Land Use Optimization in a Resource-Exhausted City Based on Simulation of the F-E-W Nexus

Xujing Yu,Yuzhe Wu,Liping Shan

doi:10.3390/land10101013

Abstract

Limited land resources are used to meet the growing economic, social, and ecological needs of people in China. Food, energy, and water (F-E-W) are the basic resources for supporting human survival and the transformation of different land uses. This paper tries to construct a theoretical framework of land use and the F-E-W nexus and uses system dynamics to simulate the optimal allocation of land use in Shizuishan City, China, by comparing different scenarios that have different parameters related to F-E-W. The final results follow: (1) according to the relationship between land use and the F-E-W nexus, a three-layer nested theoretical framework is constructed. (2) Future land use under different scenarios differs. Under the scenarios of a less dependence on coal energy, a higher utilization efficiency of energy and agricultural water resources, and a lower grain self-sufficiency rate, there are less crop and urban lands but more ecological land. However, generally speaking, crop and rural construction lands tend to decrease, while urban and ecological lands tend to increase. (3) Combined with different objectives, the rapid transformation scenario is considered a better option in which to achieve a balance among the economy, society, and ecology. This paper also discusses the application of land use optimization in the delineation of three control lines in territory-space planning in China.

Highlights

Starting with the F-E-W nexus, this paper aims to discuss the mechanism of its impact on land use change, and examines land use optimization and planning in a resource- exon land use change, and examines land use optimization and planning in a resource- exhausted city to better realize sustainable development
We give attention to the production, supply, distribution and consumption of food, energy, and water (F-E-W) resources, which affect the change in land use and optimize land allocation from the perspective of the F-E-W nexus and its interconnection with land to promote high-quality urban development, ensure food security, and realize an ecological civilization
Shizuishan is taken as an example to explore its mechanism of influence on land use change by using the F-E-W nexus and system dynamics

Summary

Introduction

Due to the process of China’s rapid economic development and urbanization, a large area of crop land was transformed into construction land. There must be sufficient crop land for food production. Ecological land, a land use category that provides considerable ecological value, is decreasing in area because of its transformation into construction land or crop land, which leads to a decline in ecological function [4,5,6]. The scarcity of land resources, the multifunctionality of land use, and the unlimited demand for land require land use optimization so as to promote a high-quality urban development, ensure food security, and realize an ecological civilization. Sustainable land use does not mean to meet the needs of human economic development through land development; more importantly, it establishes a long-term balance between economic development, environmental protection, and social equity [7].

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