Quality Perspective on the Dynamic Balance of Cultivated Land in Wenzhou, China

Lin Lin, Ziran Ye, Muye Gan, Amir Reza Shahtahmassebi, Melanie Weston, Jinsong Deng, Shenggao Lu and Ke Wang
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Lin Lin: College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Ziran Ye: College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Muye Gan: College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Amir Reza Shahtahmassebi: College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Melanie Weston: College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Jinsong Deng: College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Shenggao Lu: College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Ke Wang: College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-17

Abstract: Cultivated land in China has faced severe challenges in recent years due to rapid urbanization. In 1997, the “cultivated land requisition-compensation balance” policy was implemented by the government to maintain the quantity and quality of cultivated land. Previous studies mainly focused on the quantity changes of cultivated land. In this study, from a quality perspective, we characterized the occupation and compensation of cultivated land in Wenzhou City utilizing remote sensing and geographic information systems during 2005–2010 and 2010–2014. Our results indicated that although the quantity balance of cultivated land has been achieved in Wenzhou, there was a trend of consuming prime cultivated land for urbanization while compensating with less productive land. It was also found that topography, water resources, and accessibility play important roles in cultivated land changes, with urbanization occurring on the eastern coastal plain where high quality lands are prevalent. Less than 60% of the gained lands were under cultivation, with the majority of reclaimed land from forests and coastal areas and located in remote regions. Therefore, we suggest that a “cultivated land protection red line” policy should be implemented to protect the best cultivated lands, while preventing random land reclamation to secure agricultural and environmental sustainability.

Keywords: land use change; cultivated land preservation; quality; policy implication; sustainable development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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