The Impact of Whole Region Comprehensive Land Consolidation on Ecological Vulnerability: Evidence from Township Panel Data in Zhejiang Province

Honggang Lu, Haibin Shi, Bei Li () and Dingde Xu ()
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Honggang Lu: School of Economics and Management, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
Haibin Shi: School of Economics and Management, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
Bei Li: School of Economics, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan 430073, China
Dingde Xu: School of Management, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 610031, China

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-20

Abstract: A systematic assessment of the impact and mechanisms of Land Consolidation policy on ecological environment can provide valuable insights for optimizing territorial spatial development and restoring ecological functions, both in China and globally. Utilizing 2015–2022 township-level panel data from Zhejiang Province, this study employs satellite remote sensing to construct an Ecological Vulnerability (EV) index. We empirically examine the impact of Whole Region Comprehensive Land Consolidation (WRCLC) on EV and its transmission channels by applying a multi-period Difference-in-Differences (DID) model and a mediating effect model. The results indicate that the implementation of WRCLC pilot policies significantly reduces EV, a finding that remains robust after parallel trend tests, placebo tests, and other robustness checks. The mediating effects within the “Element-Pattern-Effect” framework indicate that the transition of land elements toward ecological functions and the absence of significant land use conflicts at the pattern level are key mechanisms driving these outcomes. Furthermore, the study reveals that WRCLC exerts a significant negative spatial spillover effect on adjacent areas. It is therefore recommended to promote this policy, providing valuable insights for land consolidation initiatives in other Chinese provinces and developing countries worldwide.

Keywords: whole region comprehensive land consolidation; ecological vulnerability; Zhejiang Province; township panel data (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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