Major function oriented zoning at provincial level based on spatial analysis: A case study of Gansu Province, China

Dividing the Main Functional Regions on territory space is implemented in China, in order to identify the region units that are suitable to develop or protect. It is essential to coordinate the relationship between human and nature, so as to achieve the target of sustainable development. Gansu Province, which is located in the northwest of China, has large span in the geographic range. In this area, geographical elements formed complicated and various combinations on the space, additionally the contradiction between economic development and ecological protection appeared outstanding. We selected nine aggregate indices that could reflect the carrying capacity of resource and environment, development density and development potential of a region to evaluate 83 county-lever districts. Using geographic information system and spatial analysis method, we revealed the spatial autocorrelation and heterogeneity of all the evaluation units, then divided Main Functional Regions and represented in graph. The results indicate that regional differentiation characteristics are obvious in Gansu, and the whole territory land can be divided into four functional regions including the development type, the type inclined to development, the type inclined to protection and the protective type. Then we study the spatial pattern of functional region. Based on these work above, it can provide scientific basis for adjusting regional policy and implementing the sustainable development strategy.