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Coupled impact of climate change and human activities on farmland loss on the Tibetan Plateau

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  • Zhang, Tianyuan
  • Cheng, Changxiu
  • Shen, Shi
  • Yang, Yongxia
  • Ye, Sijing

Abstract

The Tibetan Plateau’s scarce farmland plays an important role in the livelihoods of its inhabitants. In the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin (YZRB), a key agricultural region on the plateau, the intricate natural environment and various human activities pose serious threats to the quantity and quality of farmland. Therefore, identifying the mechanisms behind farmland loss is essential to address these challenges effectively. Herein, we aimed to describe the spatial-temporal pattern of farmland change and assess the impact of natural and socioeconomic factors on farmland loss in the YZRB. We assessed the area of farmland loss based on the land use/land cover data with a resolution of 30 m. Given the diverse natural and socioeconomic environments within the YZRB, we employed geographically weighted logistic regression to explore the mechanisms of farmland loss across different ecogeographical regions. The findings revealed a steady decline in farmland area since 2000; significant farmland was lost to water and urban areas, while farmland replenished from grassland and forest was relatively minimal. The analysis highlighted the coupled impact of climate change and human activities on farmland loss in the main YZRB, particularly in agriculturally developed areas such as the shrub-steppe region. Socioeconomic development, administration, and policies influenced farmland loss in less agriculturally developed regions such as the alpine steppe, coniferous forest, and broadleaved forest regions. This research focuses on the critical issue of farmland loss in typical agricultural regions of the Tibetan Plateau and emphasizes the apparent spatial heterogeneity in the loss mechanisms, which could support the region-specific strategies in the management and decision-making of YZRB farmland.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Tianyuan & Cheng, Changxiu & Shen, Shi & Yang, Yongxia & Ye, Sijing, 2025. "Coupled impact of climate change and human activities on farmland loss on the Tibetan Plateau," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:154:y:2025:i:c:s0264837725000924
    DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2025.107558
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