Land Use in Pearl River Delta
Exam No.B266838
2024-11-21
Overview
The Pearl River Delta, a vibrant economic powerhouse in southern China, is home to nine bustling cities, including the likes of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Zhuhai. This region, with its rapid industrialization and urbanization, pulses with energy, standing out as one of China’s most dynamic economic engines. The shifts in land use here have reshaped not only the landscape but also the very fabric of ecosystem services, setting a precedent for regional development on both national and global stages.
Here’s a picture of Pearl River Delta. Can you recognize any cities?
Also, the video here indicates how this region changed over the past 32 years.
Agricultural Types
When it comes to agriculture, the Pearl River Delta is a tapestry of intensive and extensive farming practices. The “Ji Tang” system, a local gem, showcases the ingenuity of intensive agriculture. Imagine fish ponds surrounded by earthen embankments, where mulberry trees, sugarcane, and fruit trees thrive. These artificial ecosystems are not just efficient; they’re a testament to the region’s ability to harness land resources, mitigate flood disasters, boost incomes, and foster ecological harmony.
1.Diving into the Timeless Brilliance of “Ji Tang”: A 2,500-Year-Old Ecological Symphony
Imagine a landscape where ancient innovation meets ecological harmony: the “Ji Tang” system, a testament to China’s agricultural ingenuity dating back 2,500 years to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. Also known as mulberry fish pond system, this system isn’t just a historical artifact; it’s a living narrative of adaptation and economic shift towards the southern territories. In the face of frequent floods, the locals transformed waterlogged lowlands into a sustainable agricultural model, creating fish ponds and using the excavated soil to build embankments. This sparked a cycle of sustainability, vividly described as: “Mulberry on the banks, fish in the ponds, mulberry leaves for silkworms, silkworm waste for fish, fish manure for the pond, and pond mud for mulberry trees.”[1]
The Mulberry Dike Fish Pond System (source: The Plan Journal 2022)
2.Harmony with Nature and Ingenious Innovations
The “Ji Tang” system embodies a lifestyle that harmonizes with nature through dike building, land reclamation, pond fish farming, and crop cultivation on the very embankments. This innovative approach to agriculture, whether developed by local farmers or borrowed from northern settlers, showcases an awareness of the environment and remarkable adaptability. Yet, as populations grew, so did the pressure on the land, increasing flood frequency and impacting the delta’s high and low areas.[1][2]
3.The Integration of Ecological Synergy and Modern Wisdom
Fast forward to today, and the “Ji Tang” system continues to evolve with technological advancements in crop diversification and animal husbandry, seamlessly integrating into its three-dimensional ecological framework. The success of modern agricultural technologies in China is now linked to their ability to balance land use and conservation, ensuring the “Ji Tang” system’s legacy endures in a sustainable manner. This model of ecological synergy, marrying fish farming with mulberry cultivation, not only creates the iconic Jiangnan water town landscape but also fosters a rich culture centered around silkworms and fish, proving that the “Ji Tang” system is as relevant today as it was millennia ago.[1]
More info here:
The Mulberry Dike Fish Pond System, China | Productive Urban Landscapes
Biodiversity and Conservation
In the realm of biodiversity and conservation, the Pearl River Delta is a national priority. With nature reserves dotting the landscape, including the waterbird ecological corridors outlined in the “Pearl River Delta Waterbird Ecological Corridor Construction Plan (2020-2025)”[3], the region is committed to safeguarding endangered species, enhancing biodiversity, and weaving a robust ecological protection network across the Greater Bay Area. By 2025, China’s ambitious goals include increasing protected land to 18%, forest coverage to 24.1%, wetland protection to 55%, preserving at least 35% of natural coastlines, and ensuring 77% protection for key wildlife and plant species.[4]
This map shows where some points are on the location of some main nature reserves in Pearl River Delta.
Pollution Types and Sources
Pollution, particularly PM2.5, casts a shadow over the Pearl River Delta’s progress. Research reveals a complex tapestry of pollution types, with Dongguan, Guangzhou, Foshan, and Jiangmen in one category; Zhongshan, Zhuhai, Shenzhen, and Huizhou in another; and Zhaoqing standing alone. Wind patterns and speeds play a crucial role in the distribution of PM2.5, painting a picture of the region’s environmental challenges[5][6][7].
CN: (DC)Air Quality: PM2.5 Concentration: Monthly Average: Pearl River Delta Region (9 City)
The following info may not fully written by English! Be care.
More researches about PM2.5 in this region:
Froestry
The forestry development in the Pearl River Delta is a vital pillar of the region’s ecological construction. The forests here not only provide cities with fresh air but also offer habitats for wildlife. Additionally, the region has advanced ecological landscape forest belts and forest carbon sink projects to enhance carbon sequestration, optimize forestry structure, and improve ecological functions.
1. Forest Area and Coverage
In 2020, Guangdong Province’s forest area reached 10.5322 million hectares, with a forest coverage rate of 58.66%[8]. This coverage rate not only provides a solid foundation for maintaining ecological balance but also plays an important role in improving regional environmental quality.
2. Forestry Production Activities
In the same year, Guangdong Province completed afforestation of 259,966 hectares, with the nine cities of the Pearl River Delta accounting for 2,200 hectares of artificial afforestation[8]. This not only reflects the Delta’s activity in forestry production but also shows its contribution to artificial afforestation.
3. Key Forestry Projects
Guangdong Province has made significant progress in coastal protection forests and the Pearl River protection forest system projects, completing 6,776 hectares of afforestation in 2020[8]. These projects are crucial for protecting the ecological environment, preventing soil erosion, and enhancing biodiversity.
4. Land Use Changes
From 2000 to 2018, the land use structure of the Pearl River Delta underwent profound changes, with a reduction in forest land area, but it remains the predominant type of land use[9]. These changes reflect the rapid urbanization and industrialization of the Delta region.
5. Ecological Construction and Protection
The Pearl River Delta region has completed carbon sink afforestation of 34,000 hectares, forest phase transformation of 46,000 hectares, reached 26 nature reserves of wetland type, and a total of 127 wetland parks[10]. These measures help enhance the region’s ecological service functions, including biodiversity protection and water resource conservation.
In summary, the forestry development in the Pearl River Delta has made significant progress in forest coverage, ecological construction, and land use, contributing importantly to the region’s sustainable development and ecological environment protection.
Landuse in Pearl River Delta
The Pearl River Delta boasts a diverse range of land uses, including forest land, arable land, and construction land. Forest land takes the lead, followed closely by arable and construction land. Data from 2018 indicates that forest land accounts for about 53.75% of the total area, while construction and arable land make up 14.51% and 22.67% respectively, with water bodies also occupying a significant portion[11].
Historically, the land use in the Pearl River Delta has undergone a rapid transformation from agriculture-centric to modern urbanization. The “mulberry fish pond” system during the Ming and Qing dynasties is a testament to the region’s agricultural development. Since the 20th century, especially after the reform and opening up, the Delta has experienced swift industrialization and urbanization, leading to profound changes in land use.
Socio-economic factors have profoundly influenced the types of land use. Population growth and economic development have led to increased demand for land, resulting in the expansion of construction land. After the reform and opening up, industrialization and urban construction land expanded rapidly, presenting a complex interdependence and restraint relationship.
Looking ahead, the land use policy planning in the Pearl River Delta will focus on ecological security and the transformation of land use patterns, promoting industrial upgrading and rational layout, building a green transportation system, and optimizing land use allocation[12]. These policies aim to promote sustainable development in the region, protect the ecological environment, and improve land use efficiency.
These policy plans and orientations are not only aimed at promoting sustainable development in the Pearl River Delta but also at protecting the valuable ecological environment and improving land use efficiency.
References
Some of these references may not written in English! Those written in Chinese were published on local government’s websites or documents from local institutes.
[1] Lo, C. P. (1996). Environmental impact on the development of agricultural technology in China: The case of the dike-pond (‘jitang’) system of integrated agriculture-aquaculture in the Zhujiang Delta of China. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 60(2–3), 183–195. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-8809(96)01068-7
[2] The Mulberry Dike Fish Pond System, China | Productive Urban Landscapes. (n.d.). Retrieved 21 November 2024, from https://blogs.brighton.ac.uk/pulr/2017/06/02/the-mulberry-dike-fish-pond-system-china/
[3] 《珠三角地区水鸟生态廊道建设规划（2020-2025年）》. (n.d.). Retrieved 21 November 2024, from http://lyj.gd.gov.cn/government/Information/plan/content/post_3045912.html
[4] [中共中央办公厅 国务院办公厅印发《关于进一步加强生物多样性保护的意见》_中央有关文件_中国政府网. (n.d.). Retrieved 21 November 2024, from https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2021-10/19/content_5643674.htm
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