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Comprehending and capturing the dynamics of change within regional ecosystem services (ESs) and elucidating the responses of ES drivers across diverse natural geographic environments stand as the foundational requisites for crafting efficacious ecosystem management strategies. Landform classifications serve as the intrinsic environmental underpinning for distinct ES operations, yet our comprehension of ES responses to drivers in different landform types remains limited. This study focuses on the Sichuan-Yunnan ecological barrier area, characterized by complex topography and a range of landform types. By systematically analyzing changes in six ESs, we employed an optimal parameters-based geographical detector model to examine driving factors from holistic and landform-specific perspectives. Findings reveal a consistent increase in the aggregate level of six ESs—food production (FP), carbon storage (CS), soil retention (SR), water yield (WY), nitrogen export (NE), and habitat quality (HQ)—during 2000–2020. ES supply varied significantly across landform types. From a holistic perspective, natural factor-dominated ESs (CS, SR, WY) were influenced by topographic and climatic conditions, while natural-socio-economic factor-dominated ESs (FP, NE, HQ) were more affected by socio-economic factors, especially population density and nighttime lighting. From a landform type perspective, driving factors had significant differences in the spatial differentiation of ESs across landform types. Although different ESs were more susceptible to the combined effects of temperature factors and GDP, the accessibility factors became increasingly influential as topographic relief index increased from plains to highest relief mountains, and water were the most critical core factor for ES provisioning in ecologically fragile and sensitive highest relief mountains. Our targeted analysis enhances understanding of ES spatial heterogeneity in complex mountain regions and provides insights for tailored restoration and management strategies across diverse landforms. These findings establish a basis for spatial zoning management and control to improve ESs under different landform types. • Understanding factors driving ecosystem service (ES) spatial heterogeneity from holistic and landform types perspective. • Accessibility, notably transportation infrastructure development, significantly influences ESs in complex landforms. • Water assumes a pivotal role in shaping ESs within complex landform types. • We advocate a landform-specific, sustainable ecosystem management strategy as a means to enhance ESs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important representation of the evolution of the rural human–land relationship in the process of urban–rural transformation development, labor migration between rural and urban areas has become the core impetus for agricultural transformation in China's traditional farming areas. An in-depth analysis of the internal mechanism of the evolution of agricultural production patterns driven by rural–urban migration at different phases helps to find solutions for ensuring the sustainable development of the countryside. This paper analyzes the relationship between rural–urban migration and the evolution of the rural human–land relationship, then introduces the city power and the rural power in the push–pull theory, and finally establishes an interactive analysis framework for rural–urban migration and agricultural transformation. The results demonstrate that the part-time rural labor and the frequent rural–urban migration in Yucheng City are the normal conditions for the labor to participate in agricultural production; and the low registered population urbanization rate and the return of the elderly labor have become the main features of the rural–urban migration in the new era. Furthermore, the state of rural–urban migration in Yangqiao Village has become the impetus of the farmland use transition and homestead use change at the village level; the arrangement fragmentation of agricultural production and the change in traditional agriculture production modes are the important factors affecting agricultural transformation in Yangqiao Village. In the context of rural vitalization, agricultural transformation in traditional farming areas needs to pay more attention to the future livelihood systems of small peasants. It is important to promote rural transformation to create more employment opportunities based on local conditions and attract rural migrants to return to start businesses in the countryside. • Analysis framework about rural-urban migration and agricultural transformation is established based on 'push–pull' theory. • The effects of rural-urban migration on agricultural transformation in China's traditional farming areas are analyzed. • The low urbanization rate and the return of the elderly migrants become the main feature of the rural labor migration. • Creating employment opportunities and attracting return migrants to start businesses is important for rural vitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A coupling analysis framework between greenhouse-led farmland transition and rural transformation development is constructed. • Coupling relationship between greenhouse-led farmland transition and rural transformation development is analyzed from different scales. • Coupling mechanism between greenhouse-led farmland transition and rural transformation development is probed. • Optimizing the coupling relationship and interaction between land use transition and rural development is useful for rural reconstruction. • Formulating land management policies tailored to local conditions can stimulate the vitality of rural development. The farmland transition is a theoretical summary of the morphological change of farmland in the context of the rural man–land interrelations evolution. The coupling mechanism between the farmland transition and rural transformation development (RTD) in China's traditional farming area is good for optimizing urban–rural relations and reconstructing rural development paths. This paper takes the greenhouse-led farmland transition (GFT) as the starting point and attempts to construct a coupled conceptual model between farmland transition and RTD. Further, Qingzhou City is used as a case study to analyze the process of GFT from the county and village scales, and the coupling relationship between farmland transition and RTD is analyzed. The research shows that the coupling relationship between farmland use morphology and rural development status presents types at different stages, which become an important window to track the change mechanism of rural man–land relationship. The GFT has changed the rural production system and urban–rural relations in Qingzhou City. The correlation coefficient between the proportion of greenhouse land area in the available farmland area and the proportion of rural labor force outflow was −0.579. Since 1995, the coupling relationship between GFT and RTD of Nanxiaowang Village in Qingzhou City has shown the characteristic four stages: "traditional grain production stage" ― "mixed development stage of grain production and greenhouse cultivation" ― "modern high efficiency agricultural production stage" ― "market-oriented comprehensive agricultural development stage". This study puts forward the conceptual framework of the coupling mechanism of farmland transition and RTD, and further validates the stage succession process of the coupling relationship based on typical case studies at different scales. In addition, the major problems existing in the current coupling relationship between GFT and RTD are further summarized. The land use policy based on the coupling relationship between land use transition and rural development is proposed to further promote the orderly reconstruction of the villages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper draws upon smart growth theory to provide an analytical framework of "smart identification" for industrial land to be readjusted. Huai'an city, Jiangsu province, China, is selected as a case example for the developed framework. Unlike the identification method of efficiency orientation for stock industrial land, which emphasizes the core goal of input and output of production factors per unit area, the smart identification framework covers the five dimensions of industrial policy, urban planning, socioeconomic benefits, transportation convenience, and environment protection. The framework pays more attention to the characteristics of high-quality socioeconomic development, including innovation-driven, coordinated, and sustainable development. Industrial land blocks are used as the research unit. A total of 1,552 industrial land blocks are identified for readjustment, covering an area of 4,008.7 hm2 and accounting for 54.3% of the total industrial land area in Huai'an city; this shows that considerable potential exists for adjustment. We argue that the evaluation index selection of intensive industrial land use and the method by which industrial land is identified for readjustment is influenced by the stage of socioeconomic development. The smart identification method is more consistent with the connotation of high-quality development, and more conducive to revealing the current demand and change law of industrial land against the background of industrial transformation and upgrading, which is of great significance with regard to promoting the intensive use and spatial optimization of industrial land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The changes of salt fields and ecosystem service values were characterized using the theories of geoscience analysis. • The conversion of water to salt fields was the main reason for the decline in the value of ecosystem services in Weifang. • The function of ecosystem services can be improved by weighing different land-use patterns. • The research results can serve as a reference for territorial spatial planning. Harmonious coexistence between human and nature has been an important prerequisite for territorial spatial planning to construct ecological civilizations. The effective way is essential to quantify dynamic modes of land-use changes and their ecological effects. Taking the coastal area of Weifang, eastern regions in China as a case study area, this paper quantified the spatiotemporal characteristics and ecosystem service value of salt field utilization using the theories and methods of geoscience analysis by using satellite imagery and land-use change survey data. The results showed that the area of salt field utilization first increased and then decreased with an upward trend in spatial separation. In the early study stage, the saline-alkali land was mainly developed into a salt field, following with the salt field into construction land, and the salt field into water. Changes in the utilization of salt fields reduced the value of ecosystem services by 3 million yuan RMB during the study period. Ecological value-added areas and ecological impaired areas were mainly located in economically developed areas such as Dajiawa Subdistrict, Yangzi Subdistrict and Yangkou Town. These results show that changes in the utilization of salt fields have different effects on ecosystem service values in different regions. It is necessary for Weifang to comprehensively control the utilization of salt fields, and to provide a reference for the preparation of territorial spatial planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past forty years, rural China has undergone dramatic spatial restructuring, and its production functions have gradually become diversified. However, although several studies have examined factors affecting the distribution of rural settlements in recent years, few have focused on rural production functions. To fill this gap, this paper proposes an analytical framework to understand the impact of rural production functions on the spatial distribution of rural settlements and quantitatively analyzes the rural areas of Taizhou municipality by using the bivariate Moran's I method at the township level. In general, the results show that the spatial distribution of rural settlements has different correlations with each type of rural production functions. The distribution has the strongest correlation with agricultural production functions, followed by the industrial manufacturing and service supply functions, while the weakest correlation is with the ecological leisure function. Further, in the high-value areas of the agricultural production function and the ecological leisure function, the distribution of rural settlements is discrete, with low density, a large scale, and a long distance. In contrast, in the high-value areas of the industrial manufacturing function and the service supply function, the distribution of settlements is clustered, with high density, a small scale, and a short distance. Based on the correlations, this paper sketches four types of ideal town-villages construction pattern to guide the optimization of rural settlements layout, including the productivist-oriented evenness pattern, the transit-oriented axis pattern, the idyll-oriented corridor pattern, and the urbanization-oriented integration pattern. This research provides scientific guidance for developing countries in the spatial planning of rural territories and the optimization of rural settlements. • Spatial heterogeneity of rural production functions is explored in the township level. • There are certain correlations between different rural production functions and spatial distribution of rural settlements. • The four ideal town-village construction patterns are presented, applied to the different dominant production function. • The implication for rural spatial planning is conducive to promoting rural vitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural space development and value distribution are the material basis for sustainable rural development. Rural development problems in China's farming areas relate to limited space, unclear ownership, inefficient organization. Rural spatial governance takes material space and the spatial relationship as governance objects, combining the fair distribution of space with the participation of multi-stakeholders in rural development. This paper examines "matter–organization–ownership" governance path for rural areas, analyzing the efficiency of spatial governance, and investigating the "population, land, industry, and urban–rural relationship" transformation mechanism needed for rural development. We selected Xiangbu Village, a typical farming village, for empirical research to verify the internal relationship between spatial governance and rural development. Xiangbu Village has significantly improved its rural collective organization, public service ability, space asset value, and other aspects through multi-scale and multi-means governance paths. In Xiangbu Village, collective power and spatial governance reconstructed the multi-stakeholder structure of the village, transforming the spatial connection from weak to strong and improving the spatial and overall benefit structure. The process of rural spatial governance involving multi-stakeholders has promoted individuals' land rights claims, the participation of multi-stakeholders, and the will to return to start businesses in Xiangbu Village. The space rights reorganization process of public spatial governance in Xiangbu Village provided the economic, organizational, and material space foundation for industrial development. While spatial governance brings opportunities for village development, it also brings risks. The collective power supervision and restraint mechanisms are imperfect, and problems with the participation and coordination of the ternary forces of government, market, and society still need an urgent solution. • A conceptual model of rural spatial governance based on "matter–organization–ownership" path is constructed. • Investigating mechanism of "population, land, industry, urban–rural relationship" transformation drive rural development. • Coordinating the internal relationship between spatial governance and rural development in China's farming areas. • Combining "bottom-up" and "top-down" of rural spatial governance is the current alternative path for rural development. • China's rural development needs to carry out spatial governance based on its own conditions and foundation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]