Land-Use Transformation and Its Eco-Environmental Effects of Production–Living–Ecological Space Based on the County Level in the Yellow River Basin

Jia Jia, Enhui Jiang (), Shimin Tian (), Bo Qu, Jieyu Li, Lingang Hao, Chang Liu and Yongcai Jing
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Jia Jia: Henan Key Laboratory of Ecological Environment Protection and Restoration of Yellow River Basin, Yellow River Institute of Hydraulic Research, Zhengzhou 450003, China
Enhui Jiang: Henan Key Laboratory of Ecological Environment Protection and Restoration of Yellow River Basin, Yellow River Institute of Hydraulic Research, Zhengzhou 450003, China
Shimin Tian: Henan Key Laboratory of Ecological Environment Protection and Restoration of Yellow River Basin, Yellow River Institute of Hydraulic Research, Zhengzhou 450003, China
Bo Qu: Henan Key Laboratory of Ecological Environment Protection and Restoration of Yellow River Basin, Yellow River Institute of Hydraulic Research, Zhengzhou 450003, China
Jieyu Li: Henan Key Laboratory of Ecological Environment Protection and Restoration of Yellow River Basin, Yellow River Institute of Hydraulic Research, Zhengzhou 450003, China
Lingang Hao: Henan Key Laboratory of Ecological Environment Protection and Restoration of Yellow River Basin, Yellow River Institute of Hydraulic Research, Zhengzhou 450003, China
Chang Liu: Henan Key Laboratory of Ecological Environment Protection and Restoration of Yellow River Basin, Yellow River Institute of Hydraulic Research, Zhengzhou 450003, China
Yongcai Jing: Henan Key Laboratory of Ecological Environment Protection and Restoration of Yellow River Basin, Yellow River Institute of Hydraulic Research, Zhengzhou 450003, China

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-15

Abstract: The Yellow River Basin (YRB) serves as a critical ecological functional and economic zone in China. However, due to the rapid economic and social development, the YRB has encountered dual pressure from the anthropogenic disturbances and climate change, leading to intensified conflicts among production, living, and ecological spaces (PLES). In this study, we examined the spatiotemporal evolution pattern and transition mode of the PLES from 1980 to 2020 at the county level, evaluated the eco-environmental effects, and identified the key driving factors. The results indicate that land-use changes in the YRB are marked by a continuous increase in living space, while ecological spaces initially decreased before increasing, and production spaces initially increased before decreasing, with the year 2000 serving as a pivotal point in these transitions. At the county level, land-use transformations in the YRB have significant spatial differentiation. The north region of the Hu Line is predominantly characterized by a reduction in ecological space, whereas the south primarily exhibits declines in production space and increases in living space in the downstream region. Consequently, the environmental quality index (EQI) also exhibits a trend of an initial decline followed by an increase. Frequent mutual conversions between production and ecological spaces influenced by major national ecological conservation policies after 2000, as well as pressure from living spaces on production spaces influenced by population and GDP growth, have been the primary manifestations of spatial transformation in the region. These findings suggest that with the implementation of appropriate governance measures, exploring the transformation of PLES at a finer county level can provide a clearer pattern of spatiotemporal changes, supporting detailed basin management for sustainable development.

Keywords: Yellow River Basin; production–living–ecological space; eco-environmental effects; PLUS model (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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