Abstract
For understanding the causes and effects of changes in land use it is critical to study the interaction between the temporal dynamics and the spatial pattern of land use. Interactions arise from feedbacks in the human-environment system, heterogeneity in the biophysical and human environment and the influence of land-use history. Land-use simulation models can serve as a tool to understand these dynamics in more detail and assess the impact on ecosystem functioning. This chapter presents a spatially explicit modelling approach to explore the spatial and temporal changes in land-use patterns as a function of the specific characteristics of cropping systems and feedbacks between land use and the environment. A case study for Bac Kan province in northern Vietnam is used to test and illustrate the capacity of the model. The results indicate that the model can be used to assess changes in land-use pressure and pattern under different development pathways or scenario conditions. The potential of further developing this approach is discussed.
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