Dynamic Matching and Spatial Optimization of Land Use and Resource-Environment Constraints in Typical Regions of the Yellow River Basin in China

Abstract

Accurately identifying the matching relationships between territorial space evolution and the resources and environment carrying capacity will directly guide the sustainable use of territorial space. Based on the evaluation of the territorial space dynamics of the lower Yellow River, this paper evaluates the suitability of territorial space development by focusing on ecological protection, agricultural development, and urban construction. Specifically, the resources and environment carrying capacity is estimated by identifying and mediating potential conflicts in the development of territorial space. The matching relationship between the evolution of territorial space and the resources and environment carrying capacity is identified using the matching degree model. The results demonstrated that: (1) Between 2000 and 2020, the agricultural space of the lower Yellow River was relatively stable, while the ecological space was generally shrinking, and the urban space continued to increase; (2) The characteristics of suitability for the agricultural development and urban construction of the lower Yellow River are characterized by landform and land-sea differentiation. The carrying scale of resources and the environment is based on agricultural space and is increasing yearly, followed by ecological space, which is gradually decreasing, and urban space, which first increased and then decreased; (3) Between 2000 and 2020, the matching index of the ecological and agricultural space evolution and the resource and environmental carrying capacity in the lower Yellow River exhibited a downward trend, while the regional difference increased. Furthermore, the matching index of urban space and the resources and environment carrying capacity indicated an upward trend, while the regional difference decreased.