Unused Land Research Articles

Landscape Design Study of Ancient Stagecoach Road Cultural Bazaar in Qiangang Village, Conghua, China

Qiangang Village in Conghua, Guangzhou, which is rich in humanistic and historical values, as well as rural life style, has in recent years The proposed ancient stagecoach towns have always had an integral part in the development circle of the total construction of the multi-faceted cultural revitalization. However, the regulations in the village the problems of insufficient development experience and single style brought about by insufficient planning are also obvious. The problem of insufficient development experience and single style is also obvious, mainly through the unused land in rural areas. to carry out targeted design and renovation to improve the local living atmosphere through excavation, construction and maintenance of the existing local resources and landscape. The purpose is to increase the popularity of Qiangang's tourism and culture. At the same time, with the ancient stagecoach town through the design of the countryside market, to achieve the promotion of the countryside. the purpose of tourism and economic development, to promote the development of Qiangang Village corresponds to the planning of "cultural trails + ancient village culture style tour". Integration of development.

Sustainability Potential of Marginal Areas for Food, Feed, and Non-Food Production in the Puglia Region, Southern Italy: Part II: A Review

There is considerable unused and unproductive land in rural areas of the Puglia region, Southern Italy. These areas and their local cultivators/growers have always been overlooked by academic, policy, and investment circles despite their potential to improve food security and the livelihood of rural communities. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate the sustainability potential of these areas to produce food, feed, and non-food products. This evaluation will play a vital role in the sustainable development of rural regions such as the Puglia region. In this review, we highlighted important aspects regarding the management potential and the expected contribution that various types of marginal areas (MAs) could add to the regional economy of Puglia. The authors focused on the extent to which Puglia’s marginal lands can realistically be utilized to meet Italy’s food production targets, considering the economic, social, and environmental potential of different marginal area types within the Puglia territories. In writing this review, we have been inspired by the lack of sufficient information necessary to carry out a plan for the revitalization of MAs and the sustainable development of regional rural areas. Although Italian scholars have not extensively researched MAs, the available data suggest that they could significantly contribute to the development of regional economy and food security, despite their complexity and low-input nature. The scientific evidence suggests that the main challenge associated with using MAs for food and/or non-food production is balancing biodiversity conservation with local residents’ social and economic development. Presently, some small-scale or family farms are already operating within MAs. However, they still contribute minimally to the overall agricultural production in the region, even though they have the potential to play an important economic role for numerous rural communities in Puglia. Furthermore, the available data indicate that over 40% of existing farmers in MAs require greater support to sustain their activities. Such support should be tailored to the local context, built on and, where appropriate, improved upon existing practices, while addressing various threats to these areas. In this regard, sustainable development policies should shape MAs’ landscapes through the support of initiatives aimed at the recovery of traditional agricultural activities, the use of local varieties, the protection of the environment, and the conservation of biodiversity. The authors believe that this review provides policymakers with recommendations to consider when supporting the sustainable use of MAs as a potential source of food security and sustainable development for people living in these areas.

Dynamics of land cover changes and driving forces in China’s drylands since the 1970 s

The land cover in China’s drylands has undergone dramatic changes due to rapid economic development and ecological restoration; however, the long-term and detailed land cover and land use change (LCLUC) focus on this unique region remains inadequate. Based on a temporally continuous and spatially high-resolution ChinaCover dataset from 1975, as well as climatic and socioeconomic data, this study analyzed the spatiotemporal pattern of LCLUC in China’s drylands over 45 years, revealed the land conversions in the secondary category and explored its major driving factors in different periods. The results show that the rate of LCLUC is accelerating, and the trajectory of LCLUC is slowly changing although stable land is dominant. There are complex conversions among land covers, with each type of change affecting an average of 12 other types, and the LCLUC in drylands was mainly determined by the mutual conversions among shrub, desert shrub, steppe, sparse grassland, built-up, upland, and barren land. Anthropogenic land has grown rapidly, especially in the ethnic autonomous regions of Xinjiang, Ningxia, and Inner Mongolia, while ecological restoration programs have led to significant growth of natural land in the remaining regions. The widespread rapid expansion of artificial surfaces, western growth of agricultural land and eastern recovery of woodland have been supported by the continued decline of grassland and unused land. LCLUC in China’s drylands was more influenced by population in the 1980 s, while economic development had a stronger influence in the 1990 s. In the 2000 s and 2010 s, however, population and cultivation had a stronger influence. All drivers are backed by macro policies. It was observed that resolution has a significant impact on the LCLUC when the resolution increases from 30 m to 10 m. These findings provide decision support for sustainable policy making and further promote the exploration of complex human-land relationships in drylands.

Revitalization Potential of Marginal Areas for Sustainable Rural Development in the Puglia Region, Southern Italy: Part I: A Review

Feeding nine billion people by 2050 will be a challenge due to climate change. There is a significant portion of abandoned and unused marginal lands across the nation and in the Puglia region, in Southern Italy. Innovative techniques and practices in the frame of climate-smart agriculture can help rehabilitate marginal lands into productive and profitable areas. The objective of this study was to systematically review the literature on marginal areas in Puglia, responding to the lack of information in this context and evaluate their revitalization potential. We systematically reviewed the literature on unused/marginal areas and identified related studies dealing with different types of marginal areas and their potential for sustainable rural development. Marginal areas in Puglia represent a range of historical rural landscapes that support biodiversity, the economy, and ecological services. However, the analysis of the current situation in Puglia’s marginal areas indicates a lack of infrastructure and scarce resources, which led to land abandonment and the migration of local residents, resulting in the deterioration of the ecological system. Therefore, establishing a sustainable policy is crucial for preserving the local heritage and economy of the region. However, policymakers should carefully study the challenges and opportunities arising from local contexts before embarking on ambitious place-based innovation strategies. The analysis indicates that both biophysical and socio-economic factors are strategic elements for improving the revitalization potential of marginal areas for sustainable development. This review provides useful information regarding the revitalization potential of marginal areas for food, feed, and non-food production, which is crucial in the implementation of a sustainable development strategy for rural communities in Puglia but can also be applied to similar areas in other countries. However, the success of the sustainable development strategy in Puglia’s marginal areas should consider the vital function of farmers’ self-organization and social capital as key factors in the adoption of agricultural innovations for the revitalization of these areas.

Transport investments and the changing space economy in Kumasi, Ghana

In many African cities, major public transport investments result in mixed land use decisions by private residents. The economic and planning implications of these private land-use decisions are not fully understood; and hence not taken advantage of. Using Kumasi, the second largest city in Ghana, this study explores the range of land use changes and space economy along the Asokwa By-pass and Interchange project, implemented between 2008 and 2011. While not establishing causality, the paper juxtaposes the space economy along the corridor prior to its commencement with existing land uses; to examine perceived and real changes recorded. Adopting a combination of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods including institutional consultations and survey of 290 household participants and 20 business operators, the paper observes rapid emergence of economic uses; conversion of obsolete buildings into shopping arcades; and reclamation of unused lands. Beyond providing improved access and mobility, urban transport investments in cities in sub-Saharan Africa could be leveraged for value capture and revenue mobilisation towards the management of the infrastructure provided. This calls for a re-examination of the role of urban transport investments in sustainable city planning and infrastructure management in sub-Saharan Africa.

Discriminating the non-coordination between ecosystem service value and economic development and its spatial characteristics in central Yunnan urban agglomeration in the recent 30 years

Environmental issues have become one of the important topics affecting China and the world. As the world’s most populous country and the second-largest economy, China’s environmental conditions have significant impacts on global ecosystems and sustainable development. To accurately determine the relationship between economic development and the environment, explore the non-coordination and spatial characteristics between the two, and promote regional sustainable development. This study is based on land-use data from four periods: 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020. It uses the dynamic measurement and value equivalent method to explore the characteristics of land-use changes and measure the value of ecosystem services in the Central Yunnan Urban Agglomeration. At the same time, the study uses the non-coordination degree model and hotspot analysis tools to identify the non-coordination between Ecosystem Service Value and economic development (Gross Domestic Product), and explore the spatial characteristics between them. The research results show that: (1) The main land-use types include cultivated land, forest land, and grassland, which account for more than 90% of the total proportion. The land types with a small proportion in the region are water areas, construction land, and unused land. (2) The development level of ecosystem service value presents four types of changes: fluctuating increase, fluctuating decrease, continuous increase, and continuous decrease. The regional spatial distribution shows obvious regional heterogeneity, overall presenting a spatial distribution pattern of “low in the middle, high around.” (3) The average index of non-coordination degree from 1990 to 2020 is 0.591, 0.635, 0.584, and 0.565, showing a coordinated non-coordination coupling type. The regional space presents a spatial pattern of “high in the central and western regions, low in the northeastern and southern regions.” (4) The hotspots of non-coordination are mainly concentrated in the central and northwest regions of the Central Yunnan Urban Agglomeration, while the coldspots of non-coordination are mainly distributed in the northeastern, western, and southern regions of the Central Yunnan Urban Agglomeration, showing a regular agglomeration distribution. This study suggests that it is necessary to balance and coordinate the relationship between regional economic development and the environment.

Factor analysis of hydrologic services in water-controlled grassland ecosystems by InVEST model and geodetector.

Water conservation is highly important for a successful desert grassland ecosystem, but there was no comprehensive view on how to assess influencing factors in managing and addressing water yield and water conservation in desert steppe. The Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) model, which is specifically used for the assessment of ecosystem services, was combined with geographic detectors to identify the priority areas for water conservation function and analyze the driving factors of water conservation in the Tabu River Basin, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China, using different meteorological data sources. (i) The InVEST model has the advantage of modeling water yield and water conservation at spatial scales by fusion downscaling data. High water yield mainly occurs in the southern hilly mountainous areas, low water yield in the northern desert and grassland areas, and between the two in the central agro-pastoral areas; the multi-year average water conservation and water yield based on the InVEST model are 3.3 and 16mm, respectively. (ii) Water yield and water conservation roughly show a transitional phenomenon of "high in the south and low in the north." The water yield and water conservation per unit area of the Tabu River Basin are relatively large for construction land, unused land, and cropland, relatively small for grassland and forestland, and basically zero for water bodies. Forest land has the strongest water conservation capacity, followed by grassland and farmland, while the order of water yield capacity is the opposite. (iii) Precipitation shows the strongest explanatory power for water yield (q = 0.427), followed by land use types (q = 0.411). The precipitation ∩ actual evapotranspiration has the strongest explanatory power for water yield (q = 0.87). The explanatory power of water yield on water conservation is the strongest (q = 0.752), followed by precipitation (q = 0.4), and the water yield ∩ soil has the greatest explanatory power on water conservation (q = 0.91). These findings are crucial for promoting regional hydrologic services and can provide a water resources management strategy for decision-makers.

Dynamics of land-cover change and characterization of charcoal production and trade in southwestern Angola

Miombo and mopane woodlands of southwestern Angola have been overexploited for decades, leading to deforestation and forest degradation driven by social dynamics during and after the civil war (1975–2002), with different patterns of use of natural resources. Our objective was to study the changes in land-cover in three municipalities of southwestern Angola, and to characterize the charcoal production and trade on miombo and mopane woodlands, where that production was identified as one of the main causes of degradation. Land-cover dynamics between 1990 and 2019 was evaluated based on four land-cover maps, and the processes involved in deforestation and forest degradation were identified and discussed. Roadside charcoal sale locations, markets, the most exploited species, and the type, size, and efficiency of the kilns were assessed through field surveys. Between 1990 and 2019, the woodland area decreased and was converted to savanna woodland and agriculture, while the urban area continuously increased. Both miombo and mopane woodlands went through higher annual deforestation rates than those reported by FAO at the national level. The dynamics of land use were different between the war and post-war periods, respectively with the abandonment of agricultural land and migration of rural populations to the cities, and their return to the countryside and use of land and forest resources as primary subsistence activities. Agriculture and charcoal production were identified as the main income-generating activities, and the occupation of unused land by outsiders may have also contributed to intensify deforestation and forest degradation. To slow down the ongoing area loss of miombo and mopane woodlands, it seems crucial to implement conservation and restoration strategies promoting the sustainable use of the resources while ensuring the provision of essential goods to local populations and contributing to reduce poverty.

Spatiotemporal Analysis of the Impacts of Land Use Change on Ecosystem Service Value: A Case from Guiyang, China

The significance of ecosystem services and land use for human well-being and sustainable development cannot be understated. Scientifically assessing the ecosystem service value (ESV) and studying the relationship between land use change and the ESV can provide a theoretical groundwork for land use planning and ecological administration in Guiyang. In this study, gradient analysis was utilized to explore the changes of ESV at district level of Guiyang. Then, the synergistic relationship and the strength of the interaction between land use intensity (LUI) and ESV were explored by using a coupled coordination model and spatial autocorrelation analysis. Furthermore, polynomial fitting was carried out for the LUI index and its linked coordination index in relation to the ESV. The results showed that (1) the areas of farmland, forest, grassland, and unused land in Guiyang decreased from 2000 to 2020, while the areas of construction land and water body increased conversely. (2) The expansion of the construction land and water body was the main cause of the ESV change pattern in Guiyang, which first moved downward and then upward. (3) The ESV and LUI had a low overall coupling coordination degree (CCD). Spatial autocorrelation studies showed that low–to–low aggregation and high–to–high aggregation dominated the spatial patterns of essential regions. (4) The LUI and CCD indexes exhibited an inverted U-shaped curve correlation.

Urban Farming Dengan Teknologi Precision Farming Sebagai Upaya Meningkatkan Kesejahteraan Masyarakat dan Pemanfaatan Lahan Kosong

Urban Farming is proposed as a solution for unused land (empty land), as well as allowing residents to increase productivity by managing unproductive empty land. The community service program (PKM) is implemented by STIE Indonesia Jakarta in partnership with PT Alif Tekno Farm (ATF). PKM was carried out in Kebon Baru, Tebet, South Jakarta, near the Ciliwung river. The priority of this community service is to empower unemployed individuals or communities while utilizing empty land in urban areas. This program uses precision farming technology with a Smart Nutrition Valve (KNP) tool that saves water, fertilizer, energy and labor. The commodity being developed is a short-lived fruit plant (65 days) which is suitable for lowland areas, namely melons. Training and mentoring is carried out by PT ATF from sowing to harvest. Furthermore, training and assistance in financial management and marketing of harvests was carried out by the STIE Indonesia PKM team. At the end of the program, the target community has independence in managing and developing sustainable urban farming.

Правовые аспекты изъятия неиспользуемых сельскохозяйственных земель

The article analyzes the changes in the legal regulation of the seizure of unused agricultural land introduced by Federal Law No. 507-FZ of December 5, 2022. A comparative analysis of these changes with the previously existing legislation was carried out, an opinion was expressed on their impact on the development of law enforcement practice.

Legal Certainty of Farmers' Rights in the Conversion of Use of Ill Land Into Agricultural Land

Utilization of unused land for agricultural land has an important impact on food security and community welfare. This research examines the legal certainty of farmers' rights in the context of land conversion in Indonesia. Law no. 19 of 2013 becomes a strategic framework with a focus on agricultural infrastructure, commodity prices and agricultural insurance. Farming groups have a crucial role as a forum for cooperation and production units, but agricultural land is experiencing shrinkage due to conversion. Evaluation of statutory regulations and stakeholder cooperation are needed to protect farmers' rights and ensure the sustainability of the agricultural sector. This research shows the urgency of legal clarity in land ownership, the role of village government, and protecting farmers' rights. With a focus on legal certainty and farmers' rights, this research provides in-depth insights and policy recommendations to improve legal protection and achieve sustainable development goals in the agricultural sector

Study in a long-term laboratory experiment of the potential susceptibility to mineralization of organic matter in post-agrogenic light gray soils

Relevance. Since 2021, work has begun in Russia to assess the fertility of unused arable land and its involvement in agricultural circulation. Changes in the farming system of post-agrogenic soils can lead to uncontrolled mineralization of newly formed soil organic matter (SOM) under fallow vegetation and significant CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. Studies of the nature of SOM accumulation under fallow vegetation and assessment of its potential susceptibility to mineralization are relevant, since they can become the basis for the development of agrotechnical methods for returning unused lands to arable circulation with the maximum preservation of their fertility.Methods. In a long-term laboratory incubation experiment, we studied the dynamics of changes in the intensity of basal (BR) and substrate-induced respiration (SIR) in postagrogenic soils to assess the potential susceptibility to SOM mineralization with a change in land use. Layered samples (0–10 and 10–20 cm) were used from the old arable horizons of two fallow plots with different humus conditions. The results of the incubation experiment were compared with the results of assessing the quantitative content and qualitative composition of SOM.Results. In the 0–10 cm layer, the respiration rates are higher than in the 10–20 cm layer. The results of the assessment of the respiration intensity are consistent with the assessment of the qualitative composition of SOM. The accumulation of SOM occurs mainly in the upper part of postagrogenic soils due to mobile easily oxidized organic compounds of a fulvic nature. When developing agrotechnical methods for returning fallow lands to arable circulation, it is necessary to focus primarily on basic processing technologies that ensure maximum preservation of potentially easily mineralized material accumulated in the upper layer.

Spatio-temporal evolution characteristics and simulation prediction of carbon storage: A case study in Sanjiangyuan Area, China

Understanding the relationship between land-use patterns and regional carbon storage, as well as predicting future land-use changes for regional carbon sink and emission management, are of immense significance. This study utilized land-use data from 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020, as well as the InVEST model, to evaluate the spatiotemporal evolution of carbon storage in the Sanjiangyuan area over the past three decades. Furthermore, predictions for carbon storage in 2035 were presented using the PLUS model. The findings revealed the following key results: (1) the land types in the Sanjiangyuan area are mainly low cover grassland, medium cover grassland and unused land, among which unused land decreased significantly from 1990 to 2020, and the area of low cover grassland and wetland increased, which is the main reason for the increase of carbon storage. (2) Climatic-environmental and social-economic factors jointly influenced the land-use change in the Sanjiangyuan area. Except for the three types of grassland, the expansion of other land types was mainly influenced by climatic and environmental factors. (3) During 1990–2020, carbon storage in the source region of Sanjiangyuan area showed an overall upward trend, with a total increase of 39.97 × 107 t, and land-use change had a positive potential impact on carbon storage as a whole. (4) Under the natural change scenario, both carbon storage and regional carbon density increased in the simulation of 2035, and the potential impact of land-use change on carbon storage is positive. On this basis, the paper puts some suggestions forward to improve the carbon storage capacity of the Sanjiangyuan area in the future. This study provides valuable scientific insights for land-use management decision-making and promotes sustainable development of carbon storage functions in this region.

PEMBUATAN KOLAM TERASERING UNTUK BUDIDAYA IKAN DI RW 23 DESA CILAME KECAMATAN NGAMPRAH KABUPATEN BANDUNG BARAT

A community service team from TEDC Bandung Polytechnic conducted a community service activity in Cilame Village, Bandung Barat Regency. The activity was the construction of terraced ponds for fish farming. This activity aims to help improve the economy of Cilame Village residents with low incomes. The activity began with the formation of a community service team consisting of 13 people. The team then conducted a field survey to determine the location and theme of the community service. After that, the team made a letter of request to the Head of Rukun Warga 23, Cilame Village. The construction of the terraced pond was carried out at one of the residents' houses which had unused land in the front yard of their house. The pond is 2 meters x 1 meter x 0.5 meters in size. After the pond was completed, the community service team provided catfish and tilapia fry to the resident. The activity went smoothly and was completed on time. On April 12, 2021, the community service team handed over the pond to the residents of Cilame Village.

The allocative efficiency of construction land quota in rural China: a perspective of bidders' behavior and regret psychology.

The construction land quota pricing mechanism with cost plus pricing method is not sufficient to reflect its intrinsic value. This diminishes the willingness of farmers to voluntarily reclaim abandoned residential and other rural construction land, leading to suboptimal efficiency in rural land utilization and an excessive squandering of rural land resources. Thus, a sequential auction model with two stages for complementary goods was constructed, which considered the synergic characteristics between the land and quota. Further, regret psychology of bidder was considered in the case of winning or losing. A rational pricing mechanism has been developed to allocate construction land quotas, aiming to enhance farmers' motivation to the vacant homesteads of reclamation and revitalizing the stock of rural construction land. The results revealed that the regret psychology in the case of winning would decrease the transaction price of the quota, i.e., the greater the perceived regret in the case of winning, the more significant the reduction in the bidding price offered. Moreover, the regret psychology in the event of losing/failure would increase the transaction price of quota. Furthermore, publishing only the winner's price after the auction leads to the highest price of the quota offered by the bidder. In contrast, publishing only the loser's bidding price leads to the lowest transaction price of the quota offered by the bidder. In addition, the fee for delayed construction would increase the bidding price of the construction land quota. Therefore, local governments should consider announcing only the winner of price after the quota auction has ended. In addition, imposing a fee for delayed construction would enhance the transaction price of land quota, increase farmers' revenue from land reclamation, and incentivize farmers to reclaim unused rural land.

The potentials of unused agricultural land for growing forage crops in Croatia

U radu se prikazuje procjena pogodnosti tla za uzgoj krmnih kultura na nekorištenom poljoprivrednom zemljištu u Republici Hrvatskoj. Kao izvor kartografskih podataka o rasprostranjenosti nekorištenog poljoprivrednog zemljišta korišteni su dostupni podaci u digitalnom obliku prema stanju u 2020. godini. Procjena pogodnosti zemljišta za uzgoj krmnih kultura izvršena je prema FAO metodi. U 2020. godini, u Republici Hrvatskoj bilo je 870.626 ha nekorištenog poljoprivrednog zemljišta. Od toga se 29,6 % nalazi u Panonskoj, 33,6 % u Gorskoj i 36,8 % u Jadranskoj poljoprivrednoj regiji. Od ukupne površinenekorištenog zemljišta, 80,2 % je u privatnom, 17,2 % u državnom i 2,6 % u mješovitom vlasništvu. Na području nekorištenog poljoprivrednog zemljišta, najveća je zastupljenost trajno nepogodnih tala N-2 klase pogodnosti koja zauzimaju 42,2 %, potom ograničeno pogodnih tala P-3 klase pogodnosti koja zauzimaju 27,2 %, zatim umjereno pogodnih tala P-2 klase pogodnosti koja zauzimaju 18 %, privremeno nepogodnih tala N-1 klase pogodnosti koja zauzimaju 9,4 %, te dobro pogodnih tala P-1 klase pogodnosti koja zauzimaju 3,2 %. Tla P-1 i P-2 te veći dio P -3 i N-1 klase pogodnosti, pogodna su za proizvodnju krme za hranidbu domaćih životinja. Manji dio tala P-3 i N-1 te N-2 klase pogodnosti, pogodna su za napasivanje goveda, koza i ovaca. Obradive površine koje se nisu koristile duži niz godina, te koje nisu bile podvrgnute suvremenim agrotehničkim mjerama, pogodne su za ekološku proizvodnju. Ograničeno pogodna tla (P-3 klasa) pogodna su i za uvođenje višegodišnjih energetskih kultura, posebno u Panonskoj poljoprivrednoj regiji. Provedena istraživanja ukazuju na postojanje nekorištenih vrlo vrijednih resursa poljoprivrednog zemljišta koji se mogu koristiti pored ostalog i za uzgoj krmnih kultura te time značajno doprinijeti kako razvoju poljoprivrede tako i cjelokupnom razvoju gospodarstva Republike Hrvatske.

Can Urbanization-Driven Land-Use and Land-Cover Change Reduce Ecosystem Services? A Case of Coupling Coordination Relationship for Contiguous Poverty Areas in China

New urbanization often leads to land-use and land-cover change (LUCC), which inevitably affects ecosystem services (ESs). Although it is traditionally believed that urbanization reduces ecosystem services, some studies have shown that reasonable urban development facilitates ecosystem conservation. Previous studies have focused on the impacts of urbanization on either LUCC or ESs, with fewer dynamic assessments of the coordination of the three. Taking China’s contiguous poor areas (CPAs) as an example, this study applied coupling coordination, path analysis, and a multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) model to identify the dynamic relationship among urbanization, land use, and the environment and then predicted their coupling coordination under shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP-RCP) in 2035 using the Patch Generation Land Use Simulation (PLUS) and a random forest model. The results of the study show that (1) urbanization, land-use change, and environmental loads in China’s CPAs showed an inconsistent upward trend. There was a slight overall decrease in ESs before 2013, which was consistent with the early stage of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC); after that time, they showed different characteristics. (2) From 2000 to 2018, the coupling coordination degree of CPAs decreased slightly due to urbanization, geographic factors, and grassland and unused land. LUCC was essential to maintaining the system balance. The SN (southern contiguous poverty area) was at a basic level of coordination, while the other regions showed a moderate imbalance. (3) According to scenario projections, the degree of coupling coordination in all regions will increase by 2035. Environmental prioritization and sustainable routes are the best options for CPAs’ development. The SN is more stable, while the WN (western contiguous poverty area) has the lowest coupling coordination. (4) Environmentally friendly urbanization should be carried out with land management tailored to local conditions. Measures that could be recommended include establishing ecological pilot zones in SN areas, prioritizing the protection of grassland ecosystems in WN areas, and promoting intensive land use in the NN (northern contiguous poverty area). The present study offers a novel perspective on the interplay between the economy and the environment at the county level and achieves predictive coupling coordination through the integration of PLUS and random forest models. This investigation into coordinated urbanization–LUCC–ES development in CPAs yields valuable insights for enhancing environmental and economic well-being in similar regions within China, as well as globally.

FinTech adoption and rural economic development: Evidence from China

In the context of China's rural economic landscape, the emergence of Financial Technology (FinTech) has induced transformative economic impact. This study utilizes a composite county-level FinTech index and data from China's National Fixed Point Survey (NFS) to analyze the impact of FinTech adoption on rural economic development. The empirical findings outline a positive correlation between FinTech adoption and enhancement in rural household earnings, especially on wage and property incomes, thus narrowing urban-rural income gap. For wage income, we find that FinTech has provided new non-agricultural employment opportunities to rural households, especially in service sectors closely related to FinTech. For property income, the development of FinTech has provided effective financial services and supported the operations of rural enterprises, thereby increasing dividend payments to rural households who contribute their unused arable land to these enterprises due to labor transformation from agriculture to non-agricultural sectors. This research extends the existing studies of FinTech literature by illustrating its role in fostering rural economic growth within the Asia-Pacific emerging markets.

Study on the Spatial–Temporal Variations and Driving Factors of Water Yield in the Yiluo River Basin

Water yield (WY) is an significant characteristic that reflects ecosystem services. In order to realize high-quality development, it is vital to explore the spatial and temporal (ST) distribution of WY and its driving factors in the Yiluo River Basin (YLRB) to uphold ecological stability and advance long-term sustainable growth. This paper quantifies WY in the YLRB from 2010 to 2020 using the WY model in the InVEST toolkit. Exploring ST characteristics and driving factors at both the raster and sub-watershed levels, results indicate that the overall WY (average water depth) of the YLRB in 2010, 2015, and 2020 was 26.93 × 108 m3 (136.50 mm), 22.86 × 108 m3 (113.38 mm), and 26.81 × 108 m3 (137.61 mm), respectively. The spatial pattern of watershed WY remains consistent across various periods, illustrating spatial variation in the depth of low WY in the central and western regions and high WY depth in the eastern region. At the sub-watershed level, the Luo River (LR) Basin has the highest contribution (69%) to the WY of the entire basin and served as the principal WY region of the YLRB. Conversely, the Yiluo River section, formed after the confluence of the Yi River (YR) and the LR, has the lowest WY contribution (7%) in the entire watershed. Distinct variations exist in the WY capacity among various land use (LU) types. Construction land (CSL) and unused land (UL) exhibited the highest WY capacity (315.16 mm and 241.47 mm), whereas water area (WA) had the lowest (0.01 mm). WY was significantly positively correlated with slope, precipitation, actual evapotranspiration, percentage of cultivated land, and NDVI. It showed a significant negative correlation with altitude, WA, and population density. This study helps promote the research and development of watershed ecosystem services. It also provides scientific support resolving conflicts between watershed protection and economic development and promoting harmony in the YLRB.