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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Science and Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 24525

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Dr. Erqi Xu

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Guest Editor

Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Interests: land use change monitoring; land use change effect; land use spatial allocation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Xiaobo Hua

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Guest Editor

College of Humanities and Development Studies, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: land system change; liveilihood transition; agricultural and rural development; borderland Studies

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The utilization of land resources is a process which profoundly changes the natural environment. It is not only an important part of global change, but also an important factor driving global change. Therefore, the impact of land system changes on the ecosystem and environment, as well as their response to land changes, are important issues in the academic community. Land systems include not only the natural complex including geology, landform, climate, hydrology, soil, vegetation, etc., but also the impact of past and current human activities on the natural environment. As a typical complex system, land reflects the multifaceted interactions between human social and economic activities and biogeochemical processes.

A great deal of work has been carried out on the effects of land use change and optimal regulation, especially focusing on the quantitative characteristics of land cover/use. However, insufficient consideration of other multiple components of the land system has increased the uncertainty of the recent studies. Therefore, it is necessary to expand the research perspective from the classic land cover/use research to the multi-component information mining in the land system research. With this idea, further exploring the driving-feedback relations of land system and ecological process will be an important measure for optimizing land use and management, coping with global changes and achieving sustainable development.

This Special Issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) focuses on the current state of knowledge on the interactions between land system and ecological process. New research papers, case reports, and reviews of advances in methods, applications, and evidence are welcome to this Issue.

Dr. Erqi Xu
Dr. Xiaobo Hua
Guest Editors

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Keywords

land system
land use
ecological process
environmental effect
interaction process
feedback mechanism

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 20228 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ecological Impacts Associated with the Qinghai–Tibet Railway and Its Influencing Factors: A Comparison Study on Diversified Research Units

by Lili Zhang, Yi Miao, Haoxuan Wei and Teqi Dai

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(5), 4154; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054154 - 25 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1688

Abstract

The ecological impacts of the construction and operation of the main transport infrastructure on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau cannot be disregarded. Based on different sections, buffers, bilateral sides, and periods, the authors of this study explored the ecological changes along the Qinghai–Tibet Railway through an integrated analysis of the landscape fragmentation index and ecological service value calculation from 2000 to 2020, as well as the influencing factors of differentiated trends, using multinomial logistic regression. It was discovered that there was heterogeneity among the sections, buffers, and bilateral sides in both the landscape fragmentation index and the ecological service value. It was also found that there was recoverability in the operation period, compared to the construction period. The negative correlation between the landscape fragmentation index and the ecological service value was only significant in 2020, which was not enough to fully explain the negative effect between them. Distinct human and natural circumstances have resulted in different consequences. However, regions far away from the main settlement areas, and with lower population densities, could aid in the simultaneous recovery of the ecological service value and landscape fragmentation index. According to these findings, prior studies may have exaggerated the ecological impact of the Qinghai–Tibet Railway. However, it should be highlighted that, in a location with a delicate ecological environment, it is still crucial to consider regional development, infrastructure construction, and ecological protection synchronously. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land System – Ecological Process Interactions)

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26 pages, 16715 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Understanding the Relationships between Landscape Eco-Security and Multifunctionality in Cropland: Implications for Supporting Cropland Management Decisions

by Fang Tang, Yangbing Li, Xiuming Liu, Juan Huang, Yiyi Zhang and Qian Xu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 1938; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031938 - 20 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1588

Abstract

Cropland is an essential strategic resource, for which landscape ecological security and multifunctionality evolution are related to regional stability and sustainable social development. However, few studies have explored the spatial heterogeneity of the coupling between the two from a multiregional and systematic perspective, and the interaction mechanisms have still not been thoroughly analyzed. In this study, a typical karst trough and valley area in the mountainous regions of southwest China was selected as the research object, and by establishing a multi-indicator evaluation system using a landscape pattern index, a multifunctional identification model, a coupled coordination model, and a geodetector model, the spatial variability in the evolutionary characteristics and the coupling and coordination of cropland landscape ecological security (CLES) and cropland multifunctionality (CM) in the mountainous regions of the southwest and their driving mechanisms were explored. The main results were as follows: (1) CLES in the mountainous areas of southwest China has undergone an evolutionary process of first declining and then slowly rising, with the characteristics of “fast declining in the high-value areas and slow rising in the low-value areas”, while CM showed a spatial distribution of “high in the northwest and low in the northeast”, with positive contributions originating from ecological functions. (2) Over the 20 years, the cropland coupling coordination degree (CCCD) values showed significant spatial heterogeneity, which was regionally expressed as ejective folds (EF) > TF (tight folds) > TLF (trough-like folds) > AF (anticlinorium folds). Low CCCD values were primarily found in the east, whereas high levels were primarily found in the west, with a rapidly diminishing trend. (3) There were differences in the driving mechanisms of CCDD in different landscapes, but GDP was still the determining factor and had a limiting effect. Hence, we call for the adoption of a “function over pattern” approach in areas with more development constraints and a “pattern over function” approach in areas with fewer development constraints. Ultimately, this study will contribute to the formation of a coupled cropland mechanism system described as the “multi-mechanisms drive, multi-elements integrated” system. In conclusion, this study can provide a better understanding of the relationship between cropland patterns and multifunctionality, which can help provide a basis for cropland conservation and landscape planning in similar mountainous areas and promote the achievement of sustainable agricultural development goals in the mountainous areas of southwest China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land System – Ecological Process Interactions)

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24 pages, 2211 KiB

Open AccessArticle

What Influences Farmers’ Adoption of Soil Testing and Formulated Fertilization Technology in Black Soil Areas? An Empirical Analysis Based on Logistic-ISM Model

by Yuxuan Xu, Hongbin Liu, Jie Lyu and Ying Xue

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 15682; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315682 - 25 Nov 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2399

Abstract

Along with the increasing prominence of environmental risks such as soil surface source pollution and declining quality grade of arable land, the issues of how to address irrational fertilizer application and enhance the safety of agricultural products have attracted widespread attention. In this context, clarifying the main factors affecting farmers’ use of soil testing and formulated fertilization technology (STFFT) can further improve the technology adoption rate and fertilizer utilization efficiency, promote standardized agricultural production and maintain the health and stability of soil ecology in black soil areas. This is of great significance to the construction of green agriculture, national dietary health and national food security. This study builds an “external environmental stimuli-perceived characteristics-adoption behavior” theoretical framework to investigate the decision-making and the dynamic influence mechanisms of farmers’ adoption behavior of STFFT. Based on farmer survey data, the logistic-ISM model has been applied. The main findings are as follows. First, five types of influencing factors, namely individual characteristics, family characteristics, business characteristics, cognitive characteristics and external environmental characteristics, had significant “push” effects on farmers’ STFFT adoption behavior. Among them, planting scale and technical training are the key factors influencing farmers’ adoption of scientific fertilizer application technology. Second, both farmers’ perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness play a significant role in farmers’ decision-making process, and the easier farmers perceive STFFT to be to master and the greater the benefits it brings, the more pronounced the tendency to adopt the technology, all other influencing conditions being equal. Third, the main influencing factors of farmers’ STFFT adoption behavior are intrinsically related and divided into four categories based on the magnitude of influence: deep-rooted, medium indirect, shallow indirect and superficial direct. In order to reduce further degradation of black soil caused by farmers’ irrational production habits and to improve resource utilization efficiency, this study recommends the government to further regulate the land transfer market, strengthen the propagation of soil-conservation-type technologies in black soil areas, expand the breadth of agricultural technology training and enhance farmers’ understanding and trust in STFFT. Thus, the maintenance of soil ecosystem in black soil areas, effective guarantee of food security and sustainable development of agriculture can be achieved. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land System – Ecological Process Interactions)

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12 pages, 2518 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Estimation of Urban–Rural Land Surface Temperature Difference at Different Elevations in the Qinling–Daba Mountains Using MODIS and the Random Forest Model

by Jiale Tang, Xincan Lan, Yuanyuan Lian, Fang Zhao and Tianqi Li

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(18), 11442; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811442 - 11 Sep 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2087

Abstract

Land surface temperature (LST) variations are very complex in mountainous areas owing to highly heterogeneous terrain and varied environment, which complicates the surface urban heat island (SUHI) in mountain cities. Previous studies on the urban heat island (UHI) effect mostly focus on the flat terrain areas; there are few studies on the UHI effect in mountainous areas, especially on the influence of elevation on the SUHI effect. To determine the SUHI in the Qinling–Daba mountains (China), MODIS LST data were first preprocessed and converted to the same elevations (1500 m, 2000 m, 2500 m, 3000 m, and 3500 m) using a digital elevation model and the random forest method. Then, the average LSTs in urban land, rural land, and cultivated land were calculated separately based on the ranges of the invariable urban, rural, and cultivated areas during 2010–2018, and the urban, rural, and cultivated land LST difference were estimated for the same elevations. Results showed that the accuracy of LST estimated using the random forest method is very high (R² ≥ 0.9) at elevations of 1500 m, 2000 m, 2500 m, 3000 m and 3500 m. The difference in urban, rural, and cultivated lands’ LST has a trend of decrease with increasing elevation, meaning that the SUHI weakens at higher elevations. The average LST of urban areas is 0.52–0.59 °C (0.42–0.57 °C) higher than that of rural and cultivated areas at an elevation of 1500 m (2000 m). The average LST of urban areas is 0.10–1.25 °C lower than that of rural and cultivated areas at elevations of 2500 m, 3000 m, and 3500 m, indicating absence of the SUHI at those elevations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land System – Ecological Process Interactions)

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16 pages, 9719 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evolution Modes, Types, and Social-Ecological Drivers of Ecologically Critical Areas in the Sichuan–Yunnan Ecological Barrier in the Last 15 Years

by Xinyu Shi, Xiaoqing Zhao, Junwei Pu, Pei Huang, Zexian Gu and Yanjun Chen

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 9206; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159206 - 27 Jul 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1872

Abstract

The ecological barrier is a complex ecosystem that couples the human–nature relationship, and the ecologically critical area is an irreplaceable area with a special value in the ecosystem. Therefore, protecting the ecologically critical area is vital for maintaining and improving regional ecological security. Limited research has been conducted on the evolution of ecologically critical areas, and none of the studies have considered the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of the driving factors for different evolution modes and types. Therefore, this research adopts the ecologically critical index, landscape expansion index, and the random forest model to analyze the pattern, driving factors, and its spatial-temporal heterogeneity to the evolution modes and specific types of ecologically critical areas in the Sichuan–Yunnan ecological barrier area in the last 15 years. The results showed that: (1) the ecologically critical areas in the Sichuan–Yunnan ecological barrier have changed dramatically, with the area reduction being 61.06%. Additionally, the spatial distribution characteristics of the ecologically critical area from north to south include planar, point, and linear forms. (2) The evolution trend of the ecologically critical area is ‘degradation–expansion–degradation’. Spread is the predominant type of expansion mode, whereas atrophy is the predominant type of degradation mode, indicating that the evolution mainly occurs at the edge of the original ecologically critical areas. (3) In general, precipitation, area of forest, area of cropland, and GDP have contributed significantly to the evolution of ecologically critical areas. However, the same driving factor has different effects on the expansion and degradation of these areas. Expansion is driven by multiple factors at the same time but is mainly related to human activities and land use change, whereas for degradation, climate and policy are the main driving factors. The present research aimed to quantitatively identify the evolution modes and specific types of ecologically critical areas and explore the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of driving factors. The results can help decision-makers in formulating ecological protection policies according to local conditions and in maintaining and enhancing the regional ecological functions, thereby promoting the sustainable development of society-economy-ecology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land System – Ecological Process Interactions)

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16 pages, 1962 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comprehensive Monitoring and Benefit Evaluation of Converting Farmlands into Forests and Grasslands in China

by Shidong Li, Bing Wang, Sheng Zhang, Yingfa Chen and Guangshuai Zhao

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(11), 6942; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116942 - 6 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2210

Abstract

Conversion of farmlands to forests and grasslands (CFFG) is one of the major ecological projects with the largest investment, strongest policy, widest coverage and highest degree of participation in China, and even in the world. In order to scientifically evaluate the benefits and dynamic changes, better serve the decision-making, consolidate the achievements and promote the high-quality development of this project, it is of great significance to organize the monitoring and evaluation of its benefits. On the basis of reviewing and summarizing the monitoring and evaluation history of the benefits, this study established an indicator system for comprehensive monitoring and evaluation, composed of three components of benefits, 10 categories and 48 indicators, including 23 indicators of ecological benefits, 11 indicators of economic benefits and 14 indicators of social benefits. These methods of monitoring and evaluation are applied to the systematic and full coverage monitoring and evaluation of the national project of CFFG for the first time. There are four aspects of the innovation of this research: First, it is the first time that a comprehensive ecological, economic and social benefit evaluation indicator system has been established. Second, it is the first time that quantitative evaluation methods have been established. Third, it is the first comprehensive quantitative assessment of the CFFG project. Fourth, this is a full-scale evaluation of the project for the first time. The evaluation results show that the total value of the three benefits from the CFFG project is 2405.046 billion Yuan (354.4129 billion US$)·y⁻¹, of which the ecological benefit is 1416.864 billion Yuan (208.7922 billion US$)·y⁻¹, the economic benefit is 255.486 billion Yuan (37.649 billion US$)·y⁻¹ and the social benefit is 732.696 billion Yuan (107.9717 billion US$)·y⁻¹, accounting for 58.92%, 10.62% and 30.46%, respectively, of the total benefits. Our results provide detailed evaluation of the achievement and benefits of the CFFG project. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land System – Ecological Process Interactions)

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21 pages, 15447 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimal Planning and Management of Land Use in River Source Region: A Case Study of Songhua River Basin, China

by Yucong Duan, Jie Tang, Zhaoyang Li, Yao Yang, Ce Dai, Yunke Qu and Hang Lv

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(11), 6610; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116610 - 28 May 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2409

Abstract

Adjusting land use is a practical way to protect the ecosystem, but protecting water resources by optimizing land use is indirect and complex. The vegetation, soil, and rock affected by land use are important components of forming the water cycle and obtaining clean water sources. The focus of this study is to discuss how to optimize the demands and spatial patterns of different land use types to strengthen ecological and water resources protection more effectively. This study can also provide feasible watershed planning and policy suggestions for managers, which is conducive to the integrity of the river ecosystem and the sustainability of water resources. A watershed-scale land use planning framework integrating a hydrological model and a land use model is established. After quantifying the water retention value of land use types through a hydrological model, a multi-objective land use demands optimization model under various development scenarios is constructed. Moreover, a regional study was completed in the source area of the Songhua River in Northeast China to verify the feasibility of the framework. The results show that the method can be used to optimize land use requirements and obtain future land use maps. The water retention capacity of forestland is strong, about 2500–3000 m³/ha, and there are differences among different forest types. Planning with a single objective of economic development will expand the area of cities and cultivated land, and occupy forests, while multi-objective planning considering ecological and water source protection tends to occupy cultivated land. In the management of river headwaters, it is necessary to establish important forest reserves and strengthen the maintenance of restoration forests. Blindly expanding forest area is not an effective way to protect river headwaters. In conclusion, multi-objective land use planning can effectively balance economic development and water resources protection, and find the limits of urban expansion and key areas of ecological barriers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land System – Ecological Process Interactions)

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14 pages, 4113 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanism of Response of Watershed Water Quality to Agriculture Land-Use Changes in a Typical Fuel Ethanol Raw Material Planting Area—A Case Study on Guangxi Province, China

by Guannan Cui, Xinyu Bai, Pengfei Wang, Haitao Wang, Shiyu Wang and Liming Dong

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(11), 6499; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116499 - 26 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1714

Abstract

Speeding up the promotion and application of biofuel ethanol has been a national strategy in China, which in turn has affected changes in the raw material planting structure. This study analyzed the response mechanism of water quality to agriculture land-use changes in a cassava fuel ethanol raw material planting area. The results revealed that an increase in cultivated land and construction land would lead to a rise in the load of TN (total nitrogen) and TP (total phosphorus), while an expansion in forest land and grassland area would reduce the load. As for crop structures, corn would have a remarkable positive impact on TN and TP, while rice and cassava performed in an opposite manner. Furthermore, scenarios under the carbon neutralization policy were carried out to forecast the nonpoint source pollutants based on the quantitative relations coefficients. It was proven that cassava planting was suitable for vigorous fuel ethanol development, but the maximum increase area of cassava should be 126 km² to ensure economic benefits. Under the change in fuel ethanol policy, this study could provide scientific support for local agriculture land-use management in realizing the carbon neutralization vision and also set a good example for the development of the cassava fuel ethanol industry in other cassava-planting countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land System – Ecological Process Interactions)

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23 pages, 2599 KiB

Open AccessArticle

More Income, Less Pollution? How Income Expectation Affects Pesticide Application

by Xiaoshan Su, Jingyi Shi, Tianxi Wang, Qinghui Shen, Wentao Niu and Zhenzhen Xu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(9), 5136; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19095136 - 23 Apr 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1948

Abstract

Farmers are still the foundation of China’s current “small, scattered, and weak” agricultural production pattern. As such, increasing guidance for reduction response behavior is central to reducing agricultural pesticide use. Following this pesticide reduction logic, four of the most widely promoted pesticide reduction technologies, including light trapping, biopesticide application, healthy crop growth, and insect-proof net technologies, were selected, and a theoretical analysis framework of farmers’ willingness to adopt these technologies was constructed based on the theories of value perception and planned behavior. An ordered logistic regression model is used to explore key factors behind current pesticide reduction technology perceptions, technology response willingness, and behavioral decisions of farmers in China, with survey data from 516 farmers in Henan Province. The results show that among the four pesticide reduction technologies, healthy crop growth technology is the most-appealing one for farmers, followed by insect-proof net technology and biopesticide application technology. The least-appealing one for farmers is the light trapping technology. Farmers’ perceived degree of income improvement from technology adoption is the main determinant of their willingness, which is positively significant at a 1% confidence level in all four models. In addition, farmers’ willingness to respond to technologies is also significantly influenced by farmers’ perception of technical operational ability, perception of risk from adopting technology, government-related subsidies, government technical training guidance, trust in government promotion of technology, and perception of the government’s role in improving the external environment for adopting technology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land System – Ecological Process Interactions)

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21 pages, 20175 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Methodology for Precision Land Use Mapping towards Sustainable Urbanized Land Development

by Patrycja Szarek-Iwaniuk, Agnieszka Dawidowicz and Adam Senetra

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(6), 3633; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063633 - 18 Mar 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2955

Abstract

Land-use/land cover maps constitute one of the key sources of information on urban space. To address the problems associated with the lack of timely and detailed land-use maps, the authors have developed a universal methodological approach for monitoring land use structure that is particularly useful in a rapidly evolving urban environment. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to develop a universal methodology for high-precision land-use analysis in urbanized areas in the context of large-scale mapping. The method uses geoinformation tools, photogrammetric data (orthophoto maps) as well as data acquired during a field inventory (involving a field survey and field mapping). The proposed approach is based on the modified existing approaches towards a detailed identification of land-use patterns while reducing the difficulties arising from the limitations of existing land use data sources. The methodology consists of several steps. First, the data sources for land-use analysis were selected. Subsequently, the classification of land-use categories in urban space was made. Finally, the method to high-precision land-use analysis for large-scale mapping was defined under the assumption that it is to be universal for use in countries with different levels of spatial and economic development. The proposed research method is based on an interpolation algorithm. It is highly valid, flexible, modifiable, accurate, and it can be applied to process publicly available and free sources of spatial data. Validation of the method on a test object (city of Ostróda, Poland) showed its high effectiveness, which is limited only by the type of data. The results obtained with the use of the proposed method not only supported the determination of the present land-use structure in the town but were also used to identify areas with the highest and lowest intensity and concentration of specific land-cover types. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land System – Ecological Process Interactions)

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20 pages, 5565 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Distribution Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Agricultural Land Use Non-Point Source Pollution in Typical Biofuel Ethanol Planting Areas

by Guannan Cui, Yanfeng Liu, Pengfei Wang, Xinyu Bai, Haitao Wang, Yiming Xu, Meiqiong Yang and Liming Dong

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(3), 1394; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031394 - 26 Jan 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2425

Abstract

Speeding up the promotion and application of bio-fuel ethanol was a national strategy in China, which in turn affected changes in the raw material planting structure. This study analyzed the distribution of nitrogen and phosphorus forms in water bodies and the soil of the typical maize and cassava fuel ethanol raw material planting areas. The results revealed that the maize planting area faced more serious TN and TP pollution. The river pollution was greatly affected by TN, TP, Ex-P and Fe/Al-P in soil, while soil TN and NO₃⁻-N were the main factors influencing its counterpart. Furthermore, the risk assessment of soil nitrogen and phosphorus loss was carried out based on planting structures of crops. We investigated whether the water quality indexes or soil nitrogen and phosphorus loss risk assessment results showed that the Yujiang River stayed significantly less polluted. It was proven that the cassava planting area was more suitable for vigorously developing fuel ethanol. As for the high-risk areas, ecological agriculture promoting and fertilizer controlling measures were suggested. Under the change of the fuel-ethanol policy, this study could provide scientific support for the assessment of the impact of the Chinese national fuel ethanol policy on the water environment of the raw material planting area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land System – Ecological Process Interactions)

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