Land Consolidation-Induced Effects on Local Landscape Patterns in Hilly and Mountainous Southwestern China

Abstract

Land Consolidation Project (LCP), as a kind of drastic disturbance by human intentional activities, significantly changes landscape pattern. The information of landscape pattern from land-use map and planning map (scale: 1:2000) were extracted by taking the land consolidation project in hilly and mountainous area of Bashan Town, Zhong County, Chongqing, Southwestern China as an example. The whole landscape structure and each land use type class level metrics of landscape pattern were calculated. Then their effects on local landscape patterns were estimated by Fragstats for Arcview. Sixteen metrics had been chosen to describe the changes before and after LCP. The total area of the research region was 1037.45 hm2, and arable land area accounted for 80.95%, therefore heterogeneous map was mosaic. Land Leveling Project (LLP) got each patch of arable land expanded. The fragmentation was sharply reduced .The complex of patches edge was decreased. The shape of each field was ruled. And all above were beneficial for the growth of crop and plantation, especially in a large scale. LCP could reallocate fragment parcels and improve agricultural conditions.