Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Land use transition and rural spatial governance: Mechanism, framework and perspectives

  • Published:
Journal of Geographical Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The pattern for utilization of rural space is closely related to rural transformation development (RTD). The problem of rural space utilization is an important manifestation of the uncoordinated relationship between land use patterns and rural development status during a transformation period. Considering the rural space utilization issue, this article seeks to analyze the interaction mechanisms between land use transition (LUT) and rural spatial governance and then build a rural spatial governance analysis framework based on LUT. Also, the paper explores the internal relationship between rural spatial governance and rural vitalization and discusses the research prospective of the interaction. The study found that: (1) Rural space utilization has systemic problems such as limited development space, ill-defined ownership and poor organization, which have become important obstacles for rural development. (2) The uncoordinated relationship between LUT and RTD is an important reason for the dilemma surrounding rural space utilization. (3) The LUT provides a basis for determining the timing of rural spatial governance, specifying spatial governance objectives, and clarifying rural spatial governance methods. (4) The construction of a comprehensive analysis framework of “matter-ownership-organization” of rural space based on the LUT has created conditions for the orderly promotion of rural spatial governance. (5) Rural spatial governance which facilitates the integration of urban-rural development is an important foundation for rural vitalization. (6) Interaction analysis of LUT, RTD and rural spatial governance is conducive to facilitating research on the operational mechanism of rural regional systems and to expanding the research field of rural geography.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barbier E B, Burgess J C, Grainger A, 2010. The forest transition: Towards a more comprehensive theoretical framework. Land Use Policy, 27: 98–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bren d’Amour C, Eitelberg D A, Verburg P H, 2017. A global analysis of land take in cropland areas and production displacement from urbanization. Global Environmental Change, 43: 107–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caulfield M, Bouniol J, Fonte S J et al., 2019. How rural out-migrations drive changes to farm and land management: A case study from the rural Andes. Land Use Policy, 81: 594–603.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y, Liu Y, Li Y, 2019. Agricultural development status and industrial prosperity path under the relationship between urban and rural areas. Geographical Research, 38(3): 632–642. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng P, Liu Y, 2017. The territory and territoriality in the spatial governance of Chinese rural society in Ming and Qing dynasties. Human Geography, 32(1): 29–36. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fan J, 2017. Perspective of China’s spatial governance system after 19th CPC National Congress. Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 32(4): 396–404. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Foley J A, DeFries R, Asner G P et al., 2005. Global consequences of land use. Science, 309(22): 570–574.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ge D, Long H, 2020. Rural spatial governance and urban-rural integration development. Acta Geographica Sinica, 75(6): 1272–1286. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ge D, Long H, Qiao W et al., 2020. Effects of rural-urban migration on agricultural transformation: A case of Yucheng City, China. Journal of Rural Studies, 76: 85–95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ge D, Long H, Zhang Y et al., 2018a. Analysis of the coupled relationship between grain yields and agricultural labor changes in China. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 28(1): 93–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ge D, Long H, Zhang Y et al., 2018b. Farmland transition and its influences on grain production in China. Land Use Policy, 70: 94–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ge D, Wang Z, Tu S et al., 2019. Coupling analysis of greenhouse-led farmland transition and rural transformation development in China’s traditional farming area: A case of Qingzhou City. Land Use Policy, 86: 113–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grainger A, 1995. National land use morphology: Patterns and possibilities. Geography, 80: 235–245.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang X, 2017. A review of effects of urban and rural land market integration on land use and land cover change. Scientia Geographica Sinica, 37(2): 200–208. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambin E F, Meyfroidt P, 2010. Land use transitions: Socio-ecological feedback versus socio-economic change. Land Use Policy, 27: 108–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li S, Li X, 2018. Progress and prospect on farmland abandonment. Acta Geographica Sinica, 73(5): 803–817. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu W, 2014. Economic geography for spatial governance. Acta Geographica Sinica, 69(8): 1109–1116. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, 2018. Research on the urban-rural integration and rural vitalization in the new era in China. Acta Geographica Sinica, 73(4): 637–650. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Li Y, 2017. Revitalize the world’s countryside. Nature, 548: 275–277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Liu Y, Chen Y et al., 2010. The process and driving forces of rural hollowing in China under rapid urbanization. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 20(6): 876–888.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Wang Y, 2019. Rural land engineering and poverty alleviation: Lessons from typical regions in China. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 29(5): 643–657.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Y, Yang, R, Long, H et al., 2014. Implications of land-use change in rural China: A case study of Yucheng, Shandong province. Land Use Policy, 40: 111–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Long H, 2014. Land consolidation: An indispensable way of spatial restructuring in rural China. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 24(4): 211–225.

    Google Scholar 

  • Long H, 2020. Land Use Transitions and Rural Restructuring in China. Singapore: Springer Nature.

    Google Scholar 

  • Long H, Ge D, Wang J, 2019a. Progress and prospects of the coupling research on land use transitions and rural transformation development. Acta Geographica Sinica, 74(12): 2546–2559. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Long H, Li T, 2012. The coupling characteristics and mechanism of farmland and rural housing land transition in China. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 22(3): 548–562.

    Google Scholar 

  • Long H, Qu Y, 2018. Land use transitions and land management: A mutual feedback perspective. Land Use Policy, 74: 111–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Long H, Qu Y, Tu S et al., 2020. Development of land use transitions research in China. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 30(7): 1195–1214.

    Google Scholar 

  • Long H, Zhang Y, Tu S, 2019b. Rural vitalization in China: A perspective of land consolidation. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 29(4): 517–530.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyfroidt P, Roy Chowdhury R, de Bremond A et al., 2018. Middle-range theories of land system change. Global Environmental Change, 53: 52–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu M, Wei L, Ge D et al., 2020. Spatial optimization of rural settlements based on the perspective of appropriateness-domination: A case of Xinyi City. Habitat International, 98: 102148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Qiao L, Liu Y, 2019. China’s rural vitalization strategy and rural homestead system reform in the new period. Geographical Research, 38(3): 655–666. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Song X, 2017. Discussion on land use transition research framework. Acta Geographica Sinica, 72(3): 471–487. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun J, 2019. Cultural inheritance and spatial governance based on cultural confidence in the New Era: An introduction to the issue of “Cultural Inheritance and Spatial Governance”. Geographical Research, 38(6): 1283–1289. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tang C, He Y, Zhou G et al., 2014. The research on optimization mode of spatial organization of rural settlements oriented by life quality. Acta Geographica Sinica, 69(10): 1459–1472. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tu S, Long H, 2017. Rural restructuring in China: Theory, approaches and research prospect. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 27(10): 1169–1184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tu S, Long H, Zhang Y et al., 2018. Rural restructuring at village level under rapid urbanization in metropolitan suburbs of China and its implications for innovations in land use policy. Habitat International, 77: 143–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Vliet J, De Groot H L F, Rietveld P et al., 2015. Manifestations and underlying drivers of agricultural land use change in Europe. Landscape and Urban Planning, 133: 24–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Liu Y, 2018. Pollution and restructuring strategies of rural ecological environment in China. Progress in Geography, 37(5): 710–717. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu C, 1991. The core of study of geography: Man-land relationship areal system. Economic Geography, 11(3): 1–6. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yan J, Xia F, Ma M, 2016. Strategy orientations of transformation development: Land consolidation in the new period of China. China Land Science, 30(2): 3–10. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang K, Zhang Y, Zhao X et al., 2019. Temporal and spatial characteristics and influencing factors of structural efficiency of rural land use. Progress in Geography, 38(9): 1393–1402. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang R, Liu Y, Long H et al., 2015. Research progress and prospect of rural transformation and reconstruction in China: Paradigms and main content. Progress in Geography, 34(8): 1019–1030. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou G, Liu C, Tang C et al., 2018. Spatial pattern and influencing factors of quality of life in rural areas of Hunan province. Geographical Research, 37(12): 2475–2489. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China

    Dazhuan Ge

  2. School of Geography, Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China

    Dazhuan Ge & Weifeng Qiao

  3. Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing, 100101, China

    Guipeng Zhou

  4. School of Geographical Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China

    Mengqi Yang

Authors
  1. Dazhuan Ge
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Guipeng Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Weifeng Qiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mengqi Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Weifeng Qiao.

Additional information

Foundation: National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.41901204, No.41871178; China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, No.2019M660109; The Foundation of Humanity and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education of China, No.19YJCZH036; Jiangsu Provincial Science Foundation, No.BK20190717; Jiangsu Provincial Social Science Foundation, No.19GLC002

Author: Ge Dazhuan (1987-), PhD, specialized in rural spatial governance and land use transition.

Qiao Weifeng (1975-), PhD, specialized in land use.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ge, D., Zhou, G., Qiao, W. et al. Land use transition and rural spatial governance: Mechanism, framework and perspectives. J. Geogr. Sci. 30, 1325–1340 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-020-1784-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-020-1784-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation