The Dynamic of Dike-Pond System in the Pearl River Delta During 1964–2012

Abstract

As a traditional mode of agricultural production in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region, the dike-pond systems (DPS) play an essential role in local economic development and the ecology–agriculture balance. Since 1964, evolution of the systems has been influenced by climate change, policy, and the market economy. We used multi-temporal remotely sensed data (KH–4 data from 1964, KH–9 data from 1976, Landsat TM data from 1988, Landsat ETM+ data for 2000, and HJ–1A data for 2012) to extract land use information for the PRD region. We used this information to describe the development of dike-pond systems in the PRD region and discuss the driving mechanisms in the evolution of the systems.