Spatiotemporal patterns and mechanisms of land-use conflicts affecting high-quality development in China

Rapid urbanization in China led to widespread land-use conflicts (LUCs), requiring understanding the spatiotemporal patterns and mechanisms to support the high-quality development (HQD). This study evaluated the evolution and association mechanisms of LUCs and HQD in Chinese counties from 2000 to 2020 by developing a theoretical framework comprising of land-use structural conflict (SC), functional conflict (FC), HQD, and their relationship, based on the geographically weighted regression models, a coupling relationship matrix, and change scoring methods. Results show that the average HQD improved (12.85% change rate) and LUCs reduced (-3.63%) simultaneously, mainly contributed by FC reconciliation (-9.33%). SC was correlated with FC (average R2 = 0.13, p < 0.05), which directly and significantly affected HQD (average R2 = -0.16, p < 0.05). Furthermore, comprehensive land-use conflict had significant positive and negative effects on HQD in the Yellow River and Yangtze River basins, respectively (p < 0.1). Additionally, coupling relationships between LUCs and HQD would affect subsequent changes, particularly from 2000 to 2010, counties with low-middle FC and HQD tended to shift to low-high. Finally, four geographic area types (i.e., urban agglomeration, high-intensity agricultural, ecological functional, and ecologically fragile areas) with unique LUCs affecting HQD mechanisms were identified. Our findings can provide targeted optimization suggestions for land-use policies under diverse regional contexts.