Traditional agroecosystem transition in mountainous area of Three Gorges Reservoir Area

doi:10.1007/s11442-020-1728-5

Abstract

Abstract:

The Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA) is typical of an ecologically vulnerable area, comprised of rural and mountainous areas, and with high immigration. Because of its economic and ecologic importance, studying the traditional agroecosystem changes in the TGRA is key to rural development and revitalization. In this study, we apply a framework of theoretical analysis, empirical study, and trend prediction to the Caotangxi River watershed within the TGRA. Using QuickBird high-resolution remote sensing images from 2012 to 2017 to evaluate natural resources and farmers’ behavior, we analyze the transition and trends in the traditional agroecosystem in mountainous areas of the TGRA at spatial scale of the man-land relationship. We find that the agroecosystem in the TGRA can be divided into four modes using 100 m interval buffer rings: high-low-low, high-low-high, low-high-low and low-low-high mode where the different modes represent the agricultural development stages in the TGRA. Furthermore, the traditional agroecosystem in TGRA, represented by system elements such as farmers and sloping farmland, is transforming to accommodate the diversification of farmer livelihoods. For example, sloping farmland, which was dominated by a production function, now has equal emphasis on ecological and economic functions. Spatially, the range of the agroecosystem transition has migrated beyond high mountain areas to flat valley areas. Generally, this study provides an overview of land use in rural areas, controls on soil and water loss in mountainous areas, and better rural living environments in the TGRA.

Key words: Three Gorges Reservoir Area, ecologically fragile area, mountainous area, traditional agroecosystem transition, empirical study, spatial scale

LIANG Xinyuan, LI Yangbing, SHAO Jing’an, RAN Caihong. Traditional agroecosystem transition in mountainous area of Three Gorges Reservoir Area[J].Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2020, 30(2): 281-296.

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Settlement type	Identification standard	Sources
Decline	Signs of cultivation near settlements are disappearing and abandoned land trends are clear; the landscape tends to be monotonous; the colors of residential locations are dim; and surrounding roads are gradually replaced by “forest-shrub-grass”.	CNES Astrium Quick Bird (0.51 m)
Stagnation	The distribution of the surrounding farmland is scattered and there are no signs of consolidation; the overall landscape pattern is balanced; the colors of residential locations are generally dark; and infrastructure construction is declining.
Development	The surrounding farmland shows order and there are signs of consolidation; a weak fruit forest planting trend appears; the ecological landscape tends to be diverse; the colors of the residential locations are white; and individual homes are clear.
Vigor	Clearly fruit forest planting trend near the settlements; the surrounding infrastructure is complete; the landscape is diverse; the colors of residential locations are bright; and the stereo perception of the settlements is strong.

Land grade	Unused	Natural	Agricultural	Construction
Land use type	Unused land	Forest land, grass land, water and abandoned farmland	Sloping farmland, orchard and economic fruit forest	Urban land, rural residential land, industrial and mining land and transport land
Graded index	1	2	3	4

	Economic fruit forest	Abandoned farmland	Sloping farmland	Forest-shrub-grass land
HLL
HLH
LHL
LLH