| Agro-pastoral transition zone is a very sensitive region. It is ecological barrier which controls desertification, desertification eastward and southward. The quality of agro-pastoral transition zone directly related to national security. Distributing of coal, oil, gas large-scale fields, it is an important energy base, and its development will be directly related to the overall interests of the western countries and the whole regional economic development. In the full implementation of the western development strategy, the impact of man-made factors on ecological environment of agro-pastoral transition zone exacerbate with the increasing of region economic activity. The contradictions among population -resources - environment have became increasingly conspicuous.In this background, this study choiced the agro-pastoral transition zone in Ejin Holo Banner, Inner Mongolia as study area. Using Landsat TM images and land use thematic map as data sources, using RS and GIS technology analyzed land use change on spatio-temporal patterns within nearly 40 years. Specific findings of the study are as follows:(1) Using landscape ecology FRAGSTATS software calculated landscape indices, and quantitatively analyzed the composition and spatio-temporal patterns of land use structure. Results showed that: grassland has been the superior landscape types in the study area, but as time going by, its dominance was significantly lower; the advantage differences among different types of land use reduced gradually; instead landscape heterogeneity increasing. Agriculture and forestry land use increasing, the rapid development of mining and urban areas, the influence of human on land use was growing.(2) Using the transfer matrix calculated conversion among different types of land use. Using dynamic degree model of land-use and the extent model of land use analyzed conversion among different types of land use dynamic changes within the past 40 years. It is found that during the study period, the overall degree of land use was medium in the development period. With times going, the extent of land use was deepening. Land use structure changed largely. The land use types mutually transformed. In each period the land use structure change was closely related to the implementation of Contract Responsibility System of Farmlands system, the western development strategy and converting cropping land to forestry policy et al.(3) Using the space scanning statistical method judged hot spots of land-use change. From 1977 to 1987, hot spots of land use change located in the Ejin Holo Banner eastern. The change in land use mainly includes two ways: grazing-lands to agricultural land, and unused grazing-lands. From1987 to 1998 and from 1998 to 2006 in the middle study area appeared to new hot areas, and switched to the proportion of construction land use increasing markedly. It is showed that the economic growth of research area based mainly on agriculture and animal husbandry in earlier stage; but in the late stage, regional economic development shifted the focus to mining and industrial. Around the towns and the mining construction area, regional land-use structure changed in concentration of lace.This research has theory and reality two meanings. On the one hand, can guide serious damage ecological environment in the Ejin Holo Banner to rebuild ecological reconstruction playing a positive and effective role, on the other hand can provide reference for decision-making to the same type of areas optimizing land use and restoring the degenerating ecological environment in order to promote the socio-economic and ecological sustainable development. |
