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Spatiotemporal Changes and Driving Factors of Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) in the Wuding River Basin, China: Impacts of Ecological Restoration

Author

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  • Tingyu Sun

    (College of Life and Environmental Science, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China)

  • Mingxia Ni

    (College of Life and Environmental Science, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China)

  • Yinuo Yang

    (College of Life and Environmental Science, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China)

  • Yu Fang

    (College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Jianxin Xia

    (College of Life and Environmental Science, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China
    College of Oceanography, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China)

Abstract

Over the past two decades, large-scale ecological restoration in the Loess Plateau has significantly transformed land use and land cover (LULC) in the Wuding River Basin (WRB), improving ecological governance and environmental conditions. This study examines the spatiotemporal evolution of LULC and its driving factors from 2000 to 2020, employing methods such as the LULC dynamic degree, transfer matrix, migration trajectory, and geographical detector. Results show that (1) grassland dominates the basin’s LULC (78.16%), with decreases in cropland and desert areas, and expansions in grassland, forest, and urban areas. Water bodies show minimal fluctuations. The mean annual dynamic degree of LULC types (from highest to lowest) is as follows: forest > desert > urban > water > cropland > grassland. The overall dynamic degree fluctuated, initially decreasing (0.85%–0.68%), then increasing (0.68–0.89%), followed by another decline (0.89–0.30%). (2) LULC patterns follow a northwest-to-southeast gradient, with primary transitions from desert and cropland to grassland and secondary transitions to forest, urban, and water bodies. Spatial migration mainly shifts westward and northward. (3) Under the single-factor influence, natural factors, especially slope (7.2–36.4%) and precipitation (6.1–22.3%), are the primary drivers of LULC changes, with population density (7.9%) and GDP (27.5%) influencing urban areas. In the interaction of factors, topography and climate (40.5–66.1%) primarily drive increases in cropland, forest, and grassland, while human activities and climate (24.8–36.7%) influence urban and water area expansion. Desert area reduction is largely driven by climatic factors (40.3%). The interaction between two factors shows either a bi-factorial or nonlinear enhancement effect, suggesting that their combined influence offers stronger explanatory power than any single factor alone. This study highlights significant LULC changes in the WRB, driven by both natural factors and human activities, contributing to enhanced ecological governance and land use sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Tingyu Sun & Mingxia Ni & Yinuo Yang & Yu Fang & Jianxin Xia, 2024. "Spatiotemporal Changes and Driving Factors of Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) in the Wuding River Basin, China: Impacts of Ecological Restoration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-22, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:23:p:10453-:d:1532317
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Xiao Zhang & Yuanjie Deng & Mengyang Hou & Shunbo Yao, 2021. "Response of Land Use Change to the Grain for Green Program and Its Driving Forces in the Loess Hilly-Gully Region," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-28, February.
    2. Wenfeng Chi & Yuetian Wang & Yuxin Lou & Ya Na & Qiancheng Luo, 2022. "Effect of Land Use/Cover Change on Soil Wind Erosion in the Yellow River Basin since the 1990s," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-16, October.
    3. Jinmeng Lee & Xiaojun Yin & Honghui Zhu & Xin Zheng, 2023. "Geographical Detector-Based Research of Spatiotemporal Evolution and Driving Factors of Oasification and Desertification in Manas River Basin, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-20, July.
    4. Jiahui Zhou & Peng Gao & Changxue Wu & Xingmin Mu, 2023. "Analysis of Land Use Change Characteristics and Its Driving Forces in the Loess Plateau: A Case Study in the Yan River Basin," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-20, August.
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