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Analyzing Macro-Level Ecological Change and Micro-Level Farmer Behavior in Manas River Basin, China

Author

Listed:
  • Na Liao

    (Department of Geography, College of Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work and should be considered co-first authors.)

  • Xinchen Gu

    (College of Water Conservancy & Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work and should be considered co-first authors.)

  • Yuejian Wang

    (Department of Geography, College of Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China)

  • Hailiang Xu

    (Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China)

  • Zili Fan

    (Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China)

Abstract

Environmental degradation is closely related to unreasonable land use behaviors by farmers. In this study, participatory rural assessment (PRA) is used to conduct a detailed survey of farmers and plots and to collect relevant natural and social statistics. The accuracy of remote sensing data is verified by comparative analysis, and the change in status of various land use types in each research period is reflected by the change in the dynamic degree and change in range. We examine how farmers’ attitudes and behaviors affect environmental degradation, using a sample of 403 farmers in China’s Manas River Basin. Due to age, education, income and other differences, farmers’ land use behaviors, as well as their attitude toward and feelings about environmental degradation, vary greatly. We found that most farmers considered the environment to be very important to their lives and crop production, but nearly 21% did not know the causes of environmental degradation and nearly 8% did not consider the environmental impacts of their crop production activities. A new model for oasis expansion—land integration—is presented here. This model can increase the area of cultivated land, reduce cultivated land fragmentation, save irrigation water, improve the field microclimate and form a good ecological cycle. Through land transfer, ecological compensation and ecological protection incentives, the government should guide farmers’ land use behaviors toward cooperation with the river basin’s ecological protection and land use planning.

Suggested Citation

  • Na Liao & Xinchen Gu & Yuejian Wang & Hailiang Xu & Zili Fan, 2020. "Analyzing Macro-Level Ecological Change and Micro-Level Farmer Behavior in Manas River Basin, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-17, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:9:y:2020:i:8:p:250-:d:391752
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Na Liao & Xinchen Gu & Yuejian Wang & Hailiang Xu & Zili Fan, 2021. "Analysis of Ecological and Economic Benefits of Rural Land Integration in the Manas River Basin Oasis," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-14, April.
    2. Wei Ren & Xuesong Zhang & Yebo Shi, 2021. "Evaluation of Ecological Environment Effect of Villages Land Use and Cover Change: A Case Study of Some Villages in Yudian Town, Guangshui City, Hubei Province," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-19, March.
    3. Xin Yan & Yuejian Wang & Na Liao & Hailiang Xu & Zili Fan, 2021. "Assessment of Value Changes and Spatial Differences in Land Use Based on an Empirical Survey in the Manas River Basin," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-19, September.
    4. Meilin Wang & Yaqi Shao & Qun’ou Jiang & Ling Xiao & Haiming Yan & Xiaowei Gao & Lijun Wang & Peibin Liu, 2020. "Impacts of Climate Change and Human Activity on the Runoff Changes in the Guishui River Basin," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-20, August.

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