Rural Resources Research Articles

The Role of Environmental Design in Rural Revitalization

This paper provides an in-depth study on the overview of environmental design, the application of environmental design in rural revitalization, the challenges and countermeasures of environmental design in rural revitalization, and case studies. Firstly, this paper gives an overview of environmental design, clarifies the definition, classification and characteristics of environmental design, and introduces the development trend of environmental design. Secondly, this paper discusses the application of environmental design in rural revitalization, including the improvement of rural environment, the promotion of rural economic development, and the inheritance and innovation of rural society and culture. Then, this paper analyzes the challenges faced by environmental design in rural revitalization, such as the limited nature of rural resources, the low participation of rural residents as well as the lack of policy support and professional talents for rural environmental design, and puts forward corresponding countermeasures.

Considerations for enhancing participation and data accuracy in geospatial research in rural areas: experiences with PGIS in northern Malawi

ABSTRACT Rural environments are experiencing rapid changes that must be explored to understand, enhance, and facilitate positive changes and adapt to detrimental changes. However, the information researchers can obtain about the environment to identify effective management strategies for rural resources is hindered by several factors. Participatory geospatial research presents an approach that integrates local voices to map the facts and values of rural people and represent environmental changes. Here, we draw on more than six years of participatory geospatial research in rural northern Malawi to identify and present various considerations that participatory geospatial researchers and planners should be mindful of when working with rural people to enhance participation in research and improve spatial data accuracy. Based on experiences using various research methods and activities applied in several transdisciplinary collaborative research projects, we posit that rural geospatial researchers should keenly consider i) ethical issues concerning data collection, analysis, and representation, e.g. taboos and sacred spaces, ii) integrating local spatial ecological knowledge of people about the environment, and iii) economic conflicts and gender dynamics that tend to disempower and limit participation in research and affect data quality. Considering these would build rapport between participants and researchers to facilitate active participation and data accuracy.

Nesting landscape character and personality assessment to intensify rural landscape regionality and uniqueness

Urbanization impacts and homogenization pressures are threatening rural landscapes worldwide, leading to the loss of their regionality and uniqueness. Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) measures and identifies the uniqueness and distinctiveness of landscapes, making the unique value of rural resources easier to understand, protect, and perpetuate. Originating in the UK in the 1970s, LCA has become the mainstream approach for identifying landscape characteristics and is now a tool for managing landscape changes globally. Landscape Personality Assessment (LPA) offers another perspective for effectively measuring and analyzing landscape characteristics but has not been widely applied since its proposal. To distinguish between these two perspectives on landscape uniqueness identification, this paper conducted a literature review and comparison study, summarizing and comparing the characteristics of LCA and LPA in terms of evaluation scale, dimensions, indicators, and supported types of practices, further clarifying their respective strengths and weaknesses. To complement each other's perspectives on landscape characteristic identification, a framework nesting LCA and LPA was proposed to address the issue of the loss of rural landscape regionality in territorial spatial planning. This framework aims to couple evaluations of multi-level spatial characteristics and combine the identification of multi-temporal landscape characteristics. The goal is to enrich the theoretical and methodological system of rural landscape characteristic evaluation and provide more tools for the planning and conservation of the regionality of rural landscapes globally.

Construction and Optimization Strategies for Rural Residential Spatial Models Based on the Concept of Resource Metabolism: A Case Study of Rural Areas in the Shandong Plain

Rural communities can be conceptualized as spatial organisms interconnected by optimized resource utilization systems. Investigating the efficient utilization of rural resources and spatial construction methods grounded in resource metabolism is a pivotal step toward achieving the ecological transformation of rural spaces. This paper examined rural settlements in the Shandong Plain as a case study, exploring the relationships among three scales: village, neighborhoods, and courtyards. This analysis was based on elucidating the interaction mechanisms between “space and resource” and the integration of key resources and spatial elements. From the perspective of resource circulation and metabolism, this study aimed to elucidate the equilibrium of each resource element within three resource metabolism subsystems: the agricultural production system (core element), the ecological technology system (technological link), and the human life system (spatial carrier) in Shandong Plain’s villages, considering general climatic conditions. To achieve this, this research utilized the resource production volume, the utilization and transformation volume of resource metabolism technology facilities per unit area, and the average per capita resource consumption as fundamental measurement units. The concept of a rationing relationship is introduced to clarify resource allocation. Combining the aforementioned research on spatial resource metabolism in ecological villages in Shandong Province with the material flow analysis method, this study constructed a bottom–up spatial model of resource metabolism at three scales, courtyards, neighborhoods, and villages, under various resource metabolism scenarios. This study is anticipated to significantly contribute to the theoretical understanding of rural habitat environments, offering novel methods and perspectives for constructing ecological rural settlements.

Distribution of Sheep Fattening Practices and Marketing Systems in the Sagnarigu Municipality in Northern Ghana

The study was conducted in the Sagnarigu Municipality in Northern Ghana to assess sheep fattening practices and marketing systems. Eighty respondents were selected and questionnaires administrated to them. Data was summarized and analysed using SPSS version 20. Majority of the fatteners were within the ages 21-30 years. Sheep fatteners were not equally distributed across the different age groups. Most of the farmers had at least primary education while majority (30.0%) of them had tertiary education. The sheep fattening enterprise in the area was male and Muslim dominant activity. Majority of respondents were engaged in specialized skill work as their main occupation with self-financing as the main source of income for the sheep fattening business. Majority had at most 5 years fattening experience. Semi-intensive system of management was mainly practiced. Farmers use wide range of feed stuff alternatively and supplied from multiple sources. Mature animals (≥ 6 months) sourced from farmers’ own flock were mostly used in fattening. Generating cash was the primary motivation for fattening sheep, with a convenient market for the fattened sheep. Customers of fattened sheep were mainly butchers. mostly at local markets (50%). Price determination for the fattened sheep was bargaining. The major constraints of sheep fatteners were diseases and mortality and lack of capital/financial. It was concluded that sheep fattening practices and marketing system was a business in the Sagnarigu municipality, nevertheless, it was not well organized and developed. To create a lucrative sheep fattening industry, government and non-governmental organizations should promote sheep fattening by providing financial and training support for the fatteners and the teaming youth in Ghana to venture into the business. This could contribute to enhancing livelihood of rural resource poor farmers, unemployment and poverty reduction as well as women empowerment in the country.

The charcoal footprint of greater Accra on the Afram Plains: Urban energy consumption and forest degradation in Ghana

Rapid urbanisation in sub-Saharan Africa is leading to increased energy consumption and a growing reliance on charcoal as a fuel source, with significant environmental implications. This study examines the impact of charcoal consumption in Greater Accra, Ghana, on the Afram Plains ecosystem. Employing a mixed-methods approach, including geographical analysis, quantitative data collection, and sustainability assessment, we evaluate the charcoal footprint of Greater Accra. Our findings reveal that charcoal remains the dominant cooking fuel in Greater Accra despite increased access to electricity, resulting in an estimated loss of 354,479 trees annually in the Afram Plains. This demand creates an ecological deficit of 18,850 hectares/yr, significantly exceeding the ecosystem's regenerative capacity. We observe complex dynamics between urban energy needs and rural resource sustainability, highlighting socio-economic factors driving persistent charcoal use. The study proposes a conceptual framework integrating urban demand, rural supply, ecological impact, and natural regeneration. Our research contributes to urban sustainability literature, offering insights for policymakers to develop more sustainable energy strategies, including quota systems for harvesting, promoting alternative cooking fuels, community-based forest management, and improved charcoal production technologies. This case study provides valuable lessons for other rapidly urbanizing regions facing similar sustainability challenges in sub-Saharan Africa.

How Can Ecological Product Value Realization Sustainably Enhance the Well-Being of Farmers? A Case Study of Xingyuan Village in China

Although recent years have witnessed a considerable increase in studies on the economic value of ecological products, the extant literature has overlooked the multidimensional enhancement of ecological product value from the perspective of farmers’ well-being. This research aims to examine how the Realization of Ecological Product Value (EPVR) serves as a crucial pathway to promoting the overall well-being of farmers in developing countries. Through a case study of a village in southeastern China, this research reveals that EPVR can enhance farmers’ well-being via various mechanisms as follows: (1) Economic solution to enrich farmers’ livelihood diversity, achieved by leveraging rural resource endowments and comparative advantages; (2) Fair social protection program enabling farmers to enjoy ecological benefits and further achieving urban-rural integration; (3) Environmental protection plan that balances production, living, and ecology; and (4) Grassroots governance tool promoting the governance ability to form collaborative governance model in a community of shared interests. This study offers theoretical support for enhancing human well-being through the realization of ecological product value in rural areas.

Realization Mechanism of Farmers’ Rights and Interests Protection in the Paid Withdrawal of Rural Homesteads in China—Empirical Analysis Based on Judicial Verdicts

In recent years, the paid withdrawal of rural homesteads has become a widely discussed topic within the academic community. However, from the perspective of protecting farmers’ rights and interests, literature exploring the impact of this policy’s implementation remains scarce. As the reform of the separation of the three rights of the homestead deepens, disputes related to paid withdrawal of homesteads have escalated rapidly. This study aims to highlight the importance of protecting farmers’ rights and interests, seeking to enhance their property rights and revitalize unused rural resources. Employing a case study methodology, this study systematically examines the issue of farmers’ rights and interests protection during homestead withdrawal. This analysis is based on the survey, collection, and evaluation of 324 judicial cases. The findings reveal the following: (1) Disputes involving paid withdrawal of homesteads encompass the entire withdrawal process, with the majority of conflicts arising during the withdrawal stage. (2) Prior to withdrawal, farmers express heightened concern regarding their political rights, particularly the right to be informed and to participate in withdrawal decisions. (3) During the withdrawal process, farmers prioritize resettlement and compensation rights. Additionally, novel issues such as the allocation of withdrawal compensation surface after farmers receive resettlement and compensation benefits. (4) After withdrawal, farmers anticipate more suitable “alternative” social rights and remedies. Based on these findings, this study presents policy recommendations for realizing farmers’ rights and interests in the context of paid withdrawal of rural homesteads. These suggestions include consistently respecting farmers’ autonomy and preserving their political rights throughout the withdrawal procedure. During the withdrawal stage, emphasis should be placed on the comprehensive value of resettlement compensation, encompassing both the residential and social security aspects of rural homesteads. Post-withdrawal, farmers’ social rights and the development rights of their homesteads ought to be fully guaranteed, ensuring a harmonious balance between farmers’ immediate and long-term interests. Furthermore, optimizing the dispute resolution mechanism stands as a pivotal aspect of safeguarding farmers’ rights and interests through legal recourse.

COVID-19 in a rural intensive care unit in Northern British Columbia: Descriptive analysis of outcomes and demands on rural resources.

This descriptive study reviews clinical outcomes of individuals admitted to a northern Canadian, rural intensive care unit (ICU) with severe COVID-19. It reports our site-specific data that is part of an ongoing global effort to gather data and guide therapy; the aims of this study were to describe participants admitted to our ICU with COVID-19 and illuminate challenges faced by rural and remote centres. This retrospective study examined data from participants admitted to the ICU with COVID-19 pneumonia between 24th November 2020 and 28th February 2022. Using data from electronic and hardcopy health records, data were obtained according to standardised forms developed for the Short Period Incidence Study of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection. Eighty-five adult participants were admitted to our ICU with COVID-19. The median age of participants was 57 years old (range: 23-83 years); 49.4% were males and 50.6% were females. Of our cohort, 58.9% required mechanical ventilation at some point during their stay and the median duration of stay in our ICU was 5 days (range: 1-36 days). Amongst individuals included, 25.9% were discharged alive from our hospital on their index admission, 57.6% were transferred to another facility and 16.5% died in our facility. COVID-19 significantly strained our local ICU resources, necessitating high numbers of patient transfers. However, despite limited resources, patients at our site received contemporary guideline-based care for COVID-19 pneumonia. Future pandemic and surge capacity planning must ensure that rural and remote communities receive adequate additional resources to meet the anticipated needs of their local populations. Cette étude descriptive examine les résultats cliniques des personnes admises dans une unité de soins intensifs rurale du nord du Canada avec une COVID-19 sévère. Elle rapporte des données spécifiques à notre site qui font partie d'un effort global en cours pour rassembler des données et guider la thérapie. Les objectifs de cette étude étaient de décrire les participants admis dans notre unité de soins intensifs avec la COVID-19 et d'éclairer les défis auxquels sont confrontés les centres ruraux et éloignés. Cette étude rétrospective a examiné les données des participants admis à l'unité de soins intensifs pour une pneumonie due à la COIVD-19 entre le 24 novembre 2020 et le 28 février 2022. Les données ont été obtenues à partir de dossiers médicaux électroniques et papier, selon des formulaires standardisés développés pour l'étude d'incidence à court terme des infections respiratoires aiguës sévères (SPRINT-SARI). 85 participants adultes ont été admis dans notre unité de soins intensifs avec la COVID-19. L'âge médian des participants était de 57 ans (intervalle: 23-83 ans); 49,4% étaient des hommes et 50,6% des femmes. Dans notre cohorte, 58,9% ont eu besoin d'une ventilation mécanique à un moment ou à un autre de leur séjour et la durée médiane du séjour dans notre unité de soins intensifs était de 5 jours (intervalle: 1-36 jours). Parmi les personnes incluses, 25,9% sont sorties vivantes de notre hôpital lors de leur admission initiale, 57,6% ont été transférées dans un autre établissement et 16,5% sont décédées dans notre établissement. La COVID-19 a mis à rude épreuve les ressources de notre unité locale de soins intensifs, nécessitant un grand nombre de transferts de patients. Cependant, malgré des ressources limitées, les patients de notre site ont reçu des soins fondés sur des lignes directrices contemporaines pour la pneumonie due à la COVID-19. À l'avenir, la planification de la pandémie et de la capacité de pointe doit garantir que les communautés rurales et éloignées reçoivent des ressources supplémentaires adéquates pour répondre aux besoins anticipés de leurs populations locales.

Rural spatial restructuring in suburbs under capital intervention: Spatial construction based on nature

Rapid urbanization and consumerization are leading to significant transformation and spatial restructuring in the rural areas of China's suburbs. Promoting the commodification of rural nature with capital has become an important strategy for rural spatial restructuring. However, the research on how capital reshapes rural space from the perspective of rural nature is still insufficient. Based on the theoretical perspective of nature commodification, this study constructs a framework to analyze the relationship between rural nature and rural spatial restructuring. Taking Nanping Meditation Town in Guangzhou as a typical case, it discusses the process and mechanism of rural spatial restructuring in suburbs relying on the commodification of rural nature with capital’s intervention. The results show that: (1) Driven by China’s process of counter-urbanization and consumerism, capital constructs rural nature in suburbs by giving meaning to it. Diversified capitals promote the multi-functionalization, networking, and commodification of material, social, and cultural spaces in the countryside through the process of redistribution of urban and rural resources. At the same time, along with the spatial games of pluralistic subjects, the material, social, and cultural spaces further interact with each other and constantly undergo reconstruction. (2) The commodification of rural nature is an external response and a crucial strategy of rural spatial restructuring. It offers a new approach to enhance the value of the countryside. Rural nature is commodified through resources integration and value excavation, product planning and design, brand promotion and marketing under the influence of various capital entities. This process holds significant theoretical and practical importance for the endogenous development and revitalization of rural areas.

Innovations of Rural Areas as a Necessity of Green Economy and Sustainable Development

Abstract Increasing the competitiveness of agricultural products, sustainable management of rural resources, and demographic aspects of rural development are issues that unite both science and practice in thinking. The relevance of the topic is confirmed by data on the increase in population and demand for food, as well as changes in consumption habits of agricultural products. Research highlights the importance of applying the principles of the green economy using the example of plum production and marketing in the Republic of Serbia. Observing the average rate of fluctuation and the coefficient of variation of plum production around the calculated average value, we notice an uncertain market placement. The importance of the demographic picture of villages due to changes in rural population is depicted through the constant decrease in the agricultural population in the Republic of Serbia. The process of joining the European Union further emphasizes the importance of the green economy and sustainable development as priority areas for Serbia. Accession to the EU obliges the country to align with European standards, including those related to environmental protection and sustainable development. Thus, sustainable development represents a link between economic policy and environmental protection processes. The process of implementing the green economy in the agricultural sector in Serbia requires an active role of the state, regulatory framework, and support from international partners. Institutional support is the basis for successful implementation of efficient solutions. Additionally, it is important to promote innovation, short marketing channels, and knowledge exchange. Concrete measures involve organizing advisory services, training farmers through the modernization of agricultural holdings.

Research on the Redesign of China’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Based on Sustainable Livelihood—The Case of Luanzhou Shadow Play Empowering Its Rural Development

The majority of China’s intangible cultural heritage is rooted in rural areas, and the integration of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) with rural resources has potential for sustainable development. This study develops a theory of sustainable livelihoods for ICH rural areas, employing design intervention strategies to strengthen core capital, thereby promoting the protection of ICH and the sustainable development of rural areas. Through a case study of China’s ICH, specifically Luanzhou shadow play, this study focuses on core livelihoods capital: design capital and cultural capital. The key elements of the two were analyzed through the use of interviews and questionnaires. The Luanzhou shadow play was redesigned for cultural and creative products and digital application innovation. This approach effectively meets the needs of the target groups and meets the requirements of rural revitalization and ICH, thereby enhancing the adaptability and resilience of rural areas. This study offers a new development path for the heritage of Luanzhou shadow play and local rural areas while also providing a reference for the differentiated development of other non-legacy rural areas.

Commercialization Process for Developing Agritourism: The Use of Commodity Chain Analysis

ABSTRACT Agritourism, a combination of agriculture and tourism, entails a complex process of commercializing agricultural resources into tourist products. This study utilizes the commodity chain model to outline the stages of commercialization for rural resources and shed light on critical challenges and prospects in agritourism development in Taiwan. The research reveals that agritourism commercialization unfolds across seven distinct phases: planning experiential products, designing service delivery, positioning commodities in the market, marketing and promotion, establishing sales channels, ensuring on-site delivery and quality control, and consumption by visitors within the Production-Exchange-Consumption (PEC) framework. By analyzing the commodity chain of agritourism, we gain comprehensive insights into each stage of resource commercialization and its intricate implications for the roles and influences of various stakeholders. This study contributes to academic discourse on agritourism commercialization and offers recommendations to foster sustainable agritourism experiences.

Development and Effectiveness of an Agro-Healing Program Utilizing Rural Resources to Relieve Stress in Adults

The purpose of this study was to develop an agro-healing program using rural resources for stressed adults and to measure its effectiveness. A one-day agro-healing program was developed using the resources of a care farm located in Cheongju, South Korea. A total of 37 adults in their 20s to 50s who were experiencing mild or more severe stress participated in the agro-healing program. Analysis of stress-related psychological and emotional indicators of the agro-healing program revealed that post-treatment stress, anxiety, and depression indicators of the healing program significantly decreased (p< 0.05). Furthermore, mood state, vitality, and resilience indicators increased significantly, which demonstrated effectiveness in improving the mental health of participants with mental health issues. A Pearson correlation analysis between each psychological and emotional variable after the program found that stress had a significant correlation with all variables. Subjective vitality had a full mediating effect on the relationship between stress and resilience. Finally, the one-day agro-healing program was found to help relieve symptoms in adults with stress.

Promoting Sustainable Development in Urban–Rural Areas: A New Approach for Evaluating the Policies of Characteristic Towns in China

The Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by all United Nations Member States, emphasize sustainable cities and communities, aiming to strengthen development planning and foster positive links between urban and rural areas by 2030. As the newly leading platform for urbanization development, characteristic towns (‘Tese Xiaozhen’ in Chinese) contribute to the target of sustainable urbanisation, wherein town policies are especially important for leading the sound development of characteristic towns. However, the effect of these characteristic towns policies remains uncertain. Additionally, most related studies have utilized qualitative methodologies in policy evaluation, which may be inadequate to guide actual practice. Thus, in order to accurately acknowledge the effect of characteristic towns policies, a policy evaluation framework is established in this paper, utilising the multiple streams theory, text mining and the Policy Modelling Consistency Index model (PMC-Index model). Then, taking 225 policy documents promulgated in China from 2015 to 2022 as the research objects, policy evaluation indicators were selected by combining the multiple streams theory to improve the PMC-Index model and a text mining method. Thereafter, an empirical analysis was conducted to evaluate the consistency of 10 characteristic towns policies chosen. The results indicate that the mean value of the PMC indexes of the 10 examined policies is 7.13 in the total of 9 points, which means that the general performance of the characteristic town policies is satisfactory, yet the low scores in terms of effectiveness, content, and guarantee. In the end, some recommendations and suggestions are proposed for clarifying administrative attributes, optimizing the integration of urban and rural resources, and adjusting the policy hierarchy to a bottom-up approach. This study not only provides a policy evaluation framework to comprehensively understand the consistency of global urbanization policies but also offers a beneficial reference for promote urban–rural sustainable development.

Day-Ahead scheduling of rural integrated energy systems based on distributionally robust optimization theory

The integration of diverse industries in rural areas is an important step in building a smart countryside and achieving rural revitalization. Aiming at the problem of high energy consumption and pollution in agricultural production parks under the traditional energy structure, a new rural comprehensive energy park distribution robust scheduling model for water containing product breeding greenhouses is proposed in this paper. Firstly, a greenhouse model for aquaculture based on the principle of thermal flow is established. Secondly, considering energy production, consumption and storage, a rural integrated energy system model is established. In response to the uncertainty of residential electricity load, solar radiation, and environmental temperature within the park, a distributed robust optimization model is established using Kullback Leibler divergence. Finally, a numerical simulation is conducted using energy data from a real rural aquaculture park. The results show that compared to agricultural production parks under traditional energy models, the new rural comprehensive energy system model proposed in this paper fully integrates rural resources, reduces daily operating costs by 74.832 %, and reduces total carbon emissions by 33.75 %, providing theoretical support for rural industrial structure adjustment and energy transformation.

Urban unemployment, environmental preservation and trade policies in a small open economy with open access renewable resources

This study presents a two-sector dynamic analytical model that examines the impact of trade policies on urban poverty reduction and resource conservation, given that institutionally fixed high urban wages are assumed in the context of the Harris-Todaro model. Rural resource-good and urban manufacturing activities generate simultaneous environmental pressures that can detrimentally impact environmental preservation in a small, open economy. Moreover, this study assumes that the polluting manufacturing sector is the primary cause of environmental degradation and represents a relatively more industrialized developing country. The study finds that raising the import tax on rural resource goods can reduce urban unemployment but worsen environmental quality under dynamic resource conditions. Given institutional distortions, the most efficient policy is to implement a rural income subsidy combined with an urban wage subsidy at a lower rate; alternatively, if the income inequality between regions is sufficiently high, an income tax on urban manufactured goods could be considered. Finally, when considering the endogenous resolution of institutional distortions, an increase in the import tax on rural resource goods can resolve rural institutional distortions, shifting from poorly defined resource management to a perfect private management system. In contrast, implementing an export tariff policy on urban manufactured goods reduces the incentive for rural institutional reform while addressing urban institutional failure.

Analysis of The Digital Printing Business Network of Business Entities Own Cicangkang Hilir Village

BUMDes (Village-Owned Enterprises) is an economic institution that regulates rural resources. Each village has the potential for both natural resources and human resources that need to be developed by BUMDes. One of the village potentials that needs to be maximized is graphic design services. One form of graphic design service is the Digital Printing business. Maximizing village potential can be done by establishing an extensive business network, so that any work that comes from the village quickly spreads and looks attractive to the general public. Therefore, this research tries to explore the application of the Digital Printing business in Cicangkang Hilir Village, starting from the application of business networks, production processes, marketing strategies, to the influence on the income of BUMDes Cicangkang Hilir. This research uses several concepts such as business networks, production, marketing strategies, and distribution channels. This research uses a qualitative descriptive research approach. The BUMdes studied in this research is called SERUMPUN, which has several Digital Printing products. SERUMPUN Has a business network, namely the Cicangkang Hilir Village Government and raw material suppliers. The production flow carried out by SERUMPUN is design selection, print production and finishing. SERUMPUN divides marketing segmentation based on geographic, demographic and psychographic segmentation. The marketing targets of cognate are local businesses, creative businesses, creative individuals, community organizations, community-based entrepreneurs, individuals who care about the environment, event markets, and weddings. SERUMPUN positions itself as a printing service business that shows creativity, innovation and social responsibility. SERUMPUN uses distribution channels, namely physical locations/printing outlets, Whatsapp, and digital payments. The presence of an extensive business network in the local area means SERUMPUN is able to develop a distribution network efficiently to connect their work to various sales points or strategic locations that have many customers. The presence of SERUMPUN turned out to be quite influential in increasing the income of BUMDes Cicangkang Hilir. A solid partnership network allows SERUMPUN to receive business promotion support from the government, and the opportunity to implement joint projects that have a broad impact on society.

Government-Led Rural Planning And Construction In China: An Empirical Study From Jiangsu Province

Abstract With the expansion of investment in rural resources by the China government, it has become the main force supporting rural development initiatives, and government-led efforts have become an important angle for studying current Chinese rural development. This article takes the characteristic idyllic countryside construction in Jiangsu Province as the research object, analyzing the role played by the government in various stages of its construction practice, and forming a clear path for characteristic idyllic countryside construction. Furthermore, it combines practical village analysis to identify issues with the current “top-down” government-led characteristic of idyllic countryside construction. The study finds that the core reason for construction problems in practice is the neglect of village self-organizing capacity and insufficient alignment with actual village needs in the “top-down” construction path. This can be addressed through nurturing “bottom-up” village self-organizing capacity and optimizing the characteristic idyllic countryside construction system and path.

Rural Resource: The Role of Distance and Community for Families with Toddlers in Rural Areas

Rural Resource: The Role of Distance and Community for Families with Toddlers in Rural Areas