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Arid Land Geography ›› 2025, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (2): 333-344.doi: 10.12118/j.issn.1000-6060.2024.268

• Regional Development • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Optimization of “ecological-production-living” spaces for urban areas in Loess Plateau hilly and gully region by the dual-guidance between constraints and growth: A case of the central urban area of Mizhi County

JIA Ruonan1(), WU Zuobin1,2()   

  1. 1. Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an 710055, Shaanxi, China
    2. Xi’an Jianda Institute of Urban Planning and Design Co., Ltd, Xi’an 710055, Shaanxi, China
  • Received:2024-04-29 Revised:2024-08-27 Online:2025-02-25 Published:2025-02-25
  • Contact: WU Zuobin E-mail:jrndyx@163.com;ben-wzb@xauat.edu.cn

Abstract:

In the context of stringent ecological constraints in the Loess Plateau hilly and gully region and the growing demand for urban development, optimizing ecological-production-living (EPL) spaces is crucial for promoting the rational allocation of resources. This study employs an integrated research method combining ecological base identification with urban growth simulation, guided by ecological constraints and urban growth patterns in the Loess Plateau hilly and gully region. Using the central urban area of Mizhi County, Shaanxi Province, China as a case study, the ecological base conditions were evaluated using the minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) model. The Markov and FLUS models were applied to simulate the spatial distribution of EPL spaces in the urban area for 2035. Subsequently, intense, moderate, and weak conflict zones between ecological base conditions and the spatial distribution of EPL spaces in 2035 were identified, and optimization strategies were proposed for each conflicting zone. The results revealed the following: (1) The ecological base conditions in Mizhi County were categorized into three levels: ecological protection area, ecological control area, and general ecological area, with ecological protection area being the largest and general ecological area the smallest. (2) By 2035, ecological space is projected to decrease by 803.33 hm2, while production and living spaces are expected to increase by 612.03 hm2 and 191.30 hm2, respectively. (3) Approximately 40.80% of the land in the central urban area of Mizhi County is at risk of conflict. Intense conflict zones account for 1606.54 hm2, or 23.29% of the urban area; moderate conflict zones account for 968.19 hm2, or 14.04%; and weak conflict zones account for 239.32 hm2, or 3.47%. Based on the characteristics of each conflict zone, the study proposes EPL space optimization strategies focusing on ecological priority, moderate integration, and compatible development. The integrated research method presented in this study, which combines ecological base identification with urban growth simulation, demonstrates high applicability to the Loess Plateau hilly and gully region and offers valuable insights for the future optimization of EPL spaces in this area.

Key words: Loess Plateau hilly and gully region, ecological-production-living spaces, ecological constraints, urban growth, conflict identification