Spatio-Temporal Characteristics of Land-Cover Changes in China During 2000–2019

Abstract

Land use/cover change is an important theme. In this study, the land cover changes at a national scale during 2000–2019 in China were acquired by the remote sensing and integration of Geographic Information Systems. The spatio-temporal characteristics of land cover changes were revealed by the index of net area of change, single land cover dynamicity model and matrices of land cover change. It can be concluded: (1) affected by policy regulation and economic driving forces, areas with forests, shrubs and grassland may be more easily encroached in recent years. Decision-makers should pay more attention to the conservation of green spaces. (2) Some cultivated land areas with good farming conditions (e.g. abundant rainfall and surface water resources, on the gentle slops) have been occupied for urban expansion. In order to ensure the area of cultivated land being in balance, some places with poor conditions has been reclaimed as compensation for the loss which may aggravate soil erosion or exert pressure on water balance. It is recommended that more attention should also be paid to the quality of cultivated land reclaimed rather than quantity. (3) the artificial surfaces expanded at an accelerated rate with the average yearly increment of 7913 km² during the second decade, approximately 1.4 times of the one in the first decade. The increment was distributed particularly in the eastern region and then spread to central and western regions. The result reveals a waste of productive fertile soils. Intensive and economical utilization of urban land may be one way to solve the contradiction between land supply and demand in the economic and social development.