Evaluating the effects of urbanization on land use and landscape patterns in southern China (1990–2020)

Abstract

Evaluating the effects of urbanization on land use and landscape patterns is crucial for protecting resources and promoting environmental sustainability. This study examined urbanization in southern China from 1990 to 2020, focusing on urban area growth, GDP, population density, and the Landscape Expansion Index (LEI). It also assessed the impact on land use and landscape patterns through land use structures and metrics. The results reveal that Urban built-up areas have consistently increased over the past three decades, especially between 2010 and 2020. The extent of urban land increased from 20,758 km² in 1990 to 42,939 km² in 2020, reflecting an average annual growth rate of 3.56%, largely driven by the conversion of cultivated land (74.5%) and forest land (18.4%) compared to other land cover types. This expansion coincided with increased population density and GDP. The LEI also indicates a transition from compact urban growth (1990–2010) to a more dispersed pattern (2010–2020). Landscape metrics indicate decreased dominance of a single land-use type, leading to a more balanced structure and greater fragmentation. This emphasizes the need to tackle urbanization’s environmental challenges and the importance of sustainable development in urban planning for harmonious coexistence.