Identification of Potential Land-Use Conflicts between Agricultural and Ecological Space in an Ecologically Fragile Area of Southeastern China

Jing Zhang,Yan Chen,Congmou Zhu,Bingbing Huang,Muye Gan

doi:10.3390/land10101011

Abstract

In the context of ensuring national food security, high-intensity agricultural production and construction activities have aggravated the conflicts between agricultural and ecological spaces in ecologically fragile areas, which have become one of the most important factors hindering regional sustainable development. This study took Lin’an District, a typical hilly region of southeastern China, as an example. By constructing a landscape ecological risk evaluation model, land-use conflicts between agricultural and ecological spaces were identified, spatial autocorrelation and topographic gradient characteristics were analyzed, and land-use conflict trade-off mechanisms were proposed. During 2008 and 2018, the degree of land-use conflict in Lin’an District displayed an increasing trend, and the proportion of severe conflicts increased obviously. Slope is the main factor affecting land-use conflicts in a hilly region and shows a negative correlation, mainly because areas with flat terrain are more conducive to human activities. Based on the characteristics of land-use conflicts in Lin’an District, conflict trade-off mechanisms were proposed to provide a theoretical basis and practical support for land-use conflict management. Our study provides scientific evidence for sustainable land-use planning and ecological management in ecologically fragile areas.

Highlights

Mountains, water, forests, fields, lakes and grass are communities shared by all life on Earth [1]
In order to guarantee the ecological security of the land, it requires that areas with important ecological functions be included in the protection [4]. These tensions, if not managed properly, can accentuate land-use conflicts between agricultural space and ecological space, and the conflicts caused by land resource shortages and single-use lands are increasing, especially in ecologically fragile areas
Mathematical linear models were used to characterize a comprehensive index of land-use conflict (CCI): CCI = Land complexity index (LCI) + Land fragility index (LFI) − LSI

Summary

Introduction

Water, forests, fields, lakes and grass are communities shared by all life on Earth [1]. In order to guarantee the ecological security of the land, it requires that areas with important ecological functions be included in the protection [4] These tensions, if not managed properly, can accentuate land-use conflicts between agricultural space and ecological space, and the conflicts caused by land resource shortages and single-use lands are increasing, especially in ecologically fragile areas. When land-use management in a certain region fails to integrate economic development, food security and ecological protection, imbalances in land use structure and regional landscape patterns emerge. These imbalances manifest as spatial conflicts caused by land users competing for land resources out of different interests [5]. It is significant to study and identify land-use conflicts in agricultural and ecological spaces to coordinate human–land balanced relationships for green, coordinated and sustainable regional development

Methods

Results

Conclusion