A comparative case study of cultivated land changes in Fujian and Taiwan

In this study we chose Fujian and Taiwan for a comparative case study of cultivated land changes. Separated by a short strait, these two regions are similar in biophysical and cultural characteristics but differ in the level of economic development. Taiwan is ahead of Fujian by 15 to 20 years in economic development. We compared quantitative and qualitative changes of cultivated land in these two regions, and analyzed the proximate causes and the driving forces for cultivated land changes over time. The study showed a time lag, similar to that of economic development, in the dynamic (i.e., greater rates of change) period of cultivated land changes and the ranking of major driving forces. The results suggest that similar land-use changes can occur in different regions as the regions pass through comparable stages of economic development at different times. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.