Search Results (86)

Land consolidation (LC) is a sustainability-oriented policy tool designed to address land fragmentation, inefficient spatial organization, and ecological degradation in rural areas. This research proposes a Production–Living–Ecological (PLE) spatial utilization efficiency evaluation system, based on an integrated methodological framework combining Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Entropy Weight Method (EWM), Attribute-Weighting Method (AWM), Linear Weighted Sum Method (LWSM), Threshold-Verification Coefficient Method (TVCM), Jenks Natural Breaks (JNB) classification, and the Obstacle Degree Model (ODM). The framework is applied to Qian County, located in the Guanzhong Plain in Shaanxi Province. The results reveal three key findings: (1) PLE efficiency exhibits significant spatial heterogeneity. Production efficiency shows a spatial pattern characterized by high values in the central region that gradually decrease toward the surrounding areas. In contrast, the living efficiency demonstrates higher values in the eastern and western regions, while remaining relatively low in the central area. Moreover, ecological efficiency shows a marked advantage in the northern region, indicating a distinct south–north gradient. (2) Integrated efficiency consolidation potential zones present distinct spatial distributions. Preliminary consolidation zones are primarily located in the western region; priority zones are concentrated in the south; and intensive consolidation zones are clustered in the central and southeastern areas, with sporadic distributions in the west and north. (3) Five primary obstacle factors hinder land use efficiency: intensive utilization of production land (PC1), agricultural land reutilization intensity (PC2), livability of living spaces (PC4), ecological space security (PC7), and ecological space fragmentation (PC8). These findings provide theoretical insights and practical guidance for formulating tar-gated LC strategies, optimizing rural spatial structures, and advancing sustainable development in similar regions. Full article

Intensified human activities and changes in land-use patterns have led to numerous eco-environmental challenges. A comprehensive understanding of the eco-environmental effects of land-use transitions and their driving mechanisms is essential for developing scientifically sound and sustainable environmental management strategies. However, existing studies often lack a comprehensive analysis of these mechanisms due to methodological limitations. This study investigates the eco-environmental effects of land-use transitions in the Poyang Lake Region over the past 30 years from the perspective of the production-living-ecological space (PLES) framework. Additionally, a geographically explainable artificial intelligence (GeoXAI) framework is introduced to further explore the mechanisms underlying these eco-environmental effects. The GeoXAI framework effectively addresses the challenges of integrating nonlinear relationships and spatial effects, which are often not adequately captured by traditional models. The results indicate that (1) the conversion of agricultural space to forest and lake spaces is the primary factor contributing to eco-environmental improvement. Conversely, the occupation of forest and lake spaces by agricultural and residential uses constitutes the main driver of eco-environmental degradation. (2) The GeoXAI demonstrated excellent performance by incorporating geographic variables to address the absence of spatial causality in traditional machine learning. (3) High-altitude and protected water areas are more sensitive to human activities. In contrast, geographic factors have a greater impact on densely populated urban areas. The results and methodology presented here can serve as a reference for eco-environmental assessment and decision-making in other areas facing similar land-use transformation challenges. Full article

Taking the upper reaches of Huaihe River (UHR) as a research area, based on land use types data with 30 m resolution from 1980 to 2020, the changes in “production–living–ecological space” (PLE) and eco-environmental quality (EQ) in UHR from 1980 to 2020 were analyzed by using the eco-environmental effect evaluation method. Meanwhile, the PLUS model was applied to simulate and forecast the future scenarios for the data of 2010 and 2020, and the data for 2030–2050 under three situations of business as usual, ecological protection, and production priority were obtained, and the changing pattern of PLE and the change in EQ under each scenario were analyzed. Results: (1) From 1980 to 2020, the production and ecological space area in UHR presented a downward–upward–downward tendency and the living space area continued to increase. (2) From 1980 to 2020, the eco-environmental quality index (EV) presented a down–up tendency, and the expansion of lower eco-quality areas was obvious. The conversion of agricultural production (AP) and forest ecological (FE) is the main factor affecting environmental quality change. (3) Under the business as usual and production priority scenarios, the production and ecological space continues to reduce, and the living space continues to augment, but the production space area in the production priority situation is the least in three scenarios. Under the ecological protection scenario, the production space keeps reducing, and the ecological and living space keep increasing. (4) The ecological protection situation has the uppermost EV in three scenarios. The research can provide a scientific basis for territorial spatial planning and sustainable development of UHR. Full article

Sustainable land-use planning in peri-urban areas relies on informed decision-making guided by the examination of various development strategies. This study demonstrates a policy-based multi-scenario simulation which can serve as an aid to decision-making. Using the transformation of production–living–ecological (PLE) spaces in the Yubei District, a peri-urban district in Chongqing (2005 to 2020), as the baseline, the projections, simulated for 2035 under four scenarios, highlight the impacts of varying land-use policies: the reference scenario (RS), allowing unrestricted transformations, risks agricultural productivity and ecological integrity; the economic development scenario (S1) reveals the ecological costs associated with an economics-driven urban expansion; in contrast, the green development (S2) and agricultural land protection (S3) scenarios prioritize balanced growth and agricultural-land preservation so that ecological resilience and food security can be effectively maintained. Overall, significant land-use changes may occur, characterized by a substantial increase in living space, a decrease in production space, and stable ecological areas. This scenario-based analysis provides a comprehensive overview as to potential policy-driven planning outcomes. This aids in the identification of policy options that would best harmonize ecological, economic, and social objectives, offering essential insights for sustainable urbanization and land management in developing areas such as the Yubei District. Full article

An urban–rural–natural imbalance is evident; investigating the spatiotemporal evolution of the transitional geo-space (TG) between them facilitates the integration of urban–rural land use planning. In this study, we proposed a complex system model to explore the interactive dynamics between the social–economic systems and natural ecosystems of Changning County, Southwest China, with the TG being identified and classified across the two systems. Based on a three-dimensional “direction–speed–pattern” framework, we further quantified production–living–ecological space (PLE) changes and examined the impacts of these changes on the TG from 2000 to 2022. The results are as follows: (1) The TG was classified into five categories that were stratified according to the coupling intensity and orientation of the socioeconomic system and natural ecosystems in Changning County. (2) The transition type with the most complex socio-ecological coupling was the type of semi-socioeconomic process–semi-natural ecological process, occupying 32.6% (309.4 km²) of the county’s total area in 2000 and demonstrating the most pronounced spatial dynamics, exhibiting a reduction of 78.6 km² during the study period. (3) Negative impacts on TG dynamics were observed for the conversion of ecological space into agricultural production space (p < 0.01; R² > 0.24) and the dynamic degree of PLE transformations (p < 0.01; R² > 0.13). (4) The impacts of trends in PLE on the TG varied significantly across temporal phases, whereas the CONTAG index exhibited consistently non-significant effects throughout all study periods. This study provides a new insight into understanding the optimization of spatial development patterns in urban–rural–natural regions and offers theoretical support for the governance of national land space and high-quality economic and social development in mountainous areas. Full article

“Production–Living–Ecological” spatial conflicts (PLECs) are critical issues arising from regional land development, affecting economic, social, and ecological security. Identifying and analyzing these conflicts’ spatiotemporal characteristics is essential for sustainable development. This study focuses on the Tuha region, which experiences an extremely arid climate, classifying the region’s “Production–Living–Ecological” (PLE) spaces into four types: living–production, ecological–production, production–ecological, and ecological spaces. A spatial conflict measurement model based on landscape patterns was developed to analyze the evolution of PLECs from 2000 to 2020. Additionally, the PLUS model was used to simulate PLEC patterns in 2030 under different development scenarios. The results indicate that between 2000 and 2020, the area proportions in the Tuha region ranked from largest to smallest as follows: ecological space, ecological–production space, production–ecological space, and living–production space. The area of living–production space increased, while production–ecological space first increased and then stabilized, and the areas of ecological and ecological–production spaces decreased. From 2000 to 2020, spatial conflicts in the region were predominantly characterized by mild weak conflicts. High–high PLEC clusters were concentrated in urban and surrounding areas of Gaochang District, Toksun County, Shanshan County, and Yizhou District, while low–low clusters were found in the Eastern Tianshan Mountains and northern Barkol Kazakh Autonomous County. NDVI, GDP, population, and proximity to roads positively influenced PLECs, while elevation, slope, aspect, and precipitation had inhibitory effects. Under different development scenarios, the natural development scenario leads to the most severe spatial conflicts, while the cropland protection scenario reduces PLECs and enhances regional welfare, making it the optimal pathway for future development. Full article

Investigating spatio-temporal differentiation patterns of land-use conflicts in mountainous and flatland regions provides critical insights for optimizing spatial regulation strategies and advancing sustainable regional development. Using the Urban Agglomeration in Central Yunnan (UACY) as a case study, the production–living–ecological space (PLES) was classified through land-use functional dominance analysis based on 2010–2020 geospatial datasets. Spatio-temporal evolution patterns and mountain–dam differentiation were analyzed using spatial superposition, dynamic degree analysis, transfer matrices, and geospatial TuPu methods. A multi-scale conflict index incorporating landscape metrics was developed to assess PLES conflict intensities across spatial scales, with contribution indices identifying key conflict-prone spatial types. Analysis revealed distinct regional differentiation in PLES distribution and evolutionary trajectories during 2010–2020. Forest Ecological Space (FES) and Agricultural Production Space (APS) dominated both the entire study area and mountainous zones, with APS exhibiting particular dominance in dam regions. Grassland Ecological Space (GES) and Other Ecological Space (OES) experienced rapid conversion rates, contrasting with stable or gradual expansion trends in other space types. Change intensity was significantly greater in mountainous zones compared to flatland area (FA). PLES conflict exhibited marked spatial heterogeneity. FA demonstrated substantially higher conflict levels than mountainous zones, with evident scale-dependent variations. Maximum conflict intensity occurred at the 4000 m scale, with all spatial scales demonstrating consistent escalation trends during the study period. ULS, FES, and WES predominantly occurred in low-conflict zones characterized by stability, whereas APS, Industrial and Mining Production Space (IMPS), RLS, GES, and OES were primarily associated with high-conflict areas, constituting principal conflict sources. Full article

Understanding the interdependencies among production, living, and ecological spaces (PLESs) is critical for sustainable regional development. Urban fringe areas, shaped by rapid urbanization and conflicting land-use demands, are particularly vulnerable to spatial tensions. This study analyzes the spatiotemporal dynamics and drivers of PLES conflicts in Zengcheng District, Guangzhou, a representative urban fringe region. Using land-use data from 2010 to 2020, the study applies the optimal parameter geographic detector, chosen for its ability to untangle complex spatial interactions, to quantify conflict intensity and identify key drivers. This method was chosen over other spatial analysis techniques due to its ability to effectively capture nonlinear relationships and interaction effects between variables, which traditional regression-based or spatial autocorrelation methods often fail to fully address. The results indicate that production and ecological lands dominated the landscape, while living space expansion slowed, leading to escalating conflicts, particularly in the southern and central regions. The PLES conflict index shows that severe conflict units rose from 0.89% in 2010 to 2.15% in 2020, despite over 80% of spatial units remaining stable. Moderate conflicts peaked in 2015 before declining, while stronger conflicts intensified, especially in rapidly urbanizing areas. Conflict hotspots were most pronounced in rapidly urbanizing zones, particularly at the interface of urban expansion and ecological conservation areas. Moreover, the driving forces behind these conflicts transitioned from economic and urbanization factors to a multifaceted interplay of natural and social determinants, underscoring the growing intricacy of spatial dynamics. These findings offer crucial insights into the mechanisms driving PLES conflicts, guiding urban planners and policymakers in developing strategies to balance competing land-use priorities. By quantifying conflicts and identifying key drivers, this study helps prioritize interventions that mitigate tensions between production, living, and ecological spaces, supporting policies that reconcile urban expansion with ecological preservation for sustainable development in urban fringe areas. Full article

The conflict between socio-economic development and ecological protection is prominent, as the practice framework for territorial spatial planning and the rational layout and function coordination of production–life–ecological (PLE) spaces are crucial for achieving regional sustainable development. However, the dynamic evolution of PLE structure and function, as well as the driving mechanisms for the sustainable development of PLE, are still understudied. Therefore, this study takes the Ji-shaped bend Energy-Rich Area (ERA) of the Yellow River basin as a case study, classifies the PLE spaces based on land use data, and develops a PLE function indicator system consistent with the regional characteristics of an ERA. This paper characterizes PLE from both structure and function perspectives and explores the coupling and coordinated degree (CCD) among PLE functions and their driving factors. The results show the following: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the area of living space increased by 35.86%, while areas of production and ecological space decreased by 2.10% and 0.08%, respectively. (2) The PLE function increased, with the production function performing better in the typical ERA and the ecological function performing well in the atypical ERA. (3) From 2000 to 2020, the CCD of the PLE function increased by 24.85%, with atypical ERA demonstrating a higher CCD than typical ERA. (4) Factors in production function had the most significant impact on the CCD of PLE function, followed by living drivers. These results provide valuable insights and guidance for regulating PLE and promoting sustainable development. Full article

Enhancing the quality of human settlements in traditional villages is crucial for promoting sustainable development and achieving the broader objectives of rural revitalization. A key challenge in addressing current settlement issues is the development of a scientifically grounded assessment framework for evaluating the quality of the settlement in traditional villages. To fill this gap, this study systematically constructed a theoretical and methodological system of comprehensive assessment of the settlement quality in traditional villages based on land use functions. Specifically, first, a comprehensive framework for assessing the settlement quality in traditional villages is proposed by systematically deconstructing the interrelationships among the key dimensions and elements with the guiding by the objectives of livable community development, the social–ecological system (SES) framework, and the land use functions (encompassing production, living, and ecological functions, PLE function). Second, considering the multi-scalar effects of livable community development (15 min, 25 min, and 35 min living circles), an indicator system that enables a quantitative and refined assessment of settlement quality in traditional villages, as well as a method for identifying barriers indicators are proposed based on the critical tool of land use functions. Finally, an empirical analysis of 757 traditional villages in Guizhou Province, China, is conducted to validate the feasibility and applicability of the theoretical framework and methodological approach presented in this study. The findings reveal that the overall settlement quality in Guizhou’s traditional villages is relatively low, with numerous villages in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture and Tongren City falling within a low-to-medium quality range, especially in the scale of 35 min living circle. To address these challenges, this study proposes classification-based improvement strategies to enhance the quality of the living environment in traditional villages. The results offer important theoretical, methodological, and empirical insights for the transformation and upgrading of settlements in traditional villages in Guizhou Province and other similar regions. 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

China’s rapid economic growth has increased tensions between production, living, and ecological spaces (PLES), making sustainable land-use planning difficult. Therefore, PLES evolution and processes are a focus of current research. Remote sensing data with land-use transition matrices, centroid migration, standard deviation ellipses, spatial autocorrelation, and geographic detectors were used to study the dynamics of PLES in Hunan Province from 1990 to 2020, elucidate its mechanisms and main influencing factors, and provide a comprehensive understanding of its evolutionary characteristics. The main conclusions of our analysis are as follows: (1) Ecological space was the dominant land-use type, while production space increased, putting strain on natural areas. (2) Living space increased by 40.73% over three decades, mostly comprising manufacturing space, highlighting urban expansion. (3) Despite land-use changes, Loudi City’s PLES centroid remained central. (4) Standard deviation ellipses showed spatial shrinkage with directional stability, implying enhanced land usage within borders rather than outward growth. (5) The geographic detector analysis showed that the GDP, population density, slope, and elevation influenced these spatial changes. Economic prosperity drove urban expansion, but the slope and elevation limited development to accessible locations. These findings provide policymakers with essential information for balancing urbanization and ecological preservation and provide a case study for sustainable PLES design in rapidly developing regions. Full article

Under the influence of factors such as extreme weather and accelerated urbanization, China has witnessed a sharp escalation in conflicts between various land-use functions, leading to a significant rise in tensions between people and land. The coordination of production, living, and ecological functions is particularly important for strengthening ecological civilization and achieving regional high-quality development. The concept of “Production–Living–Ecological” (PLE) Spaces, proposed as part of China’s ecological civilization initiative, refers to a spatial framework that integrates production spaces (land for agriculture, industry, and commerce), living spaces (land for housing, consumption, and public services), and ecological spaces (land supporting ecosystem regulation and biodiversity). Based on this perspective, this paper investigates the current situation and potential of land-use function conflicts in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area in 2020. Utilizing the multi-criteria evaluation analysis method, the study develops a land-use function-evaluation model. Furthermore, the paper establishes a diagnostic model for the intensity of land-use function conflicts based on the different permutations and combinations of land unit function intensities. The land-use function conflicts are categorized into ten types and four stages. The main findings are as follows: (1) In 2020, the overall production, living, and ecological functions of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao Greater Bay Area were at high, medium-high, and low levels, respectively. The land in the stable and controllable stage, the largely controllable stage, the largely out-of-control stage, and the severely out-of-control stage accounted for 39.22%, 28.73%, 25.41%, and 6.64%. The focal points of the intensity of land-use function conflicts were mainly located in Guangzhou, Foshan, Shenzhen, and Dongguan. (2) The study area was exposed to varying degrees of risk from land-use function conflicts, and the area proportion of low conflict potential area, with the proportions of low, general, higher, and high-conflict-potential areas being 47.88%, 23.43%, 22.14%, and 6.54%, respectively. (3) The primary hotspots of conflict potential were concentrated in Dongguan City and the administrative border areas of “Foshan–Zhaoqing”, “Foshan–Jiangmen”, and “Guangzhou–Zhongshan”. Full article

Effective production, living, and ecological space allocation is essential for improving and optimizing urban space development. In this study, we proposed a production–living–ecological space (PLES) identification method based on Point of Interest (POI) data and China Land Cover Dataset (CLCD) to identify PLESs in Xuzhou City for the years 2012, 2018, and 2022, with an average recognition accuracy of 89.81%. Moreover, the land-use transfer matrix, center of gravity migration, and Geo-detector were used to reveal the spatiotemporal pattern evolution of PLESs. The results showed that: (1) The distribution of PLESs presented significant differentiation between Urban Built-Up Area (UBUA) and Non-Urban Built-Up Area (NUBUA). UBUA was mainly composed of living spaces, while NUBUA was primarily characterized by production–ecological spaces. (2) The intensive utilization of urban land led to an increase in the area of multifunctional spaces, while the complexity of urban space increased. (3) During 2012 to 2022, the center of gravity of PLESs remained relatively stable. The moving distances were all less than 1 km (except for ecological space from 2012 to 2018). (4) The evolution of PLESs was closely linked with socio-economic factors, and the interactions between the factors also had a significant driving effect on PLESs. Full article

Amid global climate challenges and an urgent need for ecological protection, the northeastern black soil region—one of the world’s remaining “three major black soil regions”—confronts significant tensions between agricultural economic development and land ecological protection, threatening national food security. Based on the “production–ecology–life” (PLE) classification system, this study established a dual-dimensional evaluation for carbon metabolism and ESV in horizontal and vertical dimensions. The horizontal flow of carbon and ESV was traced across different ecosystems, while the spatial and temporal dynamics of carbon metabolism and ESV were analyzed vertically. Spatial autocorrelation analyses were employed to examine the interaction patterns between carbon metabolism and ESV. The findings reveal that (1) cropland production space remains the dominant spatial type, exhibiting fluctuating patterns in the size of other spatial types, with a notable reduction in water ecological space. (2) From 2000 to 2020, high-value carbon metabolism density areas were primarily concentrated in the central region, while low-value areas gradually decreased in size. Cropland production space and urban living space served as key compartments and dominant pathways for carbon flow transfer in the two periods, respectively. (3) The total ecosystem service value (ESV) showed a downward trend, decreasing by CNY 1.432 billion from 2000 to 2020. The spatial distribution pattern indicates high values in the center and northwest, contrasting with lower values in the southeast. The flow of ecological value from forest ecological space to cropland production space represents the main loss pathway. (4) A significant negative correlation exists between carbon metabolism density and ESV, with areas of high correlation predominantly centered around cropland production space. This study provides a scientific foundation for addressing the challenges facing the black soil region, achieving synergistic resource use in pursuit of carbon neutrality, and constructing a more low-carbon and sustainable spatial pattern. Full article