Changes and driving forces of land use/cover and landscape patterns in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region

Conversion matrix of land use/cover, landscape fragmentation index (LFI) and landscape diversification index (LDI) were used to quantitatively and qualitatively analyze changes in land use/cover (LUC) and landscape pattern (LP) for 1990~2000 in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region and their driving forces. Two typical sample belts were used in the study. The results showed that changes in LUC and LP were significant especially in the residential areas of Beijing, Tianjin and Shijiazhuang cities. The application of component and correlation analyses on socio-economic statistical data showed that LUC and LP changes in the region were mainly driven by socio-economic, agro-production and transportation factors. Terrain and policy effects on the changes in LUC and LP were also analyzed and discussed. Complex terrains hindered human disturbances in the west/north mountain areas. Compared with mountainous areas therefore, the plains had more profound changes in LUC and LP in the study area. On the other hand, ecological policies such as conversion of croplands into forests and grasslands along with land development and consolidation constituted critical modes of LUC and LP changes in mountainous regions. Comprehensive analysis on the driving forces of LUC and LP changes in the region showed that socio-economic factors were more important in the metropolises and that agro-production conditions dominated in traditional agricultural areas. The analysis and especially that of temp-spatial analysis provided a useful dimension to land resources management and protection in the BTH study area.