IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v13y2016i9p847-d76725.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

China’s Land-Use Changes during the Past 300 Years: A Historical Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Lijuan Miao

    (College of Remote Sensing and Geography, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China)

  • Feng Zhu

    (State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Zhanli Sun

    (Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO), Halle (Saale) 06120, Germany)

  • John C. Moore

    (State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Xuefeng Cui

    (College of System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland)

Abstract

Understanding the processes of historical land-use change is crucial to the research of global environmental sustainability. Here we examine and attempt to disentangle the evolutionary interactions between land-use change and its underlying causes through a historical lens. We compiled and synthesized historical land-use change and various biophysical, political, socioeconomic, and technical datasets, from the Qing dynasty to modern China. The analysis reveals a clear transition period between the 1950s and the 1980s. Before the 1950s, cropland expanded while forested land diminished, which was also accompanied by increasing population; after the 1980s land-use change exhibited new characteristics: changes in cropland, and decoupling of forest from population as a result of agricultural intensification and globalization. Chinese political policies also played an important and complex role, especially during the 1950s–1980s transition periods. Overall, climate change plays an indirect but fundamental role in the dynamics of land use via a series of various cascading effects such as shrinking agricultural production proceeding to population collapse and outbreaks of war. The expected continuation of agricultural intensification this century should be able to support increasing domestic demand for richer diets, but may not be compatible with long-term environmental sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Lijuan Miao & Feng Zhu & Zhanli Sun & John C. Moore & Xuefeng Cui, 2016. "China’s Land-Use Changes during the Past 300 Years: A Historical Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-16, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2016:i:9:p:847-:d:76725
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/13/9/847/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/13/9/847/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Other versions of this item:

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. John C. V. Pezzey & Nick Hanley & Nick Hanley & Karen Turner & Dugald Tinch, 2003. "Augmented Sustainability Measures for Scotland," Economics and Environment Network Working Papers 0302, Australian National University, Economics and Environment Network.
    2. Yingyi Qian, 2000. "The Process of China's Market Transition (1978-1998): The Evolutionary, Historical, and Comparative Perspectives," Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics (JITE), Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, vol. 156(1), pages 151-151, March.
    3. Oecd, 2004. "DAC Peer Review of Ireland," OECD Journal on Development, OECD Publishing, vol. 4(4), pages 177-266.
    4. Oecd, 2004. "School Property Funding in New Zealand," PEB Exchange, Programme on Educational Building 2004/12, OECD Publishing.
    5. Frayer, Jens & Müller, Daniel & Sun, Zhanli & Munroe, Darla K. & Xu, Jianchu, 2014. "Processes Underlying 50 Years of Local Forest-Cover Change in Yunnan, China," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 5(12), pages 3257-3273.
    6. Xiangbin Kong, 2014. "China must protect high-quality arable land," Nature, Nature, vol. 506(7486), pages 7-7, February.
    7. Wenjiao Shi & Fulu Tao & Jiyuan Liu & Xinliang Xu & Wenhui Kuang & Jinwei Dong & Xiaoli Shi, 2014. "Has climate change driven spatio-temporal changes of cropland in northern China since the 1970s?," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 124(1), pages 163-177, May.
    8. Shenggen Fan, 1991. "Effects of Technological Change and Institutional Reform on Production Growth in Chinese Agriculture," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 73(2), pages 266-275.
    9. van Damme, E.E.C., 2004. "Nederland verdient beter?," Other publications TiSEM 736d2861-1d95-4e4c-b6d7-a, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    10. Harry Lee & David Zhang, 2013. "A tale of two population crises in recent Chinese history," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 116(2), pages 285-308, January.
    11. Li, Guo & Rozelle, Scott & Brandt, Loren, 1998. "Tenure, land rights, and farmer investment incentives in China," Agricultural Economics, Blackwell, vol. 19(1-2), pages 63-71, September.
    12. Cui, Shunji & Kattumuri, Ruth, 2010. "Cultivated land conversion in China and the potential for food security and sustainability," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 38363, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    13. Ocde, 2004. "Examen du CAD par les pairs : Finlande," Revue de l'OCDE sur le développement, Éditions OCDE, vol. 4(3), pages 253-333.
    14. Jamie Gascoigne & Paul Turner, 2004. "Asymmetries in Bank of England monetary policy," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(10), pages 615-618.
    15. Shilong Piao & Jingyun Fang & Philippe Ciais & Philippe Peylin & Yao Huang & Stephen Sitch & Tao Wang, 2009. "The carbon balance of terrestrial ecosystems in China," Nature, Nature, vol. 458(7241), pages 1009-1013, April.
    16. Turner,M. E. & Beckett,J. V. & Afton,B., 2004. "Agricultural Rent in England, 1690–1914," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521893589, January.
    17. Lin, Justin Yifu, 1992. "Rural Reforms and Agricultural Growth in China," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 82(1), pages 34-51, March.
    18. Oecd, 2004. "DAC Peer Review of Finland," OECD Journal on Development, OECD Publishing, vol. 4(3), pages 229-301.
    19. Philippe Ciais & Sébastien Gervois & N. Vuichard & S. L. Piao & N. Viovy, 2011. "Effects of land use change and management on the European cropland carbon balance," Post-Print hal-00716512, HAL.
    20. Ocde, 2004. "Examen du CAD par les pairs : Irlande," Revue de l'OCDE sur le développement, Éditions OCDE, vol. 4(4), pages 199-307.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Eshetu Shifaw & Jinming Sha & Xiaomei Li, 2020. "Detection of spatiotemporal dynamics of land cover and its drivers using remote sensing and landscape metrics (Pingtan Island, China)," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 1269-1298, February.
    2. Bingshun He & Xianlong Huang & Meihong Ma & Qingrui Chang & Yong Tu & Qing Li & Ke Zhang & Yang Hong, 2018. "Analysis of flash flood disaster characteristics in China from 2011 to 2015," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 90(1), pages 407-420, January.
    3. Liang Luo & Yetong Li & Wenjie Ma & Jianbo Rong & Jie Wei & Yong Cui & Tingting Qu, 2025. "Temporal–Spatial Dynamics and Collaborative Effects of Cropland Resilience in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-30, January.
    4. Fan Yang & Fanneng He & Shicheng Li & Meijiao Li, 2019. "Exploring Spatiotemporal Pattern of Grassland Cover in Western China from 1661 to 1996," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-17, August.
    5. Yunfeng Hu & Batu Nacun, 2018. "An Analysis of Land-Use Change and Grassland Degradation from a Policy Perspective in Inner Mongolia, China, 1990–2015," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-22, November.
    6. Raju Rai & Yili Zhang & Basanta Paudel & Bipin Kumar Acharya & Laxmi Basnet, 2018. "Land Use and Land Cover Dynamics and Assessing the Ecosystem Service Values in the Trans-Boundary Gandaki River Basin, Central Himalayas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-22, August.
    7. Simon Odawa & Yongwon Seo, 2019. "Water Tower Ecosystems under the Influence of Land Cover Change and Population Growth: Focus on Mau Water Tower in Kenya," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-17, June.
    8. Roberta Fontan Pereira Galvão & Andrea Yuri Flores Urushima & Shoichiro Hara & Wil De Jong, 2020. "Analysis of Land Transition Features and Mechanisms in Peripheral Areas of Kyoto (1950–1960)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-22, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jia, Lili, 2012. "Land fragmentation and off-farm labor supply in China," Studies on the Agricultural and Food Sector in Transition Economies, Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO), volume 66, number 66.
    2. Carter, Colin A. & Estrin, Andrew J., 2001. "Market Reforms Versus Structural Reforms in Rural China," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 29(3), pages 527-541, September.
    3. Zhang, Yanjie & Wang, Xiaobing, 2009. "Land Reallocation and Its Impacts on Technical Efficiency --Evidence from China’s Agricultural Production," 2009 Conference, August 16-22, 2009, Beijing, China 51954, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    4. Bruce, John W. & Li, Zongmin, 2009. "“Crossing the river while feeling the rocks”: Incremental land reform and its impact on rural welfare in China," IFPRI discussion papers 926, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    5. Kanbur, Ravi & Zhang, Xiaobo, 2001. "Fifty Years Of Regional Inequality In China: A Journey Through Revolution, Reform And Openness," Working Papers 7236, Cornell University, Department of Applied Economics and Management.
    6. Thomas Vendryes, 2014. "Peasants Against Private Property Rights: A Review Of The Literature," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(5), pages 971-995, December.
    7. Huang, Jikun & Rozelle, Scott, 2006. "The emergence of agricultural commodity markets in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 17(3), pages 266-280.
    8. Colby, Hunter & Diao, Xinshen & Somwaru, Agapi, 1999. "Sources Of Growth And Supply Response: A Cross-Commodity Analysis Of China'S Grain Sector," Bulletins 12985, University of Minnesota, Economic Development Center.
    9. Munir Ahmad & Ghulam Mustafa Chaudhry & Mohammad Iqbal, 2002. "Wheat Productivity, Efficiency, and Sustainability: A Stochastic Production Frontier Analysis," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 41(4), pages 643-663.
    10. Huang, Qiuqiong & Rozelle, Scott & Lohmar, Bryan & Huang, Jikun & Wang, Jinxia, 2006. "Irrigation, agricultural performance and poverty reduction in China," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 30-52, February.
    11. Jia, Lili & Petrick, Martin, 2014. "How does land fragmentation affect off-farm labor supply: panel data evidence from China," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 45(3), pages 369-380.
    12. Zhang, Yumei & Diao, Xinshen, 2020. "The changing role of agriculture with economic structural change – The case of China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    13. Deng, Xinan & Luo, Yuzhou & Dong, Suocheng & Yang, Xiusheng, 2005. "Impact of resources and technology on farm production in northwestern China," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 84(2), pages 155-169, May.
    14. David K. Lambert & Elliott Parker, 1998. "Productivity in Chinese Provincial Agriculture," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(3), pages 378-392, September.
    15. Shenggen Fan, 2000. "Technological change, technical and allocative efficiency in Chinese agriculture: the case of rice production in Jiangsu," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 12(1), pages 1-12.
    16. Lin, Youhong & Xu, Chunhua, 2024. "Electrification and economic growth: Evidence from china's rural primary electrification program," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    17. Mao, Weining & Koo, Won W., 1996. "Productivity Growth, Technology Progress, And Efficiency Change In Chinese Agricultural Production From 1984 To 1993," Agricultural Economics Reports 23442, North Dakota State University, Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics.
    18. Rozelle, Scott & Huang, Jikun, 2000. "Transition, development and the supply of wheat in China," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 44(4), pages 1-29.
    19. Du, Jane & Deng, Kent, 2016. "To get the prices right for food: a “Gerschenkron state” versus the market in reforming China, 1979–2006," Economic History Working Papers 65369, London School of Economics and Political Science, Department of Economic History.
    20. Fan, Shenggen & Fang, Cheng & Zhang, Xiaobo, 2001. "How Agricultural Research Affects Urban Poverty In Developing Countries? The Case Of China," 2001 Annual meeting, August 5-8, Chicago, IL 20636, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2016:i:9:p:847-:d:76725. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.