Dynamics of spatial associations among multiple land use functions and their driving mechanisms: A case study of the Yangtze River Delta region, China

Land use functions and their interaction analysis has been a hot topic in the field of land change science for better advancing the regional sustainable development. Previous studies focused more on the impacts of land use activities on the natural and semi-natural systems at the regional scale, ignoring the impacts of land-use on the complex social-ecological system and their dynamics at a fine scale. In this study, we applied a LUF classification framework, including agricultural production function (APF), urban-rural living function (ULF) and ecological maintenance function (EMF), to quantify multiple LUFs in Jiangsu Province, an essential part of the Yangtze River Delta region, China, from 2000 to 2020 at the grid scale. We then investigated the dynamics of spatial associations among multiple LUFs and revealed the underlying drivers of these LUFs integrating multisource data and multiple geospatial analysis methods. The results showed that APF-ULF trade-offs increased in northern Jiangsu and decreased in southern Jiangsu from 2000 to 2010; whereas these trade-offs generally increased between 2010 and 2020 across the entire region. APF-EMF trade-offs showed an opposing pattern to APF-ULF during the study period. ULF-EMF trade-offs increased from 2000 to 2020 with strong trade-offs primarily occurring in northern and southwestern Jiangsu. Land cover classes had a substantial impact on all the secondary LUFs. Vegetation cover was correlated with changes in APF and EMF, and distance factors were more important to ULF. Finally, we used the nine secondary LUFs to detect five LUF clusters and proposed distinct LUF management strategies considering the spatial heterogeneity of multiple LUFs in these LUF clusters. We also suggested the mechanisms behind apparent relationships among LUFs are considered into the formulation of land spatial planning and management strategy for facilitating the coordinated development of multiple LUFs.