Host: The Association of Japanese Geographers
Abstract This study investigates the regional differences in the land use change since 2000 inInner Mongolia, China, in relation to the environmental policies and urbanization. An analysis ofthe land use combination in each county reveals regional differences in the land use type withinInner Mongolia. The trend of change in land use between 2000 and 2005 can be summarizedusing factor analysis into the following four patterns: urbanization, increasing arable land anddecreasing forest, expansion of farm land, and land degradation. Based on the factor scores, 89counties in Inner Mongolia are classified using cluster analysis into four types of regions in termsof the land use change. The results indicate the following. Urbanized area is distributed in andaround existing major cities. Counties with relatively little land use change are found in thenorthern or northeastern region. The effect of the farmland afforestation policy is observed in theagro-pastoral region where non-irrigated fields have been converted into woodlands or grasslands.Desertification and soil alkalization have taken place in the drainage basin of the Yellow River andthe periphery of the desert.
