Relationship between multifunctionality and rural sustainable development: Insights from 129 counties of the Sichuan Province, China

ABSTRACT: Rural areas are multifunctional and often have production, living, and ecological functions. The high-quality and balanced development of these three functions is key to sustainable rural development (SRD). Thus, the evaluation of SRD based on rural multifunctionality is of immense signifi...

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Main Authors: Xuefeng Li, Jiaqi Liu, Jin Jia, Han Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2022-09-01
Series:Chinese Journal of Population, Resources and Environment
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2325426222000730
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author Xuefeng Li
Jiaqi Liu
Jin Jia
Han Yang
author_facet Xuefeng Li
Jiaqi Liu
Jin Jia
Han Yang
author_sort Xuefeng Li
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT: Rural areas are multifunctional and often have production, living, and ecological functions. The high-quality and balanced development of these three functions is key to sustainable rural development (SRD). Thus, the evaluation of SRD based on rural multifunctionality is of immense significance. This study clarifies the relationship between multifunctionality and sustainable rural development. An evaluation index system with six sub-components was established for calculating the SRD. In addition, we included 129 counties from the Sichuan Province in our case study, and used this index system to analyze the characteristics of rural multifunctionality for evaluating the SRD. The results showed indisputable evidence of multifunctional development. At the county level, rural multifunctionality faces the challenge of insufficient and uneven development, particularly in production functions. Significant spatial differences existed in rural multifunctional development, and the suburban counties generally performed better. Moreover, a mutually reinforcing relationship between production, living, and ecological functions was established; however, there was still a significant gap in realizing SRD. Our results emphasize the necessity of a differentiated SRD strategy that should be formulated and implemented based on rural multifunctionality differentiation rules. Our study offers useful guidance for realizing rural multifunctional and sustainable development.
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spelling doaj.art-0b4ccc467553474397f599569940da852022-12-22T03:54:21ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Chinese Journal of Population, Resources and Environment2325-42622022-09-01203285294Relationship between multifunctionality and rural sustainable development: Insights from 129 counties of the Sichuan Province, ChinaXuefeng Li0Jiaqi Liu1Jin Jia2Han Yang3Institute of Western China Economic Research, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, 611130, ChinaInstitute of Western China Economic Research, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, 611130, ChinaCorresponding author.; Institute of Western China Economic Research, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, 611130, ChinaInstitute of Western China Economic Research, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, 611130, ChinaABSTRACT: Rural areas are multifunctional and often have production, living, and ecological functions. The high-quality and balanced development of these three functions is key to sustainable rural development (SRD). Thus, the evaluation of SRD based on rural multifunctionality is of immense significance. This study clarifies the relationship between multifunctionality and sustainable rural development. An evaluation index system with six sub-components was established for calculating the SRD. In addition, we included 129 counties from the Sichuan Province in our case study, and used this index system to analyze the characteristics of rural multifunctionality for evaluating the SRD. The results showed indisputable evidence of multifunctional development. At the county level, rural multifunctionality faces the challenge of insufficient and uneven development, particularly in production functions. Significant spatial differences existed in rural multifunctional development, and the suburban counties generally performed better. Moreover, a mutually reinforcing relationship between production, living, and ecological functions was established; however, there was still a significant gap in realizing SRD. Our results emphasize the necessity of a differentiated SRD strategy that should be formulated and implemented based on rural multifunctionality differentiation rules. Our study offers useful guidance for realizing rural multifunctional and sustainable development.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2325426222000730Sustainable rural developmentRural multifunctionalityProduction-ecological-living functionSpatial differenceIndex systemSichuan Province
spellingShingle Xuefeng Li
Jiaqi Liu
Jin Jia
Han Yang
Relationship between multifunctionality and rural sustainable development: Insights from 129 counties of the Sichuan Province, China
Chinese Journal of Population, Resources and Environment
Sustainable rural development
Rural multifunctionality
Production-ecological-living function
Spatial difference
Index system
Sichuan Province
title Relationship between multifunctionality and rural sustainable development: Insights from 129 counties of the Sichuan Province, China
title_full Relationship between multifunctionality and rural sustainable development: Insights from 129 counties of the Sichuan Province, China
title_fullStr Relationship between multifunctionality and rural sustainable development: Insights from 129 counties of the Sichuan Province, China
title_full_unstemmed Relationship between multifunctionality and rural sustainable development: Insights from 129 counties of the Sichuan Province, China
title_short Relationship between multifunctionality and rural sustainable development: Insights from 129 counties of the Sichuan Province, China
title_sort relationship between multifunctionality and rural sustainable development insights from 129 counties of the sichuan province china
topic Sustainable rural development
Rural multifunctionality
Production-ecological-living function
Spatial difference
Index system
Sichuan Province
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2325426222000730
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