Landscape changes in a rural area in China

Landscape pattern and dynamic changes were studied in Nanhua State Farm in southern China from 1970s to 1990s. Land use maps of three representative years (1972, 1985 and 1995) with a scale of 1:20 000, derived from interpreted aerial photographs and field surveys, were collected. Eleven land use categories were digitized by using digital instruments with the assistance of a Geographic Information System (GIS). Landscape pattern and dynamics analyses, which were quantified by a series of structural, shape, pattern indices, demonstrated that the number and size of patch change significantly in productive land use type. High dominance and lower diversity characterized the landscape of 1972. Landscape pattern of 1985 had the highest diversity and fragmentation. Up to 1995, the declining trend of diversity and dominance has been displayed. In Farm, it is shown that land management decision of different periods are the roots led to the change of landscape spatial and temporal pattern.