The Spatial–Temporal Evolution of the Trade-Offs and Synergy between the Suburban Rural Landscape’s Production–Living–Ecological Functions: A Case Study of Jiashan in the Yangtze River Delta Eco-Green Integrated Development Demonstration Zone, China

Abstract

The Yangtze River Delta is one of China’s most economically developed regions and includes parts of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai. The economic development of the Yangtze River Delta region is in a stage of rapid growth. As a unique intersection of urban and rural functions, contradictions are prominent. The production, life, and ecological functions of suburban rural landscapes are forming new trade-off and synergistic relationships. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the production–living–ecological function of the suburban rural landscape in the Yangtze River Delta region. Jiashan County is located in Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province, and is an important part of the Yangtze River Delta region. Jiashan County, which has location advantages and economic development, can be used as a representative area to study the relationship between the production–living–ecological function of the suburban rural landscape in the Yangtze River Delta region. To evaluate the current status of the production–living–ecological functions of suburban rural areas in the Yangtze River Delta region and provide data support for future planning decisions in the Yangtze River Delta region, this study selected the suburban rural landscape of Jiashan as the research object and used temporal rank correlation analysis and spatial bivariate autocorrelation analysis to explore the evolution characteristics of the suburban rural landscape of Jiashan from 2000 to 2020. The results show that (1) the linear increase in the production and life functions of Jiashan rural areas has led to a decline in ecological functions, and life functions has been dominant. (2) There are trade-offs and synergistic relationships between the different functions of the suburban rural landscape of Jiashan, showing a temporal change pattern dominated by trade-offs. (3) The multifunctional trade-offs and synergistic relationships for the suburban rural landscape in Jiashan County exhibited obvious spatial pattern variability, and there were differences in how the streets and towns evolved. The relevant policies for the construction of ecological green comprehensive demonstration areas affect the economic, social, and ecological development of the Yangtze River Delta region, resulting in substantial differences in the types of and trends in the spatiotemporal evolution of the functional trade-off and synergistic relationships of the suburban rural landscape. Targeted measures should be taken according to the local conditions to guide the coordinated development of landscape functions.