An integrated analysis of urbanization-triggered cropland loss trajectory and implications for sustainable land management

This paper demonstrates an integrated method for studying cropland loss dynamics and the resultant impacts on sustainable development spanning the past 10 years (1996–2006) in response to rampant urban growth. This study deploys remote sensing to obtain accurate measures of cropland change information and applies GIS to examine the spatio-temporal trajectory of cropland loss. Coupled with landscape metrics and soil quality assessment approach, this paper also explores the impacts on fragmentation of cropland landscape and soil resource in detail. The case study concludes that cropland has undergone considerable loss from 1996 to 2006 and exhibited distinct variation of change dynamics between 1996–2000, 2000–2003 and 2003–2006. In the meantime, cropland loss was spatially concentrated in Jianggan, Xihu and Binjiang districts. However, these changes have caused an increasingly fragmented composition and dispersed distribution of cropland landscape over the time. Moreover, the study further documented a severe competition between urban development and good quality soil concomitant with the rapid urbanization process. In addition, some distinct soil types, with their unique physical structure and history of formation, may be in the verge of disappearance. The permanent loss of valuable cropland and increasing fragmented landscape patterns along with continued urban sprawl may also impose potential threat on the sustainable development and food security of the region.

Research highlights
► Cropland has undergone considerable loss and exhibited distinct variation of change dynamics.
► Rapid urbanization process has caused increasingly fragmented composition and dispersed distribution of cropland landscape.
► Severe competition between urban development and good quality soil concomitant.