Reshaping the Sustainable Geographical Pattern: A Major Function Zoning Model and Its Applications in China. Issue 1 (21st January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fan, Jie; Wang, Yafei; Wang, Chuansheng; Chen, Tian; Jin, Fengjun; Zhang, Wenzhong; Li, Lijuan; Xu, Yong; Dai, Erfu; Tao, Anjun; Zhou, Kan; Li, Jiuyi; Tang, Qing; Chen, Dong; Guo, Rui
• Is Part Of: Earth's future. Volume 7:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 25
• Page End: 42
• Publication Date: 2019-01-21
• Subjects: sustainable geographical pattern -- major function zoning (MFZ) -- territorial function suitability -- land development and protection -- China; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences; Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1029/2018EF001077
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2328-4277

Abstract

Abstract: The imbalance between human activities and Earth's natural surface adversely affects the sustainability of the Earth system. From an understanding of the suitability of surface functions and potential ramifications of policy decisions, this study proposes a sustainable geographical pattern. It introduces a national‐to‐provincial downscaling approach to optimizing a national‐scale zoning scheme that covers 60%–80% of land development and protection functions in China and to creating a major function zoning model. Taking China as the case study area, the following function zones are identified: urbanization zones, food security zones, ecological security zones, and heritage protection zones. This study then proposes a three‐dimensional index system and algorithm, develops individual and integrated assessments for the major functions of the land grid, and produces national‐scale and provincial‐scale major function zoning schemes consisting of county‐level administrative cells, the first schemes to create a blueprint for a sustainable national land pattern in China through optimized convergence. In total, 5% of China's land area is covered by urbanized zones, 28% by food security zones, 55% by ecological security zones, and 12% by heritage protection zones. In the future, there will be 805 urbanization administrative units, 790 food security counties, 780 ecological security counties, and 8, 151 heritage protection zones. The scheme created using the model developed in this study is 95% consistent with the final scheme implemented by China's central government, and it has a high degree of robustness and precision. It can serve as a reference for scientific research and decision‐making concerning sustainable development in developing countries. Plain Language Summary: The research results of this work (the major function zoning scheme) have been adopted and implemented by the Chinese central government. This is significant as the central government has never directly applied research results in the field of sustainable development as official policy in this way. Looking at the preliminary results of its implementation, based on the major function zoning scheme, the central government has formulated a differentiated urbanization model, created pollutant and emission control indicators for different functional areas, drawn up a negative list of industries in different types of zones, and applied different assessment and selection criteria for leading officials in different major function zones. Our major function zoning scheme already affects many aspects of China's sustainable development, and it plays a positive role. Key Points: Develops a major function zoning model for a sustainable geographic pattern Uses this model to develop a major function zoning scheme for China This scheme was adopted by the central government of China as the first basic system of national land planning and space management