Identification and Revitalization Strategies of Rural Regional System Types Based on Human-Land Coupling: A Case Study in the Loess Plateau, China

Abstract

The development state of rural regional system (RRS) offers an insight into relationship between human and earth in rural area. Identifying RRS types and making corresponding revitalization strategies are crucial for promoting rural sustainable development. Based on human-land system science, type identification index system was constructed to identify types of RRS. Using 3197 township administrative units in China's Loess Plateau, principal component analysis and spatial cluster analysis methods were applied to analyze the dominant elements and identify RRS types. The findings reveal that: (1) Dominant factors influencing the development of the RRS development in the Loess Plateau are geographical basic conditions, ecological environment quality, agricultural development level, rural urbanization level, state of population development, and economic non-agricultural level in order of leading role. These factors collectively constitute the foundational support and impetus for rural development and the multi-body structure of RRS through their interactive and intercoupled effects; (2) The dominant factors show obvious spatial differentiation in space in the Loess Plateau, based on which RRS can be categorized into 4 primary zones and 10 secondary zones. The primary zones encompass the western plateau natural environment constrained area, the northern eco-climate constrained area, the hilly ecological conservation constrained area, and the valley plain integrated development area; and (3) The rural development strategies for the Loess Plateau should follow the RRS spatio-temporal differentiation law of “Pole–Field–Zone–Network” (PFZN), adhere to fundamental principles such as ecological priority and human–land coordination, and promote the development of rural leading industries, industries integrated development, and urban–rural integrated development according to classification and local conditions. Results can provide theoretical and practical reference for the formulation and implementation of regional rural revitalization strategy planning.