In the heart of China’s Sichuan Basin, a delicate dance is playing out between land development and agricultural preservation, one that could reshape how we think about cultivated land management. A recent study published in *Environmental Research Communications* has shed light on the intricate dynamics of cultivated land under China’s Land Requisition-Compensation Balance (LR-CB) policy, offering insights that could have significant implications for the agriculture sector.
The research, led by Tao Zhou of Sichuan Natural Resources Mapping and Geographic Information Co, Ltd and Southwest Jiaotong University, focuses on Neijiang, a hilly agricultural area in the southern Sichuan Basin. The study employs a multidimensional assessment framework, integrating data from 1,718 village-level units, including land use surveys and remote sensing imagery, to analyze the spatial synergy and differentiation of cultivated land under the LR-CB policy.
The findings reveal a clear spatial pattern of ‘large-scale occupation and small-scale compensation.’ Large patches of occupied cultivated land are concentrated in western Neijiang, while compensated patches are mainly clustered in the central and southwestern areas. This has led to a net loss of cultivated land in 63.62% of administrative villages, raising concerns about the policy’s impact on agricultural productivity.
“Cultivated land is shifting toward lower elevations and gentler slopes,” Zhou explains. “This spatial mismatch between occupation and compensation is a critical finding. It suggests that the policy, while well-intentioned, may not be fully achieving its goals of maintaining ecological equivalence.”
The study also highlights a distinct shift in land quality. With 58.85% of villages having a contiguity occupation-compensation ratio below 1, the research indicates that contiguous compensation has partially alleviated fragmentation, but more needs to be done to ensure ecological equivalence.
From a commercial perspective, these findings are significant. The agriculture sector relies heavily on the quality and quantity of cultivated land. If the LR-CB policy continues to result in net losses and spatial mismatches, it could lead to reduced agricultural output and increased costs for farmers and agribusinesses.
Moreover, the ecological dimension of the study reveals an overall upward trend in the ecosystem service value (ESV) of cultivated land in Neijiang, with a cumulative increase of about 347 million yuan. However, most compensated land falls within ESV classes with only modest gains, indicating that the ecological foundation of compensated land is weaker than that of the occupied land.
This research could shape future developments in the field by highlighting the need for a more nuanced approach to land management. It suggests that policies like LR-CB need to consider not just the quantity of land but also its quality and ecological value.
As the global population continues to grow and the demand for food increases, understanding these dynamics will be crucial. The study offers a new perspective on how the LR-CB policy shapes cultivated land systems at the village scale, supporting the sustainable optimization of cultivated land resources in hilly regions.
In the words of Zhou, “This research is a call to action. It’s a reminder that we need to think holistically about land management, considering not just the immediate needs of development but also the long-term health of our agricultural systems and ecosystems.”
As the agriculture sector grapples with these challenges, studies like this one will be invaluable in guiding policy and practice towards a more sustainable future.