Research Reports
A Study of a Supporting Model for Sustainable Land Use Planning in Rural Areas
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AuthorSim, Jaehun
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Publication Date2014.12.30
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Original
Background of Research
Land development for housing, factories, cattle stables, and warehouses has occurred in rural regions surrounding metropolitan areas, without supplying proper infrastructure and making any righteous land-use planning in advance. A lack of comprehensive land-use plans has caused the increase of individual land development on a small scale in rural areas, which interrupted the efficient use of rural land and its environmental soundness.
Although rural areas and lands retain important functions as a reservoir of traditional landscape, ecosystem, food production, and recreational venues, there still exists a developmental paradigm that rural areas are to be developed in order to meet urban needs. However, this is not a sustainable approach in terms of national land-use management. In this regard, this study aims to research and create specific and functional models and indices to quantitatively evaluate the status of rural land-use and monitor its transition in the degree of sustainability.
Method of Research
To achieve these research goals, this study was composed of four main parts. The first part of the study tried to draw out the definition of land-use sustainability in rural areas. This task required two kinds of literature review: one for a general definition of land-use sustainability, and the other for a unique definition of sustainable rural areas and land use. Secondly, the current land use policies applicable to rural areas were reviewed to derive the drawbacks of these policies. At the same time, based on the basic statistics about land prices, the average parcel size of land use change, and the former categories of developed land lots, the land use problems in rural areas were demonstrated. Third, the statistical model for estimating the probability of rural-urban land use change was developed to specify the factors that contribute to rural land use changes. To create some spatial variables, GIS programs and the SQL system was exploited. Lastly, based on the factors that were found to influence the land use changes in rural areas, quantitative indices were designed to monitor the land-use status for each area unit. By calculating these monitoring indices, specific areas that are in need of systematic land use planning and sustainable management were suggested for policy implications.
Research Results and Implications
Major results of this study are as follows. First, the definition of the sustainability of rural land-use was drawn out: considering rural lands as both agricultural resources to produce food and intangible environmental benefits, and communities and the living domain where rural residents’ quality of life depends on, and thus, by taking account of the future demands that our descendants will have on lands, minimizing the negative environmental impacts on rural lands. This definition was reflected when developing monitoring indices.
Secondly, as results of estimating the statistical model, it was found out that when a rural land parcel’s area is below 0.1ha, it is highly likely to be changed for urban uses, and this tendency leads to the fragmented developmental patterns in rural areas. And it was also found out that regardless of each parcel’s distance to previously developed land parcels, the probability of rural-urban land use change was more dependent on land prices, because developing inexpensive lands generates more profits. The discordance between the legal land category and real land use status increases about 2.5 times the chance of rural-urban land changes. Due to the lack of proper supervising means, this illegal discordance remained uncontrolled. Furthermore, rural land development was frequently occurring in some zoning areas designated for development management, because of the lack of regulating rules that would coordinate many development plans.
Following these empirical results, a set of monitoring indices were developed. These indices could be divided into two categories, the first group that indicates the chances and expected amounts of rural land use change, and the other group that evaluates the transition of rural landscapes, connectivity of ecological spots and the environmental impacts. This process could help to figure out the degree of sustainability quantitatively in specific target areas. By comparing each area’s monitoring indices, six towns were selected as the areas in urgent need of land-use management policies and plans, and it was suggested that Growth Management Plans should be set up for the six towns by a local government.
This study has its policy implication in that it provided useful planning tools to facilitate the rural land-use planning and management process for local governments and specified some standards to be employed when deciding where to set a Growth Management Plan.
Researchers: Sim Jae-hun, Park Yu-jin
Research period: 2014. 1. ~ 2014. 10.
E-mail address: jhsim@krei.re.kr; purkeys@krei.re.kr
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