Spatial Distribution and Land Use of Traditional Villages in Southwest China

Xiye Zheng, Jiahui Wu and Hongbing Deng
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Xiye Zheng: State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
Jiahui Wu: State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
Hongbing Deng: State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-13

Abstract: Traditional villages are the historical and cultural heritage of people around the world. With the increases in urbanization and industrialization, the continuation of traditional villages and the inheritance of historical and cultural heritage are facing risk. Therefore, to grasp the spatial characteristics of them and the human–nature interaction mechanism in Southwest China, we analyzed the distribution pattern of traditional villages using the ArcGIS software. Then, we further analyzed the spatial clustering characteristics, influencing factors and landscape pattern, and put forward relevant protection countermeasures and suggestions. The results revealed that traditional villages in Southwest China were clustered, being mainly distributed in areas with relatively low elevation, gentle slopes, low relative positions, nearby water sources, and convenient transportation. They can be divided into four categories due to obvious differences in influencing factors such as elevation, slope, relative position, distance to the nearest river, population density, etc. The landscape pattern of traditional villages differed among the different clusters, being mainly composed of forests, shrubs, and cultivated land. With the increase in the buffer radius, the landscape pattern of them changed significantly. The results of this study reflect that traditional villages and the natural environment are interdependent, so the protection of traditional villages should carry out measures according to local conditions.

Keywords: traditional villages; spatial distribution; influencing factors; landscape pattern; Southwest China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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