Sustainable farming genes: spatial distribution and influencing factors of Chinese Agricultural Heritage Sites (CAHSs)

Abstract

Agricultural heritage is a fundamental aspect of cultural heritage, as it is of significant cultural, economic, and biological value. The objective of this study is to reveal the spatial distribution and change of the Chinese Agricultural Heritage Site (CAHS) by means of spatial analysis. The results show that: (1) The distribution of 532 CAHSs (7 types) is patchy, and the horticulture system is gaining the quantitative advantage (55.26%), (2) The distribution of CAHSs shows the spatial aggregation of “dense in the east and sparse in the west.” The areas of Beijing, Shandong, Zhejiang, and their surroundings form the densest belt region of the heritages, and 44.17% of the CAHSs are distributed in this belt, (3) Single factor analysis shows that culture, population, soil, and elevation are the most critical driving forces that influence the distribution (all explanatory power > 0.20). Two factors interaction analysis confirms that the distribution is influenced by the enhancement of both natural and human factors. Of these, a high explanatory power (>0.70) is related to the matching between culture factors, population factors, and geographic factors (i.e., elevation, soil, and river). This study has the potential to provide scientific evidence for CAHS assessment, protection, and sustainable development.

Identifying factors influencing the spatial distribution of minority cultural heritage in Southwest China

“…The presence of dense water systems and ample sunshine contribute to the growth of agricultural and animal husbandry, ensuring a stable livelihood for ethnic groups. Consequently, areas with plentiful water resources, ample sunlight, prosperous economies, and larger populations exhibit a higher prevalence of MHCSPL and NIAHS [32,45,46]. However, the single-factor analysis of annual average temperature and annual precipitation does not provide a strong explanation for the distribution of MCH in Southwest China.…”

“…Previous studies have identified multiple variables that affect the formation and development of cultural heritage, such as natural, social, and economic factors [30,32]. This study examines the potential factors that may affect the outcome and divides them into two dimensions: natural factors (geography and climate) and human factors (population, economy, transportation, and culture).…”

“…( 3), N h and σ 2 h represent the number and variance of cultural heritage sites in the h-th class, respectively; N is the total number of cultural heritage sites, σ 2 is the variance of all cultural heritage sites; L represents the number of categories of the h-th class of influencing factors. The q value ranges from 0 to 1, with a higher value indicating a stronger explanatory power for the distribution of cultural heritage sites [32].…”

“…The distribution of MCH can be strongly explained by the number and proportion of minority Fig. 6 The results of single factor analysis for MCH distribution populations, as population size and regional population advantage are essential for the preservation of traditional ways of life and production [2,31,32]. This is particularly crucial for ICHC and NIAHS, as they require dynamic heritage inheritance.…”

“…GIS is highly effective at mapping the spatial relationships and stories that shape regional cultural geographies, thereby improving the charting of cultural heritage, monitoring environmental changes, and devising strategies for resource conservation [23,24]. GIS-based spatial analysis has been applied in various heritage categories across multiple regional studies, including studies on historical villages [25,26], industrial heritage [27], archaeological sites [28,29], intangible heritage [30,31], and agricultural heritage [32]. Although spatial analysis has been widely adopted in regional studies that concentrate on specific types of cultural heritage, its application in minority areas remains limited.…”