Spatial and Temporal Evolution Characteristics of Land Use/Cover and Its Driving Factor in Cambodia during 2000–2020

Abstract

Research on the spatial distribution and dynamic evolution of land use/cover (LUC) is the basis for land management and ecological protection. However, there is currently a lack of long-term analyses of the evolution of LUC at the national scale in Cambodia. Based on the GLC_FCS30 dataset, this paper analyzes the temporal and spatial evolution of LUC in Cambodia from 2000 to 2020, as well as its relationship with the country’s economic and social development and climate change using dynamic degree, flow direction diagram, principal component analysis, and multivariate stepwise regression. The main findings are as follows. (1) Cropland and forest are Cambodia’s most significant land cover types. In 2020, the proportions of cropland and forest accounted for 47.67% and 42.22% of the total land area. Among the cropland area, rainfed cropland accounted for 35.90%, irrigated cropland accounted for 7.26%, and other cropland accounted for 4.51%. (2) From 2000 to 2020, rainfed cropland areas increased significantly (+4.69 × 103 km2, +7.77%), while irrigated cropland areas increased less (+0.37 × 103 km2, 2.91%). The forest area continued to shrink (−7.71 × 103 km2, −9.16%), and the area of impervious surfaces expanded most significantly (+161.16%). (3) In 2000–2020, the integrated dynamic degree of land use presented a spatial differentiation pattern of high in the northeast, low in the middle, and lowest in the plain area. The most critical LUC change processes were the conversion of forest and shrubland to rainfed cropland and the transformation of rainfed cropland to impervious surfaces. (4) The change in LUC in Cambodia has mainly been affected by economic development and human activities, especially regarding the agricultural added value, agricultural raw material export value, urban population, and urbanization rate. This study will help the Cambodian government to strengthen national land management and planning in a targeted manner and may provide a reference for the analysis of land use change processes in similar areas.

Myanmar’s Land Cover Change and Its Driving Factors during 2000–2020

“…Studies on LULC changes in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos also found that national economic development and human activities have a greater impact on LUCC in these countries. Among the factors that have a more pronounced impact are GDP, population, and urbanization rates [42,43,45]. Our research also shows that at the national scale, socio-economic and agricultural development have a greater impact on LUCC in Myanmar.…”

“…The changing trend of LUCC in Myanmar is similar to that of other Indochina countries. Research by Hu et al [18], Zhang et al [42], and Niu et al [43] in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and other countries also found the phenomenon of shrinking forests, shrubland, and the expansion of impervious surfaces.…”

Land Use/Land Cover Changes in Baicheng District, China during the Period 1954–2020 and Their Driving Forces

“…Studying the relationship between LULC changes and influencing factors is crucial for addressing issues related to the land system [40]. Research indicates that natural elements and economic factors are the primary drivers of LULC changes [41]. Their impact can be analyzed from both macro and micro perspectives.…”

“…Research methods have diversified. Earlier studies were primarily qualitative analyses; however, with the introduction of mathematical and statistical analysis methods, including principal component analysis (PCA), logistic regression models, and multiple regression models [23,40,41], these models can quantify the driving effects of LULC change drivers and have thus been widely applied.…”

“…The single LULC dynamic degree is used to represent the change in the quantity of a certain land use type in a certain research area over a certain time range [41], and its formula is:…”