Rural Land Use Research Articles

The impact of multiplex relationships on households’ informal farmland transfer in rural China: A network perspective

Over the last three decades, farmland transfers in rural China have significantly increased. Despite this rise, informal farmland transfers within social networks continue to be common in many villages, underscoring the need for a more nuanced understanding of their determinants. Existing literature extensively explores the influence of social networks on farmland transfers, it often overlooks the distinction between formal and informal transactions and primarily focuses on binary relationships. Limited data availability and constraints in econometric methodology have impeded quantitative estimation of the impact of farmers’ interactions on informal farmland transfers at the local levels. To address this issue, we developed a framework that integrates embeddedness theory and social interaction theory to uncover the mechanism between multiplex relationship and informal farmland transfers from a network perspective. Using survey data collected from all 341 households in a village in central China, we constructed both relationship networks and informal farmland transfer network among peasant households. We then employed the logistic regression quadratic assignment procedure (LRQAP) to quantify the impact of multiplex relationships and network structures on informal farmland transfers. The results reveal a significant positive correlation between multiplex relationships and informal farmland transfer behaviors among peasant households. Specifically, households are more likely to engage in informal farmland transfer through relationships characterized by emotional connections and reciprocal exchanges, rather than through relationships based on cooperative support. Furthermore, our findings indicate that multiplex relationships influence informal farmland transfer behaviors through network structure effects, such as reciprocity and preferential attachment, rather than through transitivity. These results highlight the importance of leveraging multiplex relationships to facilitate and regulate informal farmland transfers amid rural decline and land use change.

A Study of the Mechanisms of Government Embedment and Organizational Environment Related to Supervisory Effectiveness in the Collective Governance of Rural Residential Land

Rural Residential Land is a kind of public pond resource, and the implementation of the collective governance of Rural Residential Land is a response to the dilemma of utilizing the land. This paper takes the attribute of using Rural Residential Land as a public pond resource as an entry point, draws on Autonomous Governance Theory, and utilizes the OLS model and the mediated effect model to explore the influence of Government Embedment on supervisory effectiveness in the collective governance of Rural Residential Land, based on the fieldwork data of 450 farming households in three districts (cities and counties) in Sichuan Province. This study shows that Government Embedment, the Technological Environment and the Cultural Environment can significantly enhance supervisory effectiveness in the collective governance of Rural Residential Land, while the Resource Environment has a negative effect on it. The Resource Environment has a masking effect on the influence of Government Embedment on supervisory effectiveness in the collective governance of Rural Residential Land, while the Technological Environment and the Cultural Environment play a part in the mediating effect. The anonymous whistleblowing mechanism positively moderates the influence of the Technological and Cultural Environments on supervisory effectiveness. Additionally, there is obvious locational heterogeneity in the influence of Government Embedment and the Organizational Environment on supervisory effectiveness. Therefore, a coordinated supervision and sanctioning mechanism should be constructed in towns and villages to promote the integration and complementarity of formal and informal systems; a sound mechanism for anonymous reporting of illegal and irregular use of Rural Residential Land should be established; and the effective implementation of the collective governance of Rural Residential Land should be promoted in accordance with the differences in the location of the villages.

The Practice of Movable Collateral Registry Management Information System: the case of Rural Land Use Right as Collateral

The Practice of Movable Collateral Registry Management Information System: the case of Rural Land Use Right as Collateral

Decision dynamics and landscape approach by individuals and collective groups: the case of Japanese rural land use in agricultural, forest, and boundary areas in an era of population decline

Establishing a decision-making scheme for multiple land use types in a shrinking society is an urgent and persistent task. In particular, residents and governments face the complexity of cross-sectoral visions over concerned landscapes. This study examined the preference of residents for future visions and the effects of group deliberation in a Japanese rural community to enhance the current understanding of decision and learning processes on cross-sectoral land use types (i.e., agricultural land, forest land, and boundary areas) across ages and groups. This study posed the following questions: (i) what types of interactions do residents find among options on cross-sectoral land uses? and (ii) how do group deliberation influence the individual preferences of residents for land use? In the survey, the residents disclosed their preferences for the prepared visions over three land use types. The survey also enabled the comparison of choices before and after group deliberation. Regarding question (i), the residents’ choice prior to the deliberation demonstrated thematic coherence through land use categories. Smart technology and potential productivity improvement were selected across agriculture and forests. However, regarding question (ii), thematic coherence decreased after the group deliberation. The residents could communicate disagreements during group deliberation and consider the issues relatively independently over land use types, which separately views agriculture lands and forests. The choice after group discussions became increasingly embedded and influenced by residential areas and land ownership of residents. These findings provide unique insights into the group discussion on how individual decisions are affected. In summary, the preferences of cross-sectoral land use types did not converge but tended to diverge.

An Investigation into the Mechanism of Government Embedment and Organizational Environment Influencing Farmers’ Credible Commitment in Regard to the Collective Governance of Rural Residential Land

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of Government Embedment and Organizational Environment on farmers’ Credible Commitment in regard to the Collective Governance of Rural Residential Land and to inform decision-making processes that promote farmers’ compliance with Rural Residential Land management regulations and enhance the effectiveness of the Collective Governance of Rural Residential Land. The research employs various models, including Oprobit, Ologit, IV-2SLS, and moderated mediation. The research results show that (1) both Government Embedment and the Cultural Environment within the Organizational Context significantly enhance Farmers’ Credible Commitment in regard to the Collective Governance of Rural Residential Land. Notably, the quality of the Cultural Environment, when improved by Government Embedment, boosts this commitment further. (2) Endogeneity issues can lead to an overestimation of the effects of these factors. (3) Punishment intensity only positively moderates the impact of the Cultural Environment on Farmers’ Credible Commitment. (4) The moderating effect of punishment intensity correlates positively with its strength, exhibiting a threshold value. In conclusion, our research underscores the need to establish a robust regulatory framework for Rural Residential Land use, foster a conducive village cultural atmosphere, and consistently enhance the punishment intensity for illegal Rural Residential Land use. These measures will encourage farmers to adhere to Credible Commitment in regard to Rural Residential Land use, thereby facilitating the effective implementation of Collective Governance over Rural Residential Land.

Dynamic transfer and driving mechanisms of the coupling and coordination of agricultural resilience and rural land use efficiency in China

Dynamic transfer and driving mechanisms of the coupling and coordination of agricultural resilience and rural land use efficiency in China

Linking reservoir annual residence time to nitrogen deposition using paleolimnological techniques

In river networks, reservoirs are hotspots for nutrient transformations, providing multiple pathways for nitrogen processing. One of the less measured pathways is nitrogen deposition. Here, we investigated the decadal relationship between water residence time and nitrogen deposition using sediment cores from eight mainstem reservoirs within a river system containing two contrasting watersheds. One watershed was significantly urbanized with regulated flow and the other watershed was unregulated with extensive rural land use. We explored the relationship of sediment nitrogen concentrations across a range of residence times, land uses, and other parameters throughout this linked river-reservoir system. Results show that average annual residence time had the strongest relationship to nitrogen deposition when compared to reservoir volume, mean depth, surface area, outflow, and land use. Pigment analysis revealed that residence time influences nitrogen by allowing for longer periods of algal uptake, followed by deposition in particulate organic form. Supporting this mechanism, sedimentary C:N, with low values representing greater algal influence, expressed a strong and negative relationship with average annual residence time, as well as a positive relationship between residence time and photosynthetic pigments diagnostic of cyanobacteria, diatoms, and a combination of green algae+cyanobacteria. Furthermore, we investigated how drought conditions could alter residence times and intensify nitrogen cycling through primary productivity in reservoirs. Drought increased residence time by 45–60 %. This increase was estimated to raise sediment nitrogen concentrations by roughly 2.5–4 %.

Analysis of land cover change in Magelang Regency And Magelang City over 15 years

Background: Land cover change is an ongoing phenomenon with significant impacts on the environment and human quality of life. An analysis of land cover change was conducted in the Magelang area, which includes both Magelang Regency and Magelang City, over a period of fifteen years from 2007 to 2023. This study aims to analyze these changes using spatial methods based on land cover maps from 2007 and 2023. Method: In this analysis, land cover was classified into five categories: settlements, dry fields, paddy fields, forests, and plantations, and then compared between the two years. Result: The analysis results demonstrate a significant increase in the area of settlements and dry fields, reflecting urban and rural development. On the other hand, there has been a decrease in the area of paddy fields and forests, which may be related to land conversion for industrial or infrastructure purposes. The change in the area of plantations was not significant, indicating continuity in the management of these lands. Conclusion: The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the dynamics of land cover change in the region and can serve as a basis for further actions to maintain a balance between development and environmental conservation. Novelty/Originality of this study: This study presents the first longitudinal spatial analysis of land cover changes over 15 years (2007–2023), revealing significant trends in urban and rural land use dynamics. This study provides a scientific basis for sustainable spatial planning by highlighting the urgency to balance development infrastructure with preserving farmland and forests.

The Challenge of Territorial Systemic Analysis for Peacebuilding in Colombia

This article reflects on the need to structure a systemic analysis of Colombian rural territory as a crucial challenge in the context of implementing public land policies and peacebuilding in Colombia. It examines the conditions for configuring a scenario that articulates the action of institutions and democratic participation in land management, from the perspectives of scientific and technological innovation, based on the following guiding questions: What are the challenges facing the government and civil society in addressing the issue of access to and use of rural land in the process of just and responsible land governance? What is the functionality of three conjuncture public policies for achieving territorial peace: Multipurpose Cadastre, Social Ordering of Rural Property, and the Land Administration System? The analysis uses a qualitative and descriptive approach. It interprets, on the one hand, the experience of professionals specialized in land administration, who provide an account of the use of geospatial technologies in this field, through in-depth interviews. On the other hand, it reviews the evolution of the legal-normative framework and the documentary analysis. The results describe the analytical value that a geospatial ecosystem represents for the contemporary country. This revolutionary tool is crucial for comprehensive knowledge of the territory, which requires effective, participatory, and equitable intervention to strengthen the institutions that manage land and peace towards sustainable development

A Bottom-Up Carbon Emission Assessment Model for Carbon Emission Control at the Level of Rural Detailed Planning

Incorporating green and low-carbon building targets into the rural planning management system requires scientific and quantitative methods for assessing carbon emissions from rural land use. At present, the research in this field mainly focuses on urban areas, but there are fewer theoretical and practical studies on the assessment of carbon emissions from rural land use. This paper proposes a new carbon emission assessment method based on land use modes, and the model can not only assess carbon emissions but also directly reflect the carbon emission intensity of different land use spaces in rural areas and guide the carbon emission control of construction land in village planning. In this paper, we take suburban rural areas in Hunan Province as an example and establish a land use carbon emission assessment model with 13 indicators in five dimensions: total carbon emission, carbon emission efficiency, carbon emission intensity per unit of land use, carbon emission structure of land use, and carbon emission intensity of buildings, based on the bottom-up field research data. We practised our method in Jinlong Town, Hunan Province, and gave examples of model applications. It was found that the carbon emission calculation method based on the carbon emission intensity of land use can be used to calculate the current status of carbon emissions in different villages in Jinlong Town. At the same time, the carbon emission assessment results can be used as a scientific basis for carbon emission control in detailed village planning in Jinlong Town. In general, the carbon emission assessment model can complete the assessment of land carbon emissions in rural areas and provide a low-carbon land use management tool for the government.

Evaluation of Nine Planetary Boundary Layer Turbulence Parameterization Schemes of the Weather Research and Forecasting Model Applied to Simulate Planetary Boundary Layer Surface Properties in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo Megacity, Brazil

This study evaluates nine Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) turbulence parameterization schemes from the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) mesoscale meteorological model, comparing hourly values of meteorological variables observed and simulated at the surface of the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo (MRSP). The numerical results were objectively compared with high-quality observations carried out on three micrometeorological platforms representing typical urban, suburban, and rural land use areas of the MRSP, during the 2013 summer and winter field campaigns as part of the MCITY BRAZIL project. The main objective is to identify which PBL scheme best represents the diurnal evolution of conventional meteorological variables (temperature, relative and specific humidity, wind speed, and direction) and unconventional (sensible and latent heat fluxes, net radiation, and incoming downward solar radiation) on the surface. During the summer field campaign and over the suburban area of the MRSP, most PBL scheme simulations exhibited a cold and dry bias and overestimated wind speed. They also overestimated sensible heat flux, with high agreement index and correlation values. In general, the PBL scheme simulations performed well for latent heat flux, displaying low mean bias error and root square mean error values. Both incoming downward solar radiation and net radiation were also accurately simulated by most of them. The comparison of the nine PBL schemes indicated the local Mellor-Yamada-Janjic (MYJ) scheme performed best during the summer period, particularly for conventional meteorological variables for the land use suburban in the MRSP. During the winter field campaign, simulation outcomes varied significantly based on the site’s land use and the meteorological variable analyzed. The MYJ, Bougeault-Lacarrère (BouLac), and Mellor-Yamada Nakanishi-Niino (MYNN) schemes effectively simulated temperature and humidity, especially in the urban land use area. The MYNN scheme also simulated net radiation accurately. There was a tendency to overestimate sensible and latent heat fluxes, except for the rural land use area where they were consistently underestimated. However, the rural area exhibited superior correlations compared to the urban area. Overall, the MYJ scheme was deemed the most suitable for representing the convectional and nonconventional meteorological variables on the surface in all urban, suburban, and rural land use areas of the MRSP.

Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Spatiotemporal Distribution of Rural Houses Construction Development in Mountainous Villages of China (1980–2019): A Case Study of Qingyuan Town

Rural house is a fundamental component of rural settlements, and understanding its construction and development characteristics is crucial for rural land use and development planning. This paper focuses on the spatiotemporal characteristics and influencing factors of Rural Houses Construction Development (RHCD) from 1980 to 2019 with a case study of Qingyuan Town in China. Based on the literature review and filed research, a set of evaluation indicators for RHCD was established. The article calculates RHCD indicators from temporal and spatial dimensions, uses the location entropy method to demonstrate the spatial distribution of indicators, and classifies the RHCD type of 14 villages in Qingyuan Town using clustering algorithms. It also analyzes the influencing factors of spatiotemporal distribution. The results show that the RHCD in Qingyuan Town exhibits typical characteristics of mountainous areas and aligns with the development trends of rural society in China. Population growth, geographical location, and economic development are the primary driving factors for the quantity indicator (Qi), while economic growth, construction technology, industrial development, and policy adjustments are the key factors influencing the form indicator (Fi). In future policy-making, greater emphasis should be placed on optimizing development strategies, improving data and monitoring systems, and integrating administrative strength with actual development needs.

Peri-urban landscapes and the potential of integrated foodscapes to support healthy cities: an Aotearoa New Zealand case study

ABSTRACT Aotearoa New Zealand is experiencing unprecedented competition in land use priorities on the edges of its cities and settlements – referred to as the peri-urban zone. Housing and food production compete with one another in a legislative planning context that supports a dichotomy of urban or rural land use. Food production is being driven further away from urban settlements, where 85% of New Zealanders live, as demand for housing increases, and land is re-zoned from rural to urban. Consequently, cities and settlements within Aotearoa New Zealand are increasingly seen to be spatially disconnected from their productive hinterlands. The resulting land use polarity occurring in the peri-urban zone is problematic for local food production, driving issues of agricultural land fragmentation, the loss of highly productive soils, ‘reverse sensitivity’, and impacts on human health and wellbeing. Engaging with both residents and food producers who reside and work within the peri-urban zone, this research applies a ‘design thinking’ methodology to the case study site of Ōtautahi Christchurch, exploring the question, ‘how can food production and housing best co-exist at the edges of Aotearoa New Zealand’s cities and settlements?’ to support human health and wellbeing outcomes. This paper presents five participant-driven future land use scenarios, which were developed based on survey responses collected from both peri-urban residents and food producers. The land use scenarios were then tested in a workshop setting with both groups assessing the potential of each scenario to address the land use conundrum that Aotearoa New Zealand peri-urban areas are currently facing, ultimately identifying land use strategies for healthier city areas that are designed for both housing and local food production.

Deciphering Land Use Transitions in Rural China: A Functional Perspective

Although research on land use transitions has gradually received widespread attention since its introduction to China at the beginning of the new millennium, the lack of a clear portrayal of the transitional characteristics and pathways of land use at the theoretical level has prevented this research from providing adequate support for the regulation and management of rural land use activities. This study aims to bridge this research gap from a functional perspective, since the transition of land system functions—also known as land use functions—heralds the completion of a regional land use transition. The methods employed included a literature review and theoretical analysis. The results show the following: (1) the relationships between land use morphology, land use multifunctionality, and land use functions transition (LUFT) were identified; (2) the connotation of the multifunctional agriculture transition theory was analyzed, and the applicability and limitations of drawing on the theory for researching the transition of land use functions in rural China elucidated; (3) a method for characterizing LUFT is proposed from the “state” and “quality”; (4) a theoretical framework for the LUFT was constructed and anchored in transition theory; and (5) it was summarized that there are three transitional pathways: weak-strong, strong-weak, and dynamic balance. In conclusion, while theories originating from the West can provide references for Chinese research, the significant difference between their socio-economic backgrounds necessitates reconstructing these theories in the light of the actual situation in rural China. The theoretical construction of land use transitions from a functional perspective can more clearly delineate the process, the trend, and the characteristics of the transitions of rural land use, thus offering valuable insights for the regulation and management of land use.

Assessing rural land use in contemporary China: Data compilation and methodology

In rural areas, land use decisions are not only shaped by economic considerations but also deeply influenced by cultural and social factors. The objective of this research is to examine the complex and diverse aspects of making decisions about how land is used in rural communities, specifically by investigating the influence of cultural and social elements. Using empirical data and rigorous analysis, this research examine how traditional practices, social norms, and community dynamics influence land use patterns. The research topic focuses on the need to have a thorough understanding of the fundamental elements that affect land use choices in rural regions, going beyond only economic incentives. This research objective is to address a significant vacuum in the current literature by examining the cultural and social aspects of land usage. This research provides vital insights for policymakers and stakeholders engaged in land management and rural development projects. This research utilizes a mixed-methods approach, using qualitative interviews, participatory observations, and quantitative surveys to collect comprehensive data on the cultural and socioeconomic elements that impact land use choices. The research sample includes a wide range of rural areas, guaranteeing a thorough representation of various cultural settings and socioeconomic backgrounds. Our study reveals that cultural traditions, social networks, and power structures have a substantial impact on land use practices in rural regions. Traditional land tenure systems, community ownership arrangements, and customary land-use practices play a vital role in influencing land-use choices and resource distribution within communities. The significance of these results is substantial for policymakers, land managers, and rural development practitioners. Policymakers may create land use policies and actions that are more appropriate to the specific cultural and socioeconomic environment by understanding the complex relationship between these aspects. Furthermore, promoting community involvement and allowing local actors to participate in decision-making may result in land management results that are both more sustainable and fair.

Urbanization of a Subtropical Island (Okinawa, Japan) Alters Physicochemical Characteristics and Disrupts Microbial Community Dynamics in Nearshore Ecosystems

Subtropical and tropical islands are undergoing rapid urbanization as the human population expands globally. Urbanization disrupts coastal ecosystems through several pathways—including the replacement of natural habitats with concrete structures that increase runoff pollution—but it remains difficult to isolate and characterize specific impacts of urbanization on marine ecosystems. The historical gradient in urbanization on the subtropical island of Okinawa, Japan, sets up a natural laboratory to study urbanization effects on nearshore ecosystems. Physicochemical parameters and bacterial community composition were assessed every 2 weeks for 1 year at two nearshore sites adjacent to watersheds with > 70% urban land use and two nearshore sites adjacent to watersheds with > 70% rural land use. Urbanization increased freshwater input and nutrient loading—indicated by decreased salinity and elevated nitrate + nitrite, ammonium, and phosphate at urban sites—despite the urban sites being more open to flushing due to land reclamation projects filling in the coral lagoon. Urbanization significantly altered microbial community composition by increasing diversity through the addition of fecal indicator and pathogenic bacteria—eight orders of bacteria were only detected in urban samples, whereas only Verrucomicrobiales was unique to rural samples. The change in microbial community composition at urban sites persisted throughout the seasonal cycle, suggesting a regime change or sustained disturbance. The altered physicochemical conditions and microbial communities at urban sites could degrade nearby coral reefs and their ecosystem services, highlighting the importance of coastal land management in marine conservation efforts.

Impacts of Rural–Urban Labour Transfer and Land Transfer on Land Efficiency in China: A Analysis of Mediating Effects

In the midst of China’s ongoing rural–urban integration and development, a pivotal transformation involving the realignment of labour dynamics and land utilisation is underway. This paradigm shift has substantial implications for rural land use and agricultural productivity. Drawing from the field survey conducted in Zhejiang Province in 2019, this study puts non-agricultural employment, land transfer, and land efficiency into one econometric model and establishes a comprehensive framework to explain the mechanisms. Unlike existing research, this paper delves into the impact of different land-transfer behaviours, namely inflow and outflow, on land efficiency. The findings indicate that non-agricultural employment has no significant impact on land efficiency. Rural households acquiring land significantly enhance land efficiency, whereas relinquishing land shows no significance, thus addressing the gap in existing literature regarding the study of different transfer behaviours. Furthermore, to explore the underlying mechanisms, we investigate the mediating effect of land inflows on land efficiency, finding that it operates through plot size. In light of this, we propose that, in guiding land inflows, more emphasis should be placed on the integration and reorganisation of fragmented land rather than simply expanding the total land area, aiming to create large, well-managed areas of arable land by achieving concentrated and contiguous transferable land parcels.

Coupling of Changing Trends in Population and Construction Land in Traditional Rural Areas and Spatial Patterns in Urban–Rural Development, 2016–2021: A Case Study of Heilongjiang Province, China

Coupling of Changing Trends in Population and Construction Land in Traditional Rural Areas and Spatial Patterns in Urban–Rural Development, 2016–2021: A Case Study of Heilongjiang Province, China

Are there interactions between the urban and rural construction land use transition? Evidence from Jiangsu province in China

The interactive feedback between the transition of urban construction land (UCL) and rural construction land (RCL) lies at the forefront of land use transition (LUT) research, and can shape the intrinsic driving forces for land system sustainable transition and urban-rural integrated development. This study innovatively investigated the interactive feedback between UCL and RCL transition. First, a theoretical analytical framework was proposed. Second, a spatial simultaneous equation model (SSEM) was employed to examine the interactive feedback between UCL and RCL transitions in Jiangsu Province, China, from 2000 to 2020. The main findings were as follows: The interactive feedback between UCL and RCL transitions followed two paths. The first interactive feedback path was driven by the interaction of urban and rural factors, whereas the second was driven by the integrated management of urban and rural land. UCL and RCL transition witnessed a positive interactive feedback relation. Specifically, a 1% increase in UCL transition led to a 0.535% increase in RCL transition, and a 1% increase in RCL transition resulted in a 0.579% increase in UCL transition. The two aspects exhibited complex spatial interaction effects. The UCL transition in the subject city had positive and negative effects on the UCL and RCL transitions of neighboring cities, respectively. The RCL transition had positive effect on the RCL transition in neighboring cities. The key to regulation is to make the mutual feedback pathways unobstructed through innovative policies in terms of both direct and indirect regulation. This study contributes to advance research on LUT and provides scientific evidence for urban–rural integrated development.

Exploring Issues and Strategies of Rural Land Use and Environmental Protection

Land resources play a crucial role in the overall development of society, but the irrational exploitation and use of these resources have significant adverse effects on the natural ecological environment, which is detrimental to the effective construction of a harmonious society. There is an inseparable relationship between rural land use and ecological security, and in current rural land use practices, environmental protection issues are increasingly emphasized. In some rural areas, in pursuit of short-term economic benefits, the importance of environmental protection is often overlooked, leading to excessive development and use of land resources, posing a great threat to the sustainable development of rural society. The reduction of vegetation signifies a deterioration of the ecological environment, and soil erosion leads to a decrease in land resources and a decline in land productivity, while soil degradation directly affects the growth of crops and the income of farmers. Therefore, it is essential to integrate environmental protection concepts throughout the entire process of rural land use. In the development and utilization of land resources, environmental protection requirements must be fully considered, adopting scientific and reasonable planning and measures to ensure the full utilization of land resources and achieve sustainable development of rural society.