbon emission risk index are introduced to analyze the temporal and spatial differentiation characteristics of land use carbon emission risk in the study area. The findings indicate that carbon emissions associated with land use in the study area initially exhibited an increasing trend, followed by a subsequent decline over time. In space, the high-value areas of carbon emissions are mainly distributed in the south of the study area, and the low-value areas of carbon emissions are mainly concentrated in the northeast of the study area. The region experiences significant carbon-cycling pressure and environmental risk, with the proportion of counties in carbon balance areas decreasing from 27.27% in 2010 to 18.18% in 2020, and the proportion of counties in carbon imbalance areas increasing from 72.72% in 2010 to 81.82% in 2020. The carbon emission risk of land use is divided into micro-risk area, low-risk area, medium-risk area, high-risk area, and severe-risk area. From 2010 to 2020, there was an 18.18% increase in the percentage of counties classified as high-risk and severe-risk areas. Additionally, the regions identified as hotspots for land use emissions exhibited a trend in expansion. This phenomenon indicates that these areas have not successfully managed to mitigate environmental pollution or ensure the sustainable use of resources in the context of their economic development efforts. This series of dynamic changes shows that the study area is facing the challenge of increasing carbon emission risk from land use. Governments at all levels should strengthen environmental governance in high-risk areas, implement stricter land use policies, and promote green development and cleaner production to attain a mutually beneficial outcome for both economic development and ecological protection. Full article

Karst rocky desertification (KRD) is a significant issue that affects the ecological and economic sustainability of southwest China. Obtaining the accurate distribution of different levels of KRD can provide decision-making support for the effective management of KRD. The Sustainable Development Goals Science Satellite 1 (SDGSAT-1) is the world’s first scientific satellite serving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations, and is dedicated to developing high-resolution, multi-scale, global public datasets to support policy and decision-making support systems for sustainable development. SDGSAT-1 multispectral data provide detailed ground information with a spatial resolution of 10 m and a rich spectral resolution. In this study, we combined the red-modified carbonate rock index (RCRI, an index that characterizes the degree of carbonate rock exposure) and the normalized difference red edge index (NDRE, an index that characterizes the degree of vegetation coverage) to propose a novel feature space method based on SDGSAT-1 multispectral data to classify the different levels of KRD in the Jinsha County of Guizhou Province, a representative region with significant KRD in southwest China. This method effectively identified different levels of KRD with an overall classification accuracy of 87%. This was 20% higher than that of the grading index method, indicating that SDGSAT-1 multispectral data have promising potential for KRD classification. In this study, we offer a new insight into the classification of KRD and a greater quantity of remote-sensing data to monitor KRD over a wider area and for a longer period of time, contributing to the economic development and environmental protection of KRD areas. Full article

The rapid development of urbanization has continuously encroached on people’s living space and ecological space, leading to an imbalance in territorial spatial functions. Identifying potential land use conflicts and optimizing land use structure are conducive to carrying out territorial spatial planning rationally. In this paper, we adopt the suitability assessment method to evaluate the suitability of land for production, living, and ecological functions and then use the land use conflict identification matrix to identify land use conflicts in Donghai County and make relevant suggestions according to the intensity of land use conflicts. The results of this study show the following: (1) the areas of suitable land use zones, strong conflict zones, medium conflict zones, and weak conflict zones in Donghai County are, respectively, 58.83%, 10.62%, 26.31%, and 4.24%. (2) The spatial distribution differences in the different conflict zones could determine the pertinence of conflict mitigation and spatial planning. In the process of the urbanization of Donghai County, ecological environmental protection is still the top priority. (3) It is necessary to economically and intensively use construction land, improving its fine management level. Land use efficiency should be maximized, and the spatial distribution of national territory should be reasonably optimized while strengthening the guiding role of planning. This study addresses land conflicts from the perspective of spatial planning rather than economic behavior. It also provides significant insight into land use layout at the county level, which is exactly what China is exploring in the new era. Full article

The decline in primary natural forests worldwide has intensified research on the effects of forest transformation on soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) cycles and stocks. However, the extent to which soil C, N, and P stocks and stoichiometry are affected by forest conversion remains unclear. Here, we examined the effects of forest transformation on soil nutrient storage capacity and stoichiometric characteristics in native broadleaf forests (BFs), plantation forests (PFs), tea gardens (TGs), cultivated lands (CLs), and urban artificial green spaces (GSs) at a county scale in subtropical China. The results showed that the other forest types exhibited significantly reduced soil C and N contents and stocks but increased soil P content and stock compared to BFs. The soil C:N:P stoichiometric ratios for BFs and the converted PFs, TGs, GSs, and CLs were sequentially decreased as follows: 444.8:24.2:1, 95.0:10.0:1, 30.2:3.9:1, 23.1:3.7:1, and 19.4:1.9:1, respectively. Within the altitude (AL) span of 180 to 1200 m surveyed, the AL decided the type of forest conversion and significantly influenced the stock levels and stoichiometric ratios of soil C, N, and P. The results of this study highlight the importance of the ecological management of TGs and the optimization of soil P production in CLs, TGs, and GSs. Full article

As a pivotal component of rural revitalization, effective management of rural courtyard spaces is crucial for improving environmental quality and economic development. Utilizing the 2023 “Most Beautiful Courtyard” design competition in Guangze County as a backdrop, this study investigates the specific circumstances and practical challenges encountered during the courtyard transformation process. Based on a comprehensive literature review, this research establishes a unified indicator evaluation system; investigates the perspectives of villagers, designers, and managers; and conducts an in-depth analysis of the challenges faced in rural courtyard transformation practice. The goal is to offer substantial reference points for policy formulation and practical implementation, alongside recommendations for effective courtyard transformation. At the construction management level, the government should develop detailed operational guidelines for rural courtyard transformation, closely monitor construction progress, manage funds scientifically, and ensure efficient communication among the three groups. At the localization level, villagers’ daily production and life should be integrated with village cultural symbols, respecting and exploring localization factors. Adequate consideration of the ecological environment and climatic conditions is crucial to promoting the sustainable development of rural courtyards. Full article

Ecological carbon sinks, pivotal in mitigating carbon emissions, are indispensable for climate change mitigation. Counties, as the fundamental units of ecological space management, directly impact the achievement of regional dual carbon targets through their levels of carbon sink. However, existing research has overlooked the intricate relationship between terrain features and ecological spaces, leading to a lack of specific guidance on enhancing the carbon sink for counties with diverse landform characteristics. This study focused on Jingbian County (Loess Plateau), Fuping County (Guanzhong Plain), and Chenggu County (Qinba Mountains), each characterized by distinct landform characteristics. This study proposes a comprehensive identification model for ecological space within the context of dual carbon targets. Utilizing this model as a basis, the land use structure, carbon sink potential, and ecological spatial patterns of different counties were systematically analyzed. The results indicated substantial disparities in land use structure, carbon sink capabilities, and ecological space distributions among counties with different landform types. Specifically, Jingbian County was predominantly covered by grassland, exhibiting a moderate overall carbon sink capacity, with baseline ecological spaces playing a significant role. Conversely, Fuping County, dominated by cultivated land and construction land, exhibited the lowest carbon sink capacity, with non-ecological spaces accounting for a staggering 85.93%. Chenggu County, on the other hand, was characterized by the dominance of forestland, with nearly all its carbon sink originating from forestland, and core ecological spaces occupying a leading position. Tailored optimization strategies are recommended based on varying terrain features: Jingbian County should prioritize ecosystem restoration and conservation, while Fuping County should concentrate on optimizing land use structure and promoting urban greening. Reinforcing the carbon sink capacity of existing ecosystems is crucial for Chenggu County. This study broadens the perspective on ecological space optimization and provides scientific guidance and pragmatic insights tailored to regional disparities, which are instrumental in assisting various regions to achieve their dual carbon targets. Full article

China’s national park establishment aims to achieve a balance between ecological conservation and regional development. This study adopts a production–living–ecological (PLE) space perspective to evaluate the park’s impact. By quantifying changes and employing a combination of geographic detector and coupling coordination degree analyses, this research explores the dynamics of habitat quality and PLE space within the Wuyishan region, alongside their interrelationships. The national park’s influence on the surrounding area exhibits spatial heterogeneity, evident both within and beyond park boundaries, as well as across different counties. Despite the concentration of PLE changes in the park’s vicinity, particularly in densely populated urban areas, the influence of the national park on the local area is random and primarily at a low level. Importantly, the ecological space exhibits substantial changes, mirroring improvements in habitat quality. Furthermore, the coupling coordination between habitat quality changes and PLE space changes exhibits remarkable spatial variations. The complex interrelationships among PLE space necessitate a coordinated approach to their development for effective national park management. Ultimately, this investigation provides a novel perspective for the assessment of Wuyishan National Park’s conservation effectiveness, contributing practical value for future endeavors. Full article