Contributions and Resistances to Vulnerability of Rural Human Settlements System in Agricultural Areas of Chinese Loess Plateau since 1980

Qingqing Yang, Yanhui Gao, Xiaoshu Cao () and Jie Yang
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Qingqing Yang: Northwest Land and Resource Research Center, Global Regional and Urban Research Institute, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
Yanhui Gao: School of Tourism & Research Institute of Human Geography, Xi’an International Studies University, Xi’an 710128, China
Xiaoshu Cao: Northwest Land and Resource Research Center, Global Regional and Urban Research Institute, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
Jie Yang: Northwest Land and Resource Research Center, Global Regional and Urban Research Institute, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 14, 1-31

Abstract: The vulnerability evolution of human settlements system on the micro-scale is a direct indicator of the local impact of global environmental change. Traditional agricultural areas are most vulnerable to climate and market changes. Due to the lack of historical statistics, micro-scale quantitative studies on the historical evolution of vulnerability are extremely scarce. From the perspective of the socio-ecological system, this study conducted field investigations along with quantitative assessment and an ethnographic approach to explore the vulnerability change of rural human settlements system since 1980 in Jia County, an agro-pastoral interlocking area. The study found that the vulnerability of natural, dwelling and social systems has continued to decrease, while human system vulnerability increased. At present, the RHSS is characterized by the poor quality of the river, a depressed rural population and a large gap between the rich and poor as weaknesses, and is characterized by sandstorm disaster reduction, more robust rural roads, adequate water for domestic use and high social security as strengths. Results revealed that ecological projects, increased precipitation, market changes, urbanization siphoning and farmer behaviors are key drivers to the vulnerability change since 1980. The study findings can be directly applied to rural revitalization strategies, vulnerability mitigation and adaptive management practices in China. In addition, the vulnerability evolution under multiple perturbations can provide guidance for settlement planning and construction in traditional agricultural areas among developing countries under global changes.

Keywords: human settlement ecology; vulnerability; TOPSIS; contribution and barrier models; Chinese Loess Plateau (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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