The Production–Living–Ecological Land Classification System and Its Characteristics in the Hilly Area of Sichuan Province, Southwest China Based on Identification of the Main Functions

Guitang Liao,Hui Zhang,Xuesong Gao,Ouping Deng,Liangji Deng,Nana Feng,Peng He,Wei Zhou

doi:10.3390/su11061600

Guitang Liao, Hui Zhang + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061600

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Abstract

Production–living–ecological land (PLEL) is one of the research focuses of land planning and regional sustainable development in China. This paper builds a three-level classification system of PLEL based on the identification of the main land use functions (LUFs). Taking 215 typical towns in the hilly area of Sichuan Province, Southwest China as samples, the quantitative, spatial, and functional characteristics and impact factors of PLEL were studied. The results showed that (1) production land holds a dominant role in the hilly area of Sichuan Province, and production land (PL), living land (LL) and ecological land (EL) account for 66.06%, 7.60%, and 26.34% of the area, respectively. The area of agricultural production land is the largest; forestland and rural living land rank second and third. (2) The spatial patterns of PLEL in different regions of hilly area have differences. The proportion of PL gradually decreases from north to south, while the proportion of EL gradually increases from north to south, and the difference in LL is not obvious. The EL is mainly distributed in the upper and middle parts of hills, and the PL and LL are mainly distributed in the foot slopes and valleys. (3) The main functions of PLEL in the hilly area of Sichuan are production and ecology. The production function is mainly for agricultural and forestry products, and the living function is mainly for cultural leisure and residential functions. There are little differences among the ecological sub-functions. (4) There is a strong correlation between PLEL and natural–social–economic factors in the hilly area of Sichuan. Natural conditions such as latitude, relative height, and surface roughness have significant impacts on PL and EL. Social and economic factors such as population density, location and total industrial output value have a significant impact on LL. The results of this study provide valuable implications for the spatial planning and sustainable development in the Sichuan Basin and upstream of the Yangtze River.

Highlights

IntroductionLand is a multi-functional comprehensive system; humankind uses land for a multitude of purposes, obtaining many functions (economic, environmental and social) from any particular form of land use [1]
Land is a multi-functional comprehensive system; humankind uses land for a multitude of purposes, obtaining many functions from any particular form of land use [1]
The results of hierarchical clustering analysis show that (Figure 2) when the distance between groups is about 14, land use types can be divided into four categories, which correspond to ecological function, agricultural & forestry production function, industrial & mineral production function, and living function

Summary

Introduction

Land is a multi-functional comprehensive system; humankind uses land for a multitude of purposes, obtaining many functions (economic, environmental and social) from any particular form of land use [1]. The quantity and quality of productive land, such as cultivated land, have been reduced. Living land, such as residential land, has been created in a disordered way, and its layout has been chaotic. Optimizing the production–living–ecological space has become one of the core contents of China’s ecological civilization and sustainable development strategy. It will become the foundation of the spatial planning system [5]. The current land use classification published by the Chinese government is based on the economic and social functions of land, with inadequate consideration of ecological processes and ecosystem services [6,7,8].

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