IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i15p6322-d1441649.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Landscape Pattern Gradient Transformation of Small-Scale Agroforestry Patches in Mountain Cities

Author

Listed:
  • Canhui Cheng

    (College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China)

  • Zhong Xing

    (College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China)

  • Lin Ye

    (College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China)

  • Junyue Yang

    (College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China)

  • Zhuoming Xie

    (College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China)

Abstract

Small-scale agroforestry patches possess irreplaceable value compared to large-scale patches. In southwestern mountainous cities of China, the complex terrain and urbanization have led to the presence of numerous small, fragmented agroforestry patches around urban areas. These patches serve as crucial habitats for endemic species and provide essential space for wild food sources, thereby contributing to a range of ecosystem services. Consequently, their proper conservation and utilization planning are of paramount importance. This study investigates the transformation characteristics of landscape patterns of mountainous small-scale agroforestry patches and their constituent elements across urban–rural gradients, identifying the driving factors behind these transformations to support conservation and utilization planning. From an urban–rural gradient perspective, four directional transects were selected and divided into uniform sample grids. Using Fragstats 4.3, landscape indices of small-scale agroforestry patches were calculated, analyzing the transformation characteristics of these patches and their elements across different gradients. Spearman correlation coefficients in SPSS were employed to assess the influence of terrain and relevant anthropogenic factors on the transformation of agroforestry patches. The findings reveal the following: (1) Small-scale agroforestry patches and their elements exhibit similar patterns in terms of size, fragmentation, dispersion, and connectivity, showing an “increasing trend in size and connectivity, decreasing fragmentation, and fluctuating dispersion” from urban centers to natural areas, with slight variations in orchard patches. However, patch cohesion and shape complexity display nonlinear differentiated transformation characteristics. (2) Overall, small-scale agroforestry patches are significantly influenced by anthropogenic construction factors, with the landscape pattern of forest patches notably affected by terrain factors. (3) Across urban–rural gradient zones, the landscape patterns of small-scale agroforestry patches in urban centers, suburbs, and rural natural areas are more affected by terrain factors, whereas those in urban construction zones are significantly influenced by anthropogenic construction factors. The findings of this study provide a scientific basis for the conservation and planning of mountainous small-scale agroforestry patches.

Suggested Citation

  • Canhui Cheng & Zhong Xing & Lin Ye & Junyue Yang & Zhuoming Xie, 2024. "Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Landscape Pattern Gradient Transformation of Small-Scale Agroforestry Patches in Mountain Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-26, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:15:p:6322-:d:1441649
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/15/6322/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/15/6322/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Giovanni Sanesi & Giuseppe Colangelo & Raffaele Lafortezza & Enrico Calvo & Clive Davies, 2017. "Urban green infrastructure and urban forests: a case study of the Metropolitan Area of Milan," Landscape Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(2), pages 164-175, February.
    2. Su, Shiliang & Hu, Yi’na & Luo, Fanghan & Mai, Gengchen & Wang, Yaping, 2014. "Farmland fragmentation due to anthropogenic activity in rapidly developing region," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 87-93.
    3. Miza Moreau, 2021. "Transect urbanism: readings in human ecology," Urban Research & Practice, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(4), pages 483-484, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ge, Dazhuan & Long, Hualou & Zhang, Yingnan & Ma, Li & Li, Tingting, 2018. "Farmland transition and its influences on grain production in China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 94-105.
    2. Zhang, Qianwen & Gao, Wujun & Su, Shiliang & Weng, Min & Cai, Zhongliang, 2017. "Biophysical and socioeconomic determinants of tea expansion: Apportioning their relative importance for sustainable land use policy," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 438-447.
    3. Hua Xia & Shidong Ge & Xinyu Zhang & Gunwoo Kim & Yakai Lei & Yang Liu, 2021. "Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Green Infrastructure in an Agricultural Peri-Urban Area: A Case Study of Baisha District in Zhengzhou, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-21, July.
    4. Zhou, Min & Tan, Shukui & Tao, Yinghui & Lu, Yongzhong & Zhang, Zuo & Zhang, Lu & Yan, Danping, 2017. "Neighborhood socioeconomics, food environment and land use determinants of public health: Isolating the relative importance for essential policy insights," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 246-253.
    5. Jiang Du & Mengqin Zhao & Ming Zeng & Kezhen Han & Huaping Sun, 2020. "Spatial Effects of Urban Agglomeration on Energy Efficiency: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-19, April.
    6. Herath Mudiyanselage Malhamige Sonali Dinesha Herath & Takeshi Fujino & Mudalige Don Hiranya Jayasanka Senavirathna, 2023. "A Review of Emerging Scientific Discussions on Green Infrastructure (GI)-Prospects towards Effective Use of Urban Flood Plains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-21, January.
    7. Zhang, Yingnan & Long, Hualou & Li, Yurui & Ge, Dazhuan & Tu, Shuangshuang, 2020. "How does off-farm work affect chemical fertilizer application? Evidence from China’s mountainous and plain areas," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    8. Wang, Liye & Zhang, Siyu & Xiong, Qiangqiang & Liu, Yu & Liu, Yanfang & Liu, Yaolin, 2022. "Spatiotemporal dynamics of cropland expansion and its driving factors in the Yangtze River Economic Belt: A nuanced analysis at the county scale," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    9. Yu, Peiheng & Fennell, Shailaja & Chen, Yiyun & Liu, Hui & Xu, Lu & Pan, Jiawei & Bai, Shaoyun & Gu, Shixiang, 2022. "Positive impacts of farmland fragmentation on agricultural production efficiency in Qilu Lake watershed: Implications for appropriate scale management," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    10. Giulia Capotorti & Vera De Lazzari & Marta Alós Ortí, 2019. "Local Scale Prioritisation of Green Infrastructure for Enhancing Biodiversity in Peri-Urban Agroecosystems: A Multi-Step Process Applied in the Metropolitan City of Rome (Italy)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-20, June.
    11. Bahadir Alturk & Fatih Konukcu, 2020. "Modeling land use/land cover change and mapping morphological fragmentation of agricultural lands in Thrace Region/Turkey," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(7), pages 6379-6404, October.
    12. Ugolini, Francesca & Massetti, Luciano & Pearlmutter, David & Sanesi, Giovanni, 2021. "Usage of urban green space and related feelings of deprivation during the COVID-19 lockdown: Lessons learned from an Italian case study," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    13. An, Yi & Liu, Shiliang & Sun, Yongxiu & Shi, Fangning & Zhao, Shuang, 2020. "Negative effects of farmland expansion on multi-species landscape connectivity in a tropical region in Southwest China," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    14. Zhong, Lina & Wang, Jun & Zhang, Xiao & Ying, Lingxiao & Zhu, Chuxin, 2020. "Effects of agricultural land consolidation on soil conservation service in the Hilly Region of Southeast China – Implications for land management," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    15. Elin Slätmo & Kjell Nilsson & Eeva Turunen, 2019. "Implementing Green Infrastructure in Spatial Planning in Europe," Land, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-21, April.
    16. Zhao, Na & Chen, Kainan & Wu, Xiaoran & Zhang, Lili & Wang, Wei, 2024. "Cropland fragmentation change across China over the last two decades," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    17. Andrea Colantoni & Ilaria Zambon & Maria Gras & Enrico Maria Mosconi & Alessandra Stefanoni & Luca Salvati, 2018. "Clustering or Scattering? The Spatial Distribution of Cropland in a Metropolitan Region, 1960–2010," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-12, July.
    18. Kukulska-Kozieł, Anita & Szylar, Marta & Cegielska, Katarzyna & Noszczyk, Tomasz & Hernik, Józef & Gawroński, Krzysztof & Dixon-Gough, Robert & Jombach, Sándor & Valánszki, István & Filepné Kovács, Kr, 2019. "Towards three decades of spatial development transformation in two contrasting post-Soviet cities—Kraków and Budapest," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 328-339.
    19. Heyuan You, 2015. "Quantifying Urban Fragmentation under Economic Transition in Shanghai City, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-12, December.
    20. Xue Wang, 2022. "Changes in Cultivated Land Loss and Landscape Fragmentation in China from 2000 to 2020," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-16, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:15:p:6322-:d:1441649. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.