Driving Forces for the Spatial Reconstruction of Rural Settlements in Mountainous Areas Based on Structural Equation Models: A Case Study in Western China

Abstract

Rural settlement development in mountainous areas is the key to eliminating global hunger and poverty. The spatial reconstruction of rural settlements in mountainous areas can promote rural development in mountainous areas. In this study, the Panxi area—a typical mountainous area in China—was chosen as the study area. The driving forces for the spatial reconstruction of rural settlements in mountainous areas were explored from the perspective of peasant households by combining participatory rural appraisal (PRA) with structural equation modeling (SEM). Results showed that: (1) 62.03% of the 266 peasant households included were willing to have spatial reconstruction, indicating that most peasant households in mountainous areas have a very strong intention towards the spatial reconstruction of rural settlements. (2) Infrastructure, medical conditions, living environment, farming culture, and dietary habits significantly influenced the reconstruction intention of peasant households. In contrast, development opportunities, place attachment, language, and living mode each had a slight influence. (3) Geological disasters were the main driving force for the spatial reconstruction of rural settlements in mountainous areas, whilst the driving force of living cohesion was the smallest. This study provides insights for future planning and construction of rural settlements in the Panxi area and spatial reconstruction practices. It has important practical significance for overcoming poverty and realizing rural revitalization in mountainous areas.

Spatiotemporal Evolution and Transformation Regulation Strategies of Rural Residential Land on the Grand Canal (China)

“…By detecting the location factors of rural residential areas, the spatial differentiation mechanism of rural residential land in different cities is analyzed. The three-dimensional driving force model eliminates the inaccurate influence of the original administrative regional factors rasterization [44]. Based on the location theory, it makes full use of the spatial driving factor distribution law to explore the driving mechanism of rural residential land, which can better understand the spatial distribution and change law of rural residential land and has important reference value for promoting the spatial planning and development of rural residential land.…”

The Classification and Regulation of Mountain Villages in the Context of Rural Revitalization—The Example of Zhaotong, Yunnan Province

“…In addition, some scholars have pointed out that farmers' willingness plays an important role in the governance of mountain villages in their studies on the settlement characteristics, spatial reconstruction, and type division of mountain villages [9,34,50,51]. This undoubtedly reminds us that we need to be extra cautious in relocated and merged villages, combine government guidance with the participation of farmers, and fully respect the wishes of farmers.…”

“…In mountain villages, farmers have inconvenient transportation, high investment in infrastructure and public service facilities, and difficulty with remediation, which are key areas for sustainable rural development. Globally, mountains are widely distributed in Eurasia and the Americas [34], and China's mountainous area accounts for nearly 70% of the country's total land area. According to the "China Counties Statistical Yearbook (County and Cities Volume)", when more than 80% of the area in a county is mountainous, the county is defined as mountainous, and the total area of China occupied by mountainous counties is approximately 45% [35].…”

Quantitative Analysis of Spatial–Temporal Differentiation of Rural Settlements Extinction in Mountainous Areas Based on Reclamation Projects: A Case Study of Chongqing, China

“…In Zhangjiakou city, China, the mountainous transect is dominated by the evolution trend of arable land and rural settlements, with a slow evolution process and regular spatial form [17]. In the Panxi region of Sichuan Province, China, geological disasters are the main driving force behind the spatial reconstruction of rural settlements in mountainous areas [18]. In Jilin Province, China, rural settlements were expanded from small to large through exchange mechanisms [19].…”