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Critical determinant factors (CDFs) for developing concentrated rural settlement in post-disaster reconstruction: a China study

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Abstract

Housing reconstruction is always the top priority issue in post-disaster reconstruction of rural areas in developing countries. However, the traditional reconstruction approaches, including reconstruction in situ, and resettlement are not sustainable enough for post-disaster reconstruction. Against the dispersion pattern of settlement, this study argues that developing concentrated rural settlement is able to increase the resilience of rural villages and to provide a basis for sustainable development post-disaster. Little study has reported developing concentrated rural settlement in post-disaster reconstruction until the reconstruction post 5.12 Sichuan Earthquake. Yet, there is still an unclear understanding of the factors taken into account when developing concentrated rural settlement in post-disaster reconstruction. This study aims to explore the critical determinant factors to be considered for developing concentrated rural settlement in post-disaster reconstruction with particular reference to the reconstruction post of 5.12 Sichuan Earthquake in China. Through content analysis, a preliminary list of determinant factors was firstly identified. Interviews with the local government officers, planners, and rural victims were conducted to collect opinions on the critical factors. It was found that governmental guidance, victims’ willingness, and economic development condition are three critical dimensions. The findings from this research can help understand the preconditions for developing concentrated rural settlement in post-disaster reconstruction and promote this approach in future.

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Notes

  1. ‘Increasing versus decreasing balance’ is a land use policy adopted by the Chinese government to balance the reduction in rural construction land with an increase in urban construction land. According to the policy, the rural construction land would be consolidated and transferred to farmland. After the reclamation, the right of residence land for construction will be registered as a land use right ticket, so called land ticket. The farmers will receive certain amount of compensation and use the reclaimed land as cultivated land by giving the land ticket to government, while the government can sell the ticket to developers by allocating a site plot with same size of the cultivated land for construction in urban areas.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the kind help of all the interviewees in Xiangrong Village, Shiqiao Village, Qingjiang Village, Luchi Village and Huaxi Village in Dujiangyan, Sichuan Province, China. The authors would also like to acknowledge the comments of the reviewers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China

    Yi Peng & Hao Wang

  2. College of Continuing Education, Jianghan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China

    Cong Tan

  3. College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China

    Dalu Tan

  4. Faculty of Construction Management and Real Estate, The Chongqing University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China

    Liyin Shen

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  1. Yi Peng
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  2. Liyin Shen
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  5. Hao Wang
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Correspondence to Cong Tan.

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Peng, Y., Shen, L., Tan, C. et al. Critical determinant factors (CDFs) for developing concentrated rural settlement in post-disaster reconstruction: a China study. Nat Hazards 66, 355–373 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-012-0488-7

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