Emily J. Long and Dr. Richard H. Jackson, Geography
China’s recent economic boom has brought many changes to its urban and rural landscape. Urban communities are growing larger and are often encroaching upon important agricultural land. The city of Suzhou provides a prime case study of the effects that development can have on once fertile agricultural land in China. Suzhou is located in the fertile Yangtze River delta in the Jiangsu Province bordering Shanghai on the east. The city of Suzhou is over 2,500 years old and is famous for its beautiful scenery, classical gardens, and rich cultural heritage. This fertile delta provided good farming soil for thousands of years, but farmland is now rapidly disappearing because of economic development and a growing population.
Studying the loss of agricultural land in Suzhou is important because the great shift from rural life to urbanization has reflected a change in lifestyles for the area. The Yangtze Delta is home to one of the oldest civilizations in the world. It is interesting to see how much this area has changed due to a rapidly growing population and economy. Studying the effects of such a change will help show how beneficial it is to practice land-use planning for changing landscapes similar to this one, where rural agricultural land is quickly becoming a developed part of urban areas.
This study focused on providing a comprehensive look at the great loss of agricultural land in Suzhou and describing the effects that this loss has on local residents. It presents a look at the changes in food production that have accompanied the loss of agricultural land and increased urbanization and economic development. It also shows the positive effects of implementing land-use planning practices along with these great changes.
Field study in Suzhou and the surrounding areas in the summer of 2004 combined with annual censuses of agriculture were used to indicate the loss of agricultural land and related changes in food production. Land-use planning studies, economic development information, and demographic statistics were used to provide background information for analysis. In addition, information obtained from meetings with Suzhou city officials in planning departments, environmental protection departments, and district departments was used to show the great shift in food production, the effects of this changing landscape on local residents, and the results of implementing land-use planning. All information was combined in order to provide a comprehensive view of the great economic shift that is taking place in Suzhou and its associated environmental, social, and economic costs. Four main conclusions were drawn from this study.
First, it was concluded that while this region has traditionally been an agricultural surplus region, today food must be imported to feed the growing population. This means that the region can no longer sustain its population alone, which is a trend in many regions throughout the world.
Second, there has been a great change in migration patterns with a rapid increase in rural to urban migration. This migration along with population growth has caused the city to grow immensely in recent years. This creates countless problems in the urban and rural areas such as overpopulation in the cities, increased pollution, displacement of farmers into cities where they must work in other sectors, and the great expansion of cities which is encroaching on fertile agricultural land.
Third, there has been an overall shift in crop production with a dramatic decline in traditional crop production, while new types of crop production have seen a drastic increase. Traditional crops include those that have anciently been grown such as rice and wheat. New types of crops include those associated with aquaculture like shrimp, crabs, turtles, fish ponds and sod production along with other more specialized crops. Because agricultural land is in short supply and there is a growing population that needs to be feed, Suzhou has had to utilize its farming land as much as possible. This often includes such things as practicing intercropping, which is used to maximize land-use. Intercropping consists of growing multiple crops on the same parcel of land. In some cases such as on Xishan Island in southwestern Suzhou, intercropping is practiced where crops are grown in layers with the tea bushes below the ginkgo trees and the low ground crops such as sweet potatoes below the tea.
Finally, it was concluded that implementing land-use planning techniques has helped to limit the environmental, social, and other consequences associated with increased urbanization, population growth, and a changing economy. Land-use planning techniques are helping to clean the water and air along with providing open spaces and protection of important cultural sites throughout Suzhou. Land-use planning has been instrumental in providing a clean and safe environment for residents to live in, while still attempting to maintain what is left of the ancient agricultural land outside the city.
Findings from this study can be applied to small cities as well as large metropolitan areas. The land-use planning practices that been have implemented by city officials can be admired and studied by those interested in learning how to incorporate good planning with development projects and changes in the economic activity of an area. Land-use planning officials are doing their best to keep up with the fast paced development, and for the most part are making great strides toward creating a desirable urban environment.
This study brought about a great understanding of the shifting economy in coastal China and the many social and environmental effects that occur because of it. Overall, this study provided an insightful look at the effects of development on ancient agricultural land and how this change is affecting the population. It was also a great opportunity to look at the role that land-use planning principles and practices can play in helping to provide a sustainable environment.