Analysis on land-use change and socio-economic driving factors in Hainan island during 50 years from 1950 to 1999

Abstract

Land-use change is an important part of global change research (IGBP, 1990–1992). But the majority of researches focus on the natural driving force of land use change. In this paper, the authors studied the relationship between socio-economic driving factors and land-use change with time series in Hainan Island. Based on the study for the evolution of administrative system and policies in Hainan Island and the comprehensive analysis on the social economy data and changes of social policies, the socio-economic policies, human activities and land use of Hainan can be divided into three periods with different characters: period from 1950 to 1978 characterized by the planning economic system, period from 1978 to 1988 characterized by the transfer of economic system and adoption of open policy, new stage from 1988 to 1998 with high growing speed. On the other hand the authors describe the character of the periods and land-use change process affected by socio-economic factors. This paper provides an important method for evaluating the development and changes of Hainan social economy during the 50 years from 1950 to 1999 and forecasting the development of Hainan social economy in future.