Abstract:

Rapid industrialization and urbanization have worsened the shortage of arable land resources in relatively developed coastal areas of China. It is important to study how to rationally allocate the quantity of arable land allowable for conversion into urban uses to maintain a sound eco-system both scientifically and practically. We constructed a Model of Allowable Conversion (MAC) of regional arable land resources after analyzing the characteristics of land resources changes, and studying the relationship between these changes and the demand for urban land use during the process of industrialization and urbanization in Wuxi city. With the assistance of the MAC we determined the maximum amount of arable land resources that is allowed for conversion into non-farming uses in the next 30 years. The idea of quantifying the allowable conversion of arable land resources will help accelerate the process of industrialization and urbanization while arable land resources are adequately protected. Through determining a threshold quantity of allowable conversion of arable land resources during industrialization and urbanization, we solved the problem of how to optimally allocate regional land resources for multiple and even conflicting demands for land resources.

Key words: arable land resources, industrialization, model of allowable conversion (MAC), urbanization, Wuxi city