Land Use Conflicts Research Articles

Environmental Impact and Sustainable Practices in Aquaculture: A Comprehensive Review

Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food production sector, now contributing more to global fish biomass than capture fisheries. While much of this expansion has occurred over the past 50 years, it has been accompanied by numerous environmental challenges, including aquatic pollution driven by urbanization, industrialisation, harbour dredging, sand filling, pesticide runoff from agricultural activities, and land-use conflicts between aquaculture, industry, and tourism. These environmental concerns have heightened the focus on sustainability, particularly in relation to ecological preservation. This review explores the various types of waste generated by industries, households, and other establishments that are discharged into aquatic ecosystems, examining their potential impacts on aquaculture. In addition, it evaluates mitigation strategies aimed at reducing or eliminating these environmental threats. Increasing attention has been placed on raising awareness of environmental issues and adopting sustainable practices to minimise aquaculture's ecological footprint. While environmental degradation was not viewed as a critical issue in the early stages of the industry's development, it has now become a central concern across academic, governmental, industrial, and market sectors.

A One Health approach to pastoral (im)mobility, health, and disease: A qualitative participatory study in Plateau State, Nigeria.

In Plateau State, pastoralism has historically been a cost effective and resilient economic system well-suited to the ecological context. However, changes in land use and conflict have increasingly changed patterns of mobility. Pastoralist movement is now often associated with zoonotic disease transmission, environmental degradation and conflict, increasingly resulting in forced sedentarisation. Rather than a direct outcome of population movement however, animal, human and zoonotic disease drivers are complex and influenced by a range of socio-economic and environmental factors. The interlinkages of (im)mobility and health requires better understanding of underlying vulnerabilities to disease, which we aim to address in this study. Using a multisite case study methodology we investigated pastoralists' animal and human health concerns and priorities in Plateau State, Nigeria. We deployed participatory tools, including open-ended Focus Group Discussions, transect walks, mapping exercises, calendars and matrices. Data were analysed using a One Health conceptual framework. We interviewed 105 participants, from transhumance, migratory and sedentary households, dependent on livestock and small-scale crops. While transhumance was often preferred, participants had become sedentary as a result of insecurity, loss in livestock, and household characteristics. Humans and animals suffered from several endemic diseases, including zoonoses, however veterinary and human health services are only available in larger towns, and people mostly rely on community (animal) health workers and self-medication. Both transhumance and sedentary livestock keepers face challenges around forage grazing, regularly blocked by landowners, sometimes escalating into conflict. While conflict and changes in land use affected animal and human disease patterns, underlying political, social and economic risk factors were important determinants of health. There is a need for more inclusive, transdisciplinary, multilevel approaches to address animal and human disease, based on better contextualization of the challenges, through the participation of affected communities.

Análisis espacio-temporal del proceso de urbanización en la ciudad de Santa Tecla, El Salvador

This study aims to analyze the urbanization process in the municipality of Santa Tecla and propose a generic methodology with free tools so that the population can monitor the spatio-temporal process of urbanization in the municipalities of the metropolitan area of San Salvador using Sentinel satellite images and the current regulatory planning instrument as a reference. The evolution of the 30-year temporal space (1991-2021) of the five-year urban sprawl of the municipality of Santa Tecla was analyzed using Landsat satellite data and contrasted with current regulatory instruments or reference techniques. NDVI and NDBI indices calculated from Sentinel-2 satellite data and applying a hybrid image classification methodology, conflicts in real land use were identified with high resolution. The study concluded that the process in the municipality of Santa Tecla has been disorderly in the last 30 years, which has suspected the risk for the population, because although there is a legal framework for land use planning, its application has been flexible. A hybrid method of classification based on NDVI and NDBI from satellite images has been used to simplify the manual inspection of the area in a given period of time with an acceptable margin of error. ILIA: Investigaciones Latinoamericanas en Ingeniería y Arquitectura, No. 01, 2024: 53-60.

Kenya: Socio-Demographic Determinants of Intractable Communal Land Use Conflicts in the Squatter Enclaves of Mount Elgon Region

In the post-Cold War world order, the African Continent has been a stage for some of the most violent intra-state conflicts arising from natural resources and land distribution. These contes tations have often been inter-communal and take the violent extremism route. The consequences of these devastating contestations have been apocalyptic in most of these conflicts. In Kenya’s Mount Elgon Region, the emergence of extremism Sabaot Land Defence Forces and counter-extremist groups is rooted in a long historical struggle for equitable distribution of land rights. Despite efforts by state and non-state actors, sustainable peace remains a distant mirage. Socio-economic deter minants have emerged as fundamental determinants in these extremist contestations, yet, extant literature has been silent on this subject matter. This paper sought to interrogate socio-demographic determinants as pathways for homegrown extremism in the Mount Elgon Region. Study findings revealed strong support for the interplay between ownership of land, source of income, level of education, and sustenance of homegrown extremism over land-use conflicts in the study area. The paper recommends the need for the Ministry of Lands to expedite the management of the historical land question to contain the socio-demographic determinants as pathways for homegrown ex tremism in the study area. The findings under score the importance of land tenure security in pursuit of peaceful, just, and inclusive societies as advocated for in the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030. Keywords: Demographic, extremism, home grown, land-use, Mt. Elgon.

Exploring the Coupling Relationship and Driving Factors of Land Use Conflicts and Ecosystem Services Supply–Demand Balances in Different Main Functional Areas, Southwest China

ABSTRACTConflicts between different types of land use, driven by rapid urbanization, are altering ecosystem services supply–demand balances (ESDB), and the reduction of ESDB will threaten regional sustainable development and human welfare. However, there are few studies on the interrelationships and their drivers between land use conflicts (LUCs) and ESDB from a coupling perspective, especially in different main functional areas. Therefore, this study focused on Southwest China. Firstly, the coupling coordination degree model was employed to measure the ESDB‐LUCs relationship and analyze its dynamic changes from 1990 to 2020. Then, the RDA method was used to explore the driving factors of the ESDB‐LUCs relationship in different functional areas (i.e., urban development area (UDA), agricultural development area (APA), and ecological protection area (EPA)). The results show that the LUCs index displayed a downward trend in the SW during 1990–2020, with a decreasing distribution pattern from the northeast to the southwest. The ESDB index exhibited a downward and then upward trend, with an increasing distribution mode from the northeast to the southwest. There was a spatial dependence between LUCs and ESDB. The type of coupling coordination between LUCs and ESDB was dominated by moderate coordination, with the index showing a spatial pattern of UDA > APA > EPA. Among these, the proportion of cropland and the proportion of urban land were the main factors influencing the degree of coordination of the UDA (explanation rate > 80%), showing positive and negative effects, respectively. The proportion of forestland and the proportion of cropland were the main factors influencing the APA and EPA (explanation rate > 70%), with negative and positive effects, respectively. Therefore, mitigating the conflict between cropland and urban land, cropland and forest land is essential to achieve ecosystem balance in the SW.

Conflicts in Land Use and Management

As land is limited, conflicts between land uses, and, consequently, conflicts between land users about land use inevitably arise. The objective of this paper is to provide a broad, cross-sectional overview of land use conflicts as perceived by different actors and to explore the actors’ experiences with these conflicts. We conducted 45 face-to-face interviews with key land use actors in the Republic of North Macedonia. Then we applied a qualitative text analysis or identification of keywords to identify the most relevant conflicts across all land use sectors (agriculture, forestry, nature protection, etc.) and their impacts on local actors’ daily experiences. The results show that actors are aware of many diverse land use conflicts, most frequently regarding land uses for environmental/species conservation, forestry, and agriculture. Thus, land use conflicts play an important and mostly negative role in the experiences of land use actors. These findings fill current gaps in the literature on land use conflicts regarding the types of conflicts of which actors are aware and the consequences of these conflicts. The results also underline the relevance of addressing conflicts in land use planning and governance, the need for appropriate conflict management, and the necessity of providing local actors with sufficient resources to deal with land use conflicts.

The understanding of the agriculturally shaped environment: from the theoretical construct to an applied indicator of sustainable development

Sustainable development of the resource ‘land’ is increasingly being discussed with a focus on rural areas. Understanding is key to solving land use conflicts. It can lead to joint solutions and can thus enable sustainable development at a practical level. It goes beyond environmental consciousness, which is related to general issues, and instead aims to address concrete challenges in the context of sustainable development at an applicable level. ‘Understanding’ with regard to land use conflicts has not yet been defined in the literature. Based on this motivation, it is the aim of this study to create the construct of ‘understanding’ conceptually, to validate it empirically with structural equation modelling, and to demonstrate that understanding might be an important prerequisite for sustainable development. In this case, the focus is not on a general kind of understanding, but rather on specific aspects of understanding in relation to the agriculturally shaped environment in rural areas. The empirical data for the paper were collected by means of a large-scale population survey in Western Pomerania, Germany, a rural peripheral region characterized by typical land-use conflicts in predominantly rural areas. A tripartite division of the construct into cognitive, emotional, and opinion levels was derived theoretically. The construct is supported empirically and that it can be applied as an SDG indicator. Thus, the refined construct of understanding the agriculturally shaped environment can make a substantial contribution towards closing the knowledge/attitude-behavior gap.

What are the underlying causes and dynamics of land use conflicts in metropolitan junction areas? A case study of the central Chengdu– Chongqing region in China

Land use conflicts (LUCs), as a spatial manifestation of the conflicts in the human-land relationships, have a profound impact on regional sustainable development. For China’s metropolitan junction areas (MJAs), the existence of “administrative district economies” has made the issue of LUCs more prominent. Based on a case study of the central Chengdu–Chongqing region, we conducted an exploratory spatial data analysis of the evolutionary process of regional LUCs. Furthermore, structural equation modeling was utilized to analyze the dynamic mechanism of LUCs in MJAs, with a particular emphasis on exploring the influences of administrative boundary. The results showed that from 2010 to 2020, LUCs in the central Chengdu–Chongqing region continued to worsen, and the spatial process conflict and spatial structure conflict indices increased by more than 30.0%. The intensification of LUCs in the central Chengdu–Chongqing region from 2010 to 2020 was mainly the result of the deterioration of conflicts in evaluation units with low conflict levels. LUCs in China’s metropolitan areas generally presented a circular gradient distribution, weakening from the core to the periphery, but there were some strong isolated conflict zones in the outer regions. LUCs in China’s MJAs were the result of interactions among multiple factors, e.g., natural environment, socio-economic development, policy and institutional processes, and administrative boundary effects. Administrative boundary affected the flow of socio-economic elements, changing the supply-and-demand competition of stakeholders for land resources, consequently exerting an indirect influence on LUCs. This study advances the theory of the dynamic mechanism of LUCs, and provides theoretical support for the governance of these conflicts in transboundary areas.

Management on Transfer Pricing of Farmland Based on the Supply–Demand Mismatches for Multifunction: A Case Study from China

Realizing the multifunctional value of farmland is essential for regulating the pricing of farmland transfers and stabilizing the rural land market. However, in China, the mismatch between supply and demand leads to improper resource allocation, weakens the explicit value of farmland, and causes unreasonable transfer pricing mechanisms that threaten agricultural production and food security. This study develops an analytical framework to examine the relationship between farmland multifunction and transfer pricing from a supply–demand perspective. An evaluation index system is constructed, considering the physical, value, and material quantities. This study uses the matching index method and bivariate spatial autocorrelation to analyze the supply–demand match of farmland multifunction from 2014 to 2021 and its relationship with transfer prices. Additionally, management methods and strategies for dynamic zoning-based pricing under multifunctional matching trade-offs are proposed. The results show that: (1) There is significant heterogeneity in the supply and demand matching degree of different farmland functions in both space and time. The production and ecological functions of farmland are oversupplied, while the living functions are undersupplied. (2) Different spatial autocorrelation relationships exist between the degree of supply and demand matching of farmland functions and farmland transfer prices. Specifically, the supply and demand matching degrees of the production and living functions show a significant negative spatial correlation with farmland transfer prices. In contrast, the ecological function shows a significant positive spatial correlation with farmland transfer prices, which are continuously strengthening over time. (3) Based on the supply and demand matching situation of different farmland functions and the spatial autocorrelation of farmland transfer prices, nine types of regions are delineated for farmland functions. Among them, the surplus-coordinated development areas have the most cities, accounting for about 40%, with a wide distribution range. This study proposes zoning-based pricing instruments and management strategies. This research provides valuable insights for developing countries seeking to alleviate conflicts in multifunctional land use, enhance the sustainable protection of land resources, and improve land resource assessment frameworks.

THE SUITABILITY OF ACTIVITIES IN THE TRADE SUB-ZONE (THE CORRIDOR OF LETDA SUJONO ROAD, MEDAN TEMBUNG SUB-DISTRICT, MEDAN CITY)

The development of population and infrastructure in cities can enhance the local economy, as seen in the Letda Sujono Road corridor. This area, located between Medan City and Deli Serdang Regency and near the Bandar Selamat Toll Gate, has seen significant growth in trade and service activities. This growth has spurred the development of housing, public services, commercial spaces, warehousing, and industry, increased land demand and causing potential land-use conflicts and traffic issues. Inappropriate space utilization can lead to urban sprawl, often due to inadequate spatial planning control. The Medan City Detailed Spatial Plan (DSP or Rencana Detail Tata Ruang (RDTR)) designates the Letda Sujono Road corridor as a Trade Sub-zone, with zoning regulations limiting some activities to 10% of the block area. Aims: The objective of this study was to study the suitability of existing activities with the zoning plan which has been regulated in the Medan City Detailed Spatial Plan as a space control content in order to create safe, comfortable and sustainable spatial planning. Methodology and results: This study uses a qualitative descriptive method with spatial analysis to assess the alignment of current activities with the DSP zoning plan. Conclusion, significance and impact study: The findings reveal that 60.84% of the activities are suitable, while 39.16% are not. Some blocks, particularly Block 17-07-01 (Tembung), have exceeded the 10% activity limit, indicating that zoning plans have not been fully realized, with unauthorized activities such as integrated schools and vehicle-related services still present.

Large-scale agro-industries and host community land restitution demands: understanding the land-use conflicts between the CDC and Fako elites in the south west region, Cameroon

Large-scale land acquisition has been frequent in most parts of Africa. This frequently led to extensive dispossession among other pitfalls of violation of indigenous land ownership rights. A significant proportion of Fako division’s fertile slopes and plains were expropriated by the Germans for implantation and development of plantations. Ownership rights of indigenous community lands were transferred without the legal consent of the rightful native authorities. Against the backdrop of this colonial intrusion and consequential violations of local customary tenure rights, the growing need for justice and restoration of dignity has been a shared value among a preponderant proportion of the local Bakweri ethnic group. This culminated to a restitution decision of CDC leased lands to the Bakweri by the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights. Nonetheless, the proportion of restituted lands has not been significant and satisfactory enough to conciliate the expropriated host communities of the extensive CDC leaseholds. As such, landownership contestations and its consequential socio-political tensions still persist in Fako. This paper is centered on yet a more frequently expressed contestation: encroachment into and occupancy of CDC leaseholds by natives of Fako as a whole and Ndongo of Tiko sub-division in particular. Prior extensive documentary review was done which pointed to the locality of Ndongo as a suitable case of interest. Contrary to the general land grabbing tendencies of agro-businesses, community members here are accused of unauthorized intrusion into and tenancy of lands with legal ownership rights belonging to the CDC. The study was ethnographic comprising of individual in-depth interviews and observations.

Towards an Urban Planning Scenario Model System—A Tool for Exploring Urban Uncertainty: A Case Study of Diaozhen, China

The ‘Urban Interaction’ project aims to develop an urban planning model system at the scale of towns or small cities consisting of three modules: growth forecast, land-use decision, and evaluation. This paper presents the framework of the model system to identify and discuss the assumptions and theoretical basis of the model system. The model system will be driven by scenario planning theory and sustainable urban development principles. It will export land-use planning based on selected urban development scenarios and urban planning theories. This paper takes Diao Town in Jinan as an example. Applying GIS spatial analysis and hierarchical analysis, this paper determines the suitability of land use and the weights of different influencing factors, combined with the land-use conflict identification model, for land-use decision-making. Finally, the assessment module verifies whether the planning scheme complies with laws and regulations to achieve an active, reactive response to uncertainty. The paper discusses the ‘uncertainty’ of urban planning and proposes a creative, flexible, and timely planning platform that allows planners and other participants to model and visualize their scenarios.

Palm oil expansion, insecure land rights, and land-use conflict: A case of palm oil centre of Riau, Indonesia

Insecure rights tend to lead to land-use conflicts. The literature mainly focuses on the impact of insecure land rights on investment. Regarding the causes, studies mainly focus on the effect of state regulations. Little attention is given to the impact of the extractive economy on land rights security. This article scrutinizes how palm oil expansion manipulates insecure land rights, leading to land-use conflict. We pay attention to a particular land right in Indonesia that is based on the´ land status letter´ (Surat Keterangan Tanah, SKT), an initial proof of land ownership that is widely held by villagers in Indonesia. Studies have neglected this land right, as most attention has been on customary rights (Adat). Our main questions are: How do palm oil companies treat the SKT in their efforts to obtain more land for their plantations, and how do farmers try to fight for their SKT rights? Using a qualitative case study in Indonesia´s Riau Province, we show that because of a shared perception that SKTs offer security, villagers did not attempt to get a full legal land certificate from the Land Agency, and palm oil companies often manipulated SKT land rights to acquire land for new plantations. Limited access to conflict resolution mechanisms hampers landholders’ efforts to enforce their land rights, and our study suggests that the security of SKT land rights depends upon landholders’ ability to fight for their rights. NGOs did not help empower them in this matter in most cases.

Land-Use Conflict Dynamics, Patterns, and Drivers under Rapid Urbanization

Land-Use Conflict Dynamics, Patterns, and Drivers under Rapid Urbanization

Evaluation of spatial conflicts of land use and its driving factors in arid and semiarid regions: A case study of Xinjiang, China

The study of spatial conflicts of land use (SCLU) is an important breakthrough to reveal the evolution mechanism of regional human-land relationship. Accurate identification of SCLU and scientific exploration of its spatio-temporal characteristics of their driving factors are pivotal for regional sustainable development. However, the basic theoretical system of SCLU still needs to be improved, and the spatio-temporal characteristics of SCLU at different spatial scales and landforms as well as the spatio-temporal correlation effects of its driving factors need to be further studied. This study utilizes theoretical models for the identification of SCLU. Employing a comprehensive index approach involving ArcGIS, FRAGSTATS landscape pattern analysis, and the multi-scale geographically weighted regression model, the spatio-temporal characteristics of SCLU are analyzed across different administrative scales and Macro-landforms. The investigation unveils the intrinsic mechanisms of spatio-temporal differentiation driven by various factors from 2000 to 2020 in the arid and semiarid region of Xinjiang, China. Results indicated that: (1) SCLU is a sensitive indicator of human-land interaction, measurable using conflict risk and effect; (2) The SCLU in Xinjiang presents a spatial pattern of “severe conflict around the three mountains and mild conflict around the two basins” and the SCLU transitioned from an outbreak to a relief stage over the past two decades; (3) SCLU varies significantly among landform types, with conflict intensity in Plain > Mountains > Platform > Hill areas; (4) Elevation and slope in natural environmental factors, human footprint and distance of patches from water, from roads, and from railroads in social activity factors have inhibitory effects on SCLU, and GDP, population density, and human impact index in economic development factors have positive effects on SCLU, and focusing on controlling potentially high-conflict risk areas and enhancing the upgrading of ecological quality are key to mitigating SCLU. The results validate the proposed theoretical framework and provide theoretical and practical references for accurately identifying SCLU and optimizing national territory spatial patterns.

Identification of Potential Land Use Conflicts in Shandong Province: A New Framework

Land use conflicts (LUCs) have become a significant global issue. Accurately identifying potential LUCs is crucial for mediating these conflicts, optimizing land use structure, and enhancing land use function. The necessary conditions of LUCs are land use multi-suitability (LUMS), land resource scarcity (LRS), and diversity of demands (DD). However, few studies have approached LUC identification from these three dimensions simultaneously. In addition, when assessing the diversity of demand, only human needs are considered and wildlife needs are ignored. In order to address this gap in the research, this paper constructs a novel framework for LUC identification and proposes an induction-oriented governance path. LUMS was evaluated from three aspects: construction suitability, cultivation suitability, and ecological suitability. LRS is measured from three dimensions: construction land, cultivated land, and ecological land scarcity. The DD is expanded into human and wildlife demand diversity. By analyzing the combination of LUMS, LRS, and DD, LUCs are classified using the potential LUC identification Rubik’s cube model, and corresponding governance paths are suggested. In Shandong Province, potential LUCs are relatively high, with strong, medium, and weak conflicts accounting for 27.39%, 57.10%, and 13.06%, respectively. Potential strong conflicts are mainly distributed in the metropolitan suburbs and in the western plain of Shandong Province. Cultivated land is the main potential land use conflict space. The new framework of LUC identification proposed in this paper can effectively identify potential LUCs. Our research provides scientific reference for sustainable land use.

Balancing photovoltaic development and cropland protection: Assessing agrivoltaic potential in China

The expansion of utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) installations has precipitated a growing conflict for land resources between energy generation and agricultural production. Agrivoltaics, which integrate PV systems with crop production, have emerged as promising solutions to alleviate land-use conflicts. This research integrates spatial data on PV installations with agricultural productivity figures to assess the impact of China's PV expansion on croplands and estimate the yield potential for six main crops under agrivoltaics. The results disclose a substantial incursion of PV plants into croplands, totaling 911 km2 by the year 2020. Compared to PV installations causing these croplands to be completely abandoned, agrivoltaics in a full-density PV system scenario could preserve up to 139 km2 of cropland with a corresponding crop yield of 7.1 × 104 tons, which is 9 % of the crop yield in a no-PV scenario. In a half-density PV system scenario, agrivoltaics could conserve 585 km2 of cropland with a corresponding crop yield of 4.6 × 105 tons, which is 55 % of the crop yield in a no-PV scenario. A regional distinction is observed, with northern agricultural regions demonstrating a more favorable agrivoltaic yield potential than the south. This study provides valuable insights for developing policies and best practices related to implementing agrivoltaics and PV spatial planning, thus steering a more sustainable coexistence of China's energy production and agricultural yield imperatives.

Predicting Land Use Changes under Shared Socioeconomic Pathway–Representative Concentration Pathway Scenarios to Support Sustainable Planning in High-Density Urban Areas: A Case Study of Hangzhou, Southeastern China

Amidst the challenges posed by global climate change and accelerated urbanization, the structure and distribution of land use are shifting dramatically, exacerbating ecological and land-use conflicts, particularly in China. Effective land resource management requires accurate forecasts of land use and cover change (LUCC). However, the future trajectory of LUCC, influenced by climate change and urbanization, remains uncertain. This study developed an integrated multi-scenario framework by combining system dynamics and patch-generating land use simulation models to predict future LUCC in high-density urban regions under various Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP)–Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) scenarios. The results showed the following: (1) From 2020 to 2050, cultivated land, unused land, and water are projected to decrease, while construction land is expected to increase. (2) Future land use patterns exhibit significant spatial heterogeneity across three scenarios. Construction land will expand in all districts of Hangzhou, particularly in the main urban areas. Under the SSP585 scenario, the expansion of construction land is most significant, while it is the least under the SSP126 scenario. (3) Distinct factors drive the expansion of different land use types. The digital elevation model is the predominant factor for the expansion of forest and grassland, contributing 19.25% and 30.76%, respectively. Night light contributes the most to cultivated land and construction land, at 13.94% and 20.35%, respectively. (4) The average land use intensity (LUI) in central urban districts markedly surpasses that in the surrounding suburban areas, with Xiacheng having the highest LUI and Chun’an the lowest. Under the SSP126 scenario, the area with increased LUI is significantly smaller than under the SSP245 and SSP585 scenarios. These findings offer valuable guidance for sustainable planning and built environment management in Hangzhou and similarly situated urban centers worldwide.

Identification and dynamic evolution of land use conflict potentials in China, 2000–2020

Under the background of rapid urbanization, a series of urgent problems have emerged in China, such as tightening resource constraints and intensifying land use conflicts (LUCs). Based on the perspective of agricultural production – residents’ life – ecological security, this study took China as the study area, applied the multi-criteria evaluation analysis method to diagnose the LUC type based on spatial statistics, coupling relationship matrix, comprehensive conflict index, and spatial autocorrelation model, then divided the LUC risk changes into seven patterns, and analyzed their spatial evolution characteristics. The results demonstrated that the scale of competition for scarce land between agriculture, construction, and ecology increased by 3.4 % over the last 20-year period. High conflict zone was mainly located in the eastern plains, which was also the main distribution zone of agriculture-construction conflict, while the agriculture-ecology conflict zone was mainly located in the west. Over time, LUC risk grade changed in 14.3 % of the study area, with the largest area of transitions from no conflict to moderate conflict (34.78 %). High intensification zone coincided almost entirely with ecologically fragile regions of the Midwest, underscoring the critical importance of LUC perspectives in ecological conservation. We provided a new perspective for the study of LUC changes and a scientific reference for realizing sustainable land use management in China and other regions.

Theobroma cacao L., land use conflict on the Ecuadorian coast

Cocoa cultivation is one of the sectors that most contributes to Ecuador’s GDP. The aim of this study is to determine the Land-Use Conflict (UC) for cocoa in 71 cities on the coast of Ecuador. Photointerpretation has been applied to locate the crop and geospatial modeling has been used to analyze Land Use Capacity (LUC) criteria, agroecological requirements and LUC at 1:5,000. Of the total study surface area, 4.65% is occupied by cocoa crops and of this value 66.03% is in adequate use (AU) and 33.97% in LUC, and the category of UC over lightly used is the most frequent with 17.25% of the total surface in LUC. In the coastal region, the province of Guayas has the lowest LUC in contrast to Los Rios; the predominant LUC for the crop is Class III 34.32%. The findings show that the LUC of cocoa has a low concordance with the national Agroecological Zoning (AZ), since this model considers the crop in natural conditions, the main limiting factor is the vegetative wet period and does not take into account whether the crop is present in the territory. The use of national AZ information to establish crops could limit their production, since it has been demonstrated that there are cultivated areas that are not in conflict and that are exploited by farmers. This study is replicable to other crops and scalable to any area.