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Rural Transformation Driven by Households’ Adaptation to Climate, Policy, Market, and Urbanization: Perspectives from Livelihoods–Land Use on Chinese Loess Plateau

Author

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  • Qingqing Yang

    (Northwest Land and Resource Research Center, Global Regional and Urban Research Institute, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China)

  • Yanhui Gao

    (School of Tourism & Research Institute of Human Geography, Xi’an International Studies University, Xi’an 710128, China)

  • Xinjun Yang

    (College of Urban and Environmental Science, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China)

  • Jian Zhang

    (School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China)

Abstract

Regional rural systems respond to global environmental change with multi-dimensional transformation. However, in the widespread traditional agricultural areas, rural transformation is often seen as invisible and sometimes remains hidden by official statistics of urbanization and industrialization at a regional level. The study implemented field survey and ethnography methods, exploring the trajectory and driving paths of rural transformation in traditional agricultural areas. The findings indicate that the dominant livelihood experienced a transitional trajectory from traditional farming to jujube-oriented and then to a non-farming livelihood. Furthermore, the land use showed an eco-transformation from farmland to forest land, and from cultivated land gradually to uncultivated land. We also find that the household behaviors actively or passively adapted to environmental effects, such as climate change, market change, urbanization impact, and policy regulation, and then drove non-agricultural transformation and eco-transformation in traditional agricultural areas. Based on these findings, the study confirms that there is a clear rural transformation in traditional agricultural areas, and reveals that the Loess Plateau turned green from bottom to top. Finally, the study calls to take the road of green transformation, and proposals are presented in terms of ecology, livelihood, and industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Qingqing Yang & Yanhui Gao & Xinjun Yang & Jian Zhang, 2022. "Rural Transformation Driven by Households’ Adaptation to Climate, Policy, Market, and Urbanization: Perspectives from Livelihoods–Land Use on Chinese Loess Plateau," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-23, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:12:y:2022:i:8:p:1111-:d:874026
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Qingqing Yang & Yanhui Gao & Xiaoshu Cao & Jie Yang, 2023. "Contributions and Resistances to Vulnerability of Rural Human Settlements System in Agricultural Areas of Chinese Loess Plateau since 1980," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-31, July.
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    3. Hao Li & Huina Liu & Wei-Yew Chang & Chun Wang, 2023. "Factors Affecting Farmers’ Environment-Friendly Fertilization Behavior in China: Synthesizing the Evidence Using Meta-Analysis," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, January.

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