IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i8p3552-d1635248.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Quantification and Analysis of Factors Influencing Territorial Spatial Conflicts in the Gully Region of the Loess Plateau: A Case Study of Qingyang City, Gansu Province, China

Author

Listed:
  • Meijuan Zhang

    (School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Lanzhou Jiao Tong University, Lanzhou 730070, China)

  • Xianglong Tang

    (School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Lanzhou Jiao Tong University, Lanzhou 730070, China
    The Institute of Land Spatial Planning and Engineering Technology, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China)

Abstract

The gullied Loess Plateau, a region characterized by the overlapping of ecological fragility and energy abundance in China, requires urgent analysis of its territorial spatial conflict mechanisms to harmonize human–environment relationships. This study integrated multi-temporal remote sensing data (1990–2020) to develop a Comprehensive Spatial Conflict Index (CSCI) and applied the Optimal Parameter-based Geographical Detector (OPGD) to unravel the driving mechanisms of territorial spatial evolution in Qingyang City, Gansu Province. The results revealed that: (1) Territorial spaces exhibit a transition pattern of ecological restoration, urban expansion, and agricultural contraction. Forest and grassland ecological spaces increased by 1.42 percentage points (to 13.14%) and 1.26 percentage points (to 49.29%), respectively, while industrial-mining production spaces expanded sevenfold (0.01% to 0.08%), and agricultural production spaces decreased by 3.36 percentage points. (2) Spatial conflicts transitioned through three phases: ① A low-intensity stabilization phase (1990–2000), with 90.55% of areas under weak and moderately weak conflict (CSCI ≤ 0.4); ② A moderate conflict contraction phase (2000–2010), where weak conflict zones surged by 28.18 percentage points (13.06% → 41.24%), with moderate and moderately weak spatial conflict (0.2–0.6) decreasing by 28.27 percentage points (86.06% → 57.79%); ③ A moderately strong to strong expansion phase (2010–2020), with moderate and moderately strong conflict areas rising to 16.82%. Strong conflict zones (CSCI ≥ 0.8) expanded to 0.61%, spatially clustered in the Xifeng urban area and the Malian–Pu River corridor, showing significant positive correlations with gully density (>3.5 km∙km −2 ) and nighttime light index (NL). (3) The interaction between NDVI and land use intensity (LUI) dominated conflict patterns ( q = 0.2583). In northern energy development zones (Huanxian County), LUI and precipitation (PRE) synergistically intensified landslide risks, while facility agriculture in central plateau farmlands (Ningxian County) triggered groundwater overexploitation. The coupling of road density (RND) and population (POP) factors ( q = 0.1892) formed a transportation–population axial belt compression. Policy interventions exhibited spatial heterogeneity: the Grain-for-Green Program increased weak conflict zones by 28.18 percentage points, whereas wind power development in the Huanxian–Huachi northern belt escalated moderately strong to strong conflict zones by 3.6 percentage points. A three-dimensional governance framework integrating geomorphological adaptation, development phasing, and ecological compensation is proposed to optimize territorial spatial planning in the gullied Loess Plateau.

Suggested Citation

  • Meijuan Zhang & Xianglong Tang, 2025. "Quantification and Analysis of Factors Influencing Territorial Spatial Conflicts in the Gully Region of the Loess Plateau: A Case Study of Qingyang City, Gansu Province, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-21, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:8:p:3552-:d:1635248
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/8/3552/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/8/3552/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hualou Long & Xiangbin Kong & Shougeng Hu & Yurui Li, 2021. "Land Use Transitions under Rapid Urbanization: A Perspective from Developing China," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-9, September.
    2. Guojian Wang & Jianguo Wang & Lingzhi Wang & Yi Zhang & Wenxuan Zhang, 2024. "Land-Use Conflict Dynamics, Patterns, and Drivers under Rapid Urbanization," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-24, August.
    3. Dang, Anh Nguyet & Kawasaki, Akiyuki, 2017. "Integrating biophysical and socio-economic factors for land-use and land-cover change projection in agricultural economic regions," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 344(C), pages 29-37.
    4. Liu, Yansui & Zhou, Yang, 2021. "Territory spatial planning and national governance system in China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    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. Huicai Yang & Shuqin Zhao & Zhanfei Qin & Zhiguo Qi & Xinying Jiao & Zhen Li, 2024. "Differentiation of Carbon Sink Enhancement Potential in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region of China," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-15, March.
    2. Shuangqing Sheng & Wei Song & Hua Lian & Lei Ning, 2022. "Review of Urban Land Management Based on Bibliometrics," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-25, November.
    3. Tao Hong & Ningli Liang & Haomeng Li, 2023. "Study on the Spatial and Temporal Evolution Characteristics and Driving Factors of the “Production–Living–Ecological Space” in Changfeng County," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-15, July.
    4. Dong Chen & Rongrong Liu & Maoxian Zhou, 2023. "Delineation of Urban Growth Boundary Based on Habitat Quality and Carbon Storage: A Case Study of Weiyuan County in Gansu, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-17, May.
    5. Zhang, Zuo & Li, Jiaming, 2022. "Spatial suitability and multi-scenarios for land use: Simulation and policy insights from the production-living-ecological perspective," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    6. Jinping Lin & Meiqi Zhou & Huasong Luo & Bowen Zhang & Jiajia Feng & Qi Yi, 2022. "Analysis of the Emotional Identification Mechanism of Campus Edible Landscape from the Perspective of Emotional Geography: An Empirical Study of a Chinese University Town," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-16, September.
    7. Han, Bo & Jin, Xiaobin & Sun, Rui & Li, Hanbing & Liang, Xinyuan & Zhou, Yinkang, 2023. "Understanding land-use sustainability with a systematical framework: An evaluation case of China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
    8. Yujin Lu & Xingmeng Xu & Gaoru Zhu & Yuting Peng & Yi Li & Xueyan Zhao, 2024. "Land Space and High-Speed Transportation Coordinated Development Evaluation in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Urban Agglomeration of China," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-27, October.
    9. Ayanlade, Ayansina & Howard, Michael T., 2017. "Understanding changes in a Tropical Delta: A multi-method narrative of landuse/landcover change in the Niger Delta," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 364(C), pages 53-65.
    10. Yu, Zhenning & She, Shuoqi & Xia, Chuyu & Luo, Jiaojiao, 2023. "How to solve the dilemma of China’s land fallow policy: Application of voluntary bidding mode in the Yangtze River Delta of China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    11. Lijuan Zhang & Tatyana Ponomarenko, 2023. "Directions for Sustainable Development of China’s Coal Industry in the Post-Epidemic Era," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-32, April.
    12. Jiao Zhang & Qian Wang & Yiping Xia & Katsunori Furuya, 2022. "Knowledge Map of Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development: A Visual Analysis Using CiteSpace," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-24, February.
    13. Pingxing Li & Chonggang Liu & Hui Cao, 2022. "Quantitative Evaluation of Ecological Stress Caused by Land Use Transitions Considering the Location of Incremental Construction Lands: The Case of Southern Jiangsu in Yangtze River Delta Region," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-18, January.
    14. Zhang, Bangbang & Li, Xian & Chen, Haibin & Niu, Wenhao & Kong, Xiangbin & Yu, Qiang & Zhao, Minjuan & Xia, Xianli, 2022. "Identifying opportunities to close yield gaps in China by use of certificated cultivars to estimate potential productivity," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    15. Jianhui Dong & Wenju Yun & Kening Wu & Shaoshuai Li & Bingrui Liu & Qiaoyuan Lu, 2023. "Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Cultivated Land from 2010 to 2020 in Long’an County, Karst Region, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-22, February.
    16. Xiaoyang Liu & Weihao Shi & Sen Zhang, 2022. "Progress of Research on Urban Growth Boundary and Its Implications in Chinese Studies Based on Bibliometric Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-18, December.
    17. Yiwen Shao & Yao Sun & Zhiru Zheng, 2023. "How Do Comprehensive Territorial Plans Frame Resilience? A Content Analysis of Plans by Major Cities in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-19, May.
    18. Bing-Bing Zhou & Jingyuan Liu & Xiaoke Wang, 2025. "Advancing Sustainability Through Land-Related Approaches: Insights from NRC (1999) and a Bold Call to Action," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-11, April.
    19. Noor Ul Haq & George Kontakiotis & Hammad Tariq Janjuhah & Fazlur Rahman & Iffat Tabassum & Usman Khan & Jamil Khan & Zahir Ahmad & Naveed Jamal, 2022. "Environmental Risk Assessment in the Hindu Kush Himalayan Mountains of Northern Pakistan: Palas Valley, Kohistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-14, December.
    20. Wei-Ling Hsu & Xijuan Shen & Haiying Xu & Chunmei Zhang & Hsin-Lung Liu & Yan-Chyuan Shiau, 2021. "Integrated Evaluations of Resource and Environment Carrying Capacity of the Huaihe River Ecological and Economic Belt in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-21, October.

    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:17:y:2025:i:8:p:3552-:d:1635248. 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.