Effects of rural–urban migration on vegetation greenness in fragile areas: A case study of Inner Mongolia in China

Different government departments and researchers have paid considerable attention at various levels to improving the eco-environment in ecologically fragile areas. Over the past decade, large numbers of people have emigrated from rural areas as a result of the rapid urbanization in Chinese society. The question then remains: to what extent does this migration affect the regional vegetation greenness in the areas that people have moved from? Based on normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data with a resolution of 1 km, as well as meteorological data and socio-economic data from 2000 to 2010 in Inner Mongolia, the spatio-temporal variation of vegetation greenness in the study area was analyzed via trend analysis and significance test methods. The contributions of human activities and natural factors to the variation of vegetation conditions during this period were also quantitatively tested and verified, using a multi-regression analysis method. We found that: (1) the vegetation greenness of the study area increased by 10.1% during 2000-2010. More than 28% of the vegetation greenness increased significantly, and only about 2% decreased evidently during the study period. (2) The area with significant degradation showed a banded distribution at the northern edge of the agro-pastoral ecotone in central Inner Mongolia. This indicates that the eco-environment is still fragile in this area, which should be paid close attention. The area where vegetation greenness significantly improved showed a concentrated distribution in the southeast and west of Inner Mongolia. (3) The effect of agricultural labor on vegetation greenness exceeded those due to natural factors (i.e. precipitation and temperature). The emigration of agricultural labor improved the regional vegetation greenness significantly.     

Spacial organization on the rural settlements in plain areas—taking Pinghu city in Zhejiang of China as an example

1 Spacial Organization Optimizing Theory 1.1 The centeral place theoryThe "centeral place theory" hypothesizes that there is a region: (1) the region is a uniform plain; (2) the motion of economic activities in regions can be carried through in every directions forever; (3) the purchasing power of residents is a successive and uniform distribution; (4) the movement of consumers has rationality in space, namely, proceeding by the shortest distance. The rural settlements as the central place of…     

Differential changes in precipitation and runoff discharge during 1958–2017 in the headwater region of Yellow River of China

Maintenance of steady streamflow is a critical attribute of the continental river systems for safeguarding downstream ecosystems and agricultural production.Global climate change imposes a potential risk to water supply from the headwater by changing the magnitude and frequency of precipitation and evapotranspiration in the region.To determine if and to what extent the recent climate changes affected streamflow in major river systems,we examined the pattern of temporal variations in precipitation,temperature,evapotranspiration and changes in runoff discharge during 1958–2017 in the headwater region of the Yellow River in northeastern Tibetan Plateau.We identified 1989 as the turning point for a statistically significant 14% reduction in streamflow discharge(P 0.05) for the period 1989–2017 compared with 1958–1988,approximately coinciding with changes in the monthly distribution but not the interannual variations of precipitation,and detected a mismatch between precipitation and runoff after 2000.Both annual precipitation and runoff discharge displayed fourand eight-year cyclic patterns of changes for the period 1958–1988,and a six-year cyclic pattern of changes for the period 1989–2017,with two intensified two-year cyclic patterns in the changes of precipitation and a three-year cyclic pattern in the change of runoff further detected for the later period.Our results indicate that the temporal changes in runoff are not strictly consistent with the temporal variations of precipitation in the headwater region of Yellow River during the period 1958–2017.In particular,a full recovery in annual precipitation was not reflected in a full recovery in runoff toward the end of the study period.While a review of literature yielded no apparent evidence of raised evapotranspiration in the region due to recent warming,we draw attention to increased local retention of rainwater as a possible explanation of differential changes in precipitation and runoff.     

Geomorphology of the Boao coastal system and potential effects of human activities -Hainan Island, South China

1 IntroductionThe objectives of this paper are to analyze the principal characteristics of the W anquan Riverdelta that has developed in a narrow , shallow lagoon, and to determ ine the effect that theever-increasing hum an activities of the area m ay hav…     

Determinants and identification of the northern boundary of China’s tropical zone

The influence of monsoon climatic characteristics makes the tropics of China different from those of other parts of the world. Therefore, the location of the northern boundary of China’s tropical zone has been one of the most controversial issues in the study of comprehensive physical regionalisation in China. This paper introduces developments in the study of the northern boundary of China’s tropical zone, in which different scholars delimit the boundary with great differences based on different regionalisation objectives, indexes, and methods. The main divergence of opinion is found in different understandings of zonal vegetation, agricultural vegetation type, cropping systems, tropical soil type and tropical characteristics. In this study, we applied the GeoDetector model, which measures the spatial stratified heterogeneity, to validate the northern boundaries of the tropical zone delimited by six principal scholars. The results show that the mean q-statistic value of the higher latitude boundary delimited by Ren Mei’e is the largest (q=0.37), suggesting that, of the rival views, it best reflects the regional differences between China’s tropical and subtropical zones, but it is not necessarily suitable for guiding the development of tropical agriculture. The mean values of the q-statistics of Zheng Du’s line and Yu Xianfang’s line around the Leizhou Peninsula at a lower latitude were smaller, at 0.10 and 0.08 respectively, indicating that the regional differences were smaller than those of Ren Mei’e’s boundary. Against the background of global climate change, the climate itself is changing in fluctuation. It is, thus, worth our further research whether the northern boundary of the tropical zone should not be a fixed line but rather should fluctuate within a certain scope to reflect these changes.     

Residents’ urbanized landscape preferences in rural areas reveal the importance of naturalness-livability contrast

Journal of Geographical Sciences - Urbanization has caused significant landscape changes in rural areas, leading to the emergence of urbanized landscapes (ULs), which have been generally criticized...     

Spatio-temporal evolution of population and urbanization in the countries along the Belt and Road 1950–2050

This paper uses data for the period 1950–2050 compiled by the United Nations Population Division together with methods including spatial autocorrelation analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis and the standard deviational ellipse, to analyze the spatio-temporal evolution of population and urbanization in the 75 countries located along the routes of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road, to identify future population growth and urbanization hotspots. The results reveal the following: First, in 2015, the majority of Belt and Road countries in Europe, South Asia and Southeast Asia had high population densities, whereas most countries in Central Asia, North Africa and West Asia, as well as Russia and Mongolia, had low population densities; the majority of countries in South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, West Asia and North Africa had rapid population growth, whereas many countries in Europe had negative population growth; and five Belt and Road countries are in the initial stage of urbanization, 44 countries are in the acceleration stage of urbanization, and 26 are in the terminal stage of urbanization. Second, in the century from 1950 to 2050, the mean center of the study area’s population is consistently located in the border region between India and China. Prior to 2000, the trajectory of the mean center was from northwest to southeast, but from 2000 it is on a southward trajectory, as the population of the study area becomes more concentrated. Future population growth hotspots are predicted to be in South Asia, West Asia and Southeast Asia, and hotspot countries for the period 2015–2030 include India, China, Pakistan and Indonesia, though China will move into negative population growth after 2030. Third, the overall urban population of Belt and Road countries increased from 22% in 1950 to 49% in 2015, and it is expected to gradually catch up with the world average, reaching 64% in 2050. The different levels of urbanization in different countries display significant spatial dependency, and in the hundred-year period under consideration, this dependency increases before eventually weakening. Fourth, between 2015 and 2030, urban population hotspots will include Thailand, China, Laos and Albania, while Kuwait, Cyprus, Qatar and Estonia will be urban “coldspots.” Fifth, there were 293 cities with populations over 1 million located along the Belt and Road in 2015, but that number is expected to increase to 377 by 2030. Of those, 43 will be in China, with many of the others located in India, Indonesia and the eastern Mediterranean.     

Population development in rural areas of the United States in the 1980s: turnaround of trends or continuity?

"The article analyses the population growth in rural counties of the U.S.A. for 1970-80 and 1980-86. The growth rates are examined on different levels of aggregation (individual counties, subregions and regions) and in relation to several possible determinants of growth. The main objective of the study is to examine whether the growth patterns in the eighties support the hypothesis of a turnaround in the population development of rural areas.... The results reveal a diversity of growth patterns and significant regional differences. Rural counties within the daily urban system of a metropolitan area have significantly higher growth rates than peripheral rural counties. The results do not support the notion of a turnaround of long established trends. The trends in the eighties bear more resemblance to traditional growth patterns of rural areas." (SUMMARY IN ENG)     

Spatial-temporal variations in cold surge events in northern China during the period 1960–2016

Journal of Geographical Sciences - Among the most devastating extreme weather events, cold surge (CS) events frequently impact northern China. It has been reported that extreme weather events will...     

Progress and prospects of applied research on physical geography and the living environment in China over the past 70 years (1949–2019)

Physical geography is a basic research subject of natural sciences.Its research object is the natural environment which is closely related to human living and development,and China's natural environment is complex and diverse.According to national needs and regional development,physical geographers have achieved remarkable achievements in applied basis and applied research,which also has substantially contributed to the planning of national economic growth and social development,the protection of macro ecosystems and resources,and sustainable regional development.This study summarized the practice and application of physical geography in China over the past 70 years in the following fields:regional differences in natural environments and physical regionalization;land use and land cover changes;natural hazards and risk reduction;process and prevention of desertification;upgrading of medium-and low-yield fields in the Huang-Huai-Hai region;engineering construction in permafrost areas; geochemical element anomalies and the prevention and control of endemic diseases;positioning and observation of hysical geographical elements;and identification of geospatial differentiation and geographical detectors. Furthermore, we have proposed the future direction of applied research in the field of physical geography.     

北方农牧交错区人地系统演化特征与影响机理——以内蒙古达茂旗为例

社会—生态系统适应性循环理论为理解人地系统结构与功能演变提供了新思路与分析框架.本文采用风险—适应能力指数评估乡村人地系统适应性,构建气候变化与政策实施双重驱动的农牧复合型乡村人地系统适应性评价体系,对1952-2017年达茂旗建旗以来乡村人地系统适应性循环演化的阶段、特征、主控因子及影响机理进行研究.结果显示:①乡村...     

人地耦合视角下中国自然保护地有效性评估研究进展与展望

自然保护地有效性评估是测度其管护效果并提出改进意见的重要手段。论文从人地耦合的视角出发,提出了自然保护地有效性评估不同阶段对应的目标层次。在此基础上,分析了有效管理理论、景观可持续理论和社会—生态网络理论在指导自然保护地有效性评估中的作用。依据不同阶段的目标层次,系统地梳理了中国自然保护地有效性评估现状,并提出了提升社区治理在评估体系中的重要性、从生物多样性保护转向兼顾人类福祉提升的评估、探究管理工作对自然保护地有效性的作用机制、推动自然保护地监测网络与数据平台建设等未来研究趋势,从而完善人地耦合视角下的自然保护地有效性评估路径,以期改善自然保护地有效性评估的时效性、全面性与合理性,促进人与自然的和谐共生。     

农户行为视角下的乡村生产空间系统运行机制及重构启示

农户行为转变是乡村生产空间系统量变或从量变到质变的重要驱动力,乡村生产空间系统的运行实质上是农户行为作用的外在表现,厘清农户行为可为诠释乡村生产空间系统的运行机制提供平台。本文在剖析农户行为转变与乡村生产空间系统运行响应的理论框架基础上,从农户行为转变和乡村生产空间系统响应入手构建指标体系,建立模糊综合评价量化模型,并以重庆市江津区恒和村作为实证,诠释乡村生产空间系统运行机制。主要研究结论为：不同农户行为对乡村生产空间系统运行的影响程度各异,大体为生产大户>合作社农户>传统农户;不同农户行为对系统运行响应结果的作用差异明显,生产大户行为主要影响乡村生产空间的利用效率,合作社农户行为对提升生产空间系统经济效益作用明显,传统农户行为对生产空间系统环境改善的贡献作用最小。并从经济、社会、空间重构视角提出发展多种形式的适度规模化经营、培育新型农业经营主体和职业农民、合理引导农户技术和资本投入等建议,以实现乡村生产空间系统协调与均衡发展。     

平原农区土地综合整治与乡村转型发展协同机制

平原农区是保障国家粮食安全的核心区,土地综合整治与乡村转型发展协同有利于缓解平原农区经济发展、耕地保护、生态保育等多重压力,保障乡村振兴政策落实。本文以“问题研判—策略梳理—机制构建—实证检验”为研究主线,探讨两者协同机制。研究表明：① 平原农区“三生”空间利用冲突显著,生产空间低值低效、生活空间无序空废、生态空间污损衰退共同制约乡村转型发展;② 面向土地价值提升、人居环境改善、产业融合发展的土地综合整治优化策略,有利于推动乡村转型发展;③ 新时期,土地综合整治由“以地为本”单要素调控转向“人、地、业、权”多要素协同综合整治,权利重组、空间重构、产业重塑是推动土地综合整治与乡村转型发展协同的核心机制;④ 平原农区典型地区禹城市,聚焦土地权属调整、空心村整治和现代产业培育,实现土地综合整治与乡村转型发展的协同推进。本文有利于深化平原农区人地系统科学新认知,为构建现代化国土空间治理体系和全面推进乡村振兴提供实践参考。     

Dynamic mechanism and present situation of rural settlement evolution in China

This paper provides a detailed analysis of the factors influencing the evolution of rural settlements, including natural environmental constraints, infrastructure, regional cultural inheritance and integration, urbanization and rural industrial transformation, land use reformation and innovation, rural household behavior conversion, macro-control policy factors, and so on. Based on differences between the ways and degree of effect on rural settlement evolution, these factors are classified into basic factors, new-type factors and mutation factors. The drive of basic factors mainly focuses on the traditional inheritance of rural settlements, the new-type factors mainly affect rural settlement transition, and the mutation factors may bring about sudden changes. All these factors constitute a “three-wheel” driving mechanism for the evolution of rural settlements, and shape three typical driver paths: slow smooth path under the basic factors, new path to rapid development under the new-type factors, and the sudden change path under the mutation factors. The paper also investigates the overall situation of rural settlement evolution in the aspects of settlement system, settlement scale, settlement morphology, settlement function, settlement culture, settlement environment, etc. The general process of rural settlement evolution is divided into four stages: initial, transitional, developmental, and mature stages.     

气候变化对历史上农牧过渡带影响的个例研究

从北魏平城迁都、元朝中叶岭北地区移民、12世纪初科尔沁沙地演变、明初兀良哈三卫南迁等四个历史实例出发,讨论了气候变冷变干时,农牧过渡带变化以及相应的社会变化现象。可以肯定,气候变化对历史上农牧过渡带变迁的影响是存在的。同时气候变化对农牧过渡带的影响是通过人类社会系统起作用的,不同的社会状态和组合会产生不同的农牧过渡带实况和相应的社会问题。当农耕民族与游牧民族在农牧过渡带附近对峙时,气候向寒冷方向的变化常常成为社会动荡的触发因素,极端情况下可以产生很严重的后果。     

西北贫困地区乡村类型识别与振兴途径研究

乡村振兴战略是新时期我国推进城乡融合发展的重要举措。贫困地区既是脱贫攻坚的主战场,又是乡村振兴的重点区域。如何科学识别村落类型,分类推进典型区域乡村振兴发展,对于破解农村发展不平衡不充分问题具有重要的现实意义。本文解析了乡村地域系统发展理论,阐释了城乡融合发展理论,剖析了村域空间结构格局演变和城乡要素结构功能优化重组;构建了西北干旱贫困地区乡村振兴村落类型识别体系,从乡村主体、产业发展、人居环境、资源禀赋4个子系统进行逐级分类判断,识别乡村主导类型,结合专家征询分析与村落特征,将乡村振兴村落类型识别为集聚提升类、三产融合类、城郊融合类、特色保护类、搬迁撤并类,结合不同乡村振兴模式提出了相应地发展路径,以期为乡村振兴提供理论依据与决策参考。     

中国丘陵山区农村贫困时空格局及其演变机制研究——以江西省于都县为例

解决区域性整体贫困问题是全面建成小康社会的前提。丘陵山区是中国农村贫困人口的聚集区,开展丘陵山区贫困时空格局及其演变机制研究对实现贫困地区转型发展与乡村振兴具有重要的理论意义。论文以江西省于都县为例,以村域为研究单元,采用空间自相关、核密度估计、地理探测器等模型方法刻画了于都县农村贫困地理格局及其分异特征,识别了丘陵山区驱动农村贫困化的主导因子,揭示了农村贫困化的驱动机制。结果表明：① 丘陵山区农村贫困化存在明显的地域分异规律和空间集聚性特征,且聚集效应随减贫力度加大有所减弱;② 坡度、行政村到县城中心的可达度、路网密度和公共服务点数量是丘陵山区农村贫困化分异的主导因子,且随时间推移,资源禀赋不足对农村贫困化的驱动作用有所减弱,区位条件对农村贫困化的驱动作用逐渐增强;③ 不同时期丘陵山区农村贫困化地域分异的主导因素有所不同。农村贫困化有其自然和人文根源,科学减贫政策的制定与实施需以深化贫困发生机制理论认知为基础,协同推进区域性贫困和个体性贫困的减轻,从而实现贫困地区转型发展和乡村振兴。     

典型村域乡村重构的过程及其驱动因素

乡村重构是实施推进乡村振兴战略的重要手段,一个完整的乡村重构过程通常由初始期、发展期、趋稳期、稳成期等不同阶段组成。本文在构建乡村重构过程分析的理论框架基础上,探索引入乡村发展指数、乡村重构强度指数和乡村重构贡献率的概念,选取大都市郊区和平原农区典型村域开展乡村重构过程的定量研究和驱动因素的对比分析。研究表明：① 20世纪90年代以来,伴随产业结构由传统农业向工业采矿业、旅游服务业转型,黄山店村社会经济形态和地域空间结构发生了剧烈重构,乡村重构过程依次经历了初始阶段、发展阶段,目前处于趋稳阶段;杨桥村产业发展经历了传统农业主导、农业兼业化生产阶段,自2000年以来开始出现社会经济重构迹象,近年来在地方政府推动下生活空间发生重构,但经济形态尚未发生明显改观,目前村域整体上仍处于低水平发展阶段。② 黄山店村快速的乡村重构是市场需求牵引、政府宏观政策引导等外源性因素及资源环境、区位条件、行为主体、经济基础、文化特质等内源性因素综合作用的结果;杨桥村的重构历程主要受城镇化、工业化、技术进步等社会经济发展进程以及“新农村建设”“增减挂钩”等外源性政策因素主导,缺乏内生发展动力是导致其重构速度相对缓慢的根源。     

中国草原牧区和半牧区草畜平衡状况监测与评价

草原超载过牧是造成我国草原大面积退化、沙化的主要原因之一,草畜平衡监测、评价和管理是实现我国草原植被恢复和重建的关键,也是研究的热点和难点。本文采用遥感和地面调查相结合的方法从宏观上监测和评价了农业部认定的264个牧区和半牧区县的草畜平衡状况,主要结论如下:(1)2008年监测区平均草畜平衡指数为33.58%,总体处于超载状态;(2)120个牧区县草畜平衡指数为27.37%,144个半牧业县为42.07%,半牧区县是我国实行草畜平衡管理的重点和难点;(3)六大牧区中牧区县2008年超载程度排序为:甘肃>四川>新疆>青海>西藏>内蒙古,半牧区县超载程度排序为青海>西藏>内蒙古>新疆>四川>甘肃。本文所得结论可为我国草原资源管理和保护提供参考价值和借鉴意义。