Spatiotemporal evolution and Sustainably comprehensive zoning optimization of production-living-ecological functions in the Mountain-Flatland areas

Examining the spatiotemporal changes of territorial space is crucial for addressing the conflict between economic-social development and the natural environment and achieving optimal territorial space utilization. However, there is a research gap regarding the spatial characteristics and optimization in the mountain-flatland area. To address this gap, this paper focuses on the urban agglomeration in Central Yunnan (UACY) as a representative mountain-flatland area. A mountain-flatland classification model was established. Based on the evaluation of production- living- ecological functions, the economic models were introduced to measure the balance de-gree, and further researched the spatiotemporal evolution and coupling coordination character-istics by spatial analysis from 2010 to 2020. The findings indicate the following: (1) The study area exhibited distinct mountain-flatland differentiation, with "western mountainous counties (MCs)/semi-mountainous and semi-flatland counties (SMSFCs), central flatland counties (FCs), and eastern SMSFCs". production function (PF) primarily formed a cluster in the central-northeastern areas of FCs and of SMSFCs, living function (LF) was highly clustered in the central areas of FCs, remained stable, and ecological function (EF) was significantly clustered in the northwestern regions of MCs and of SMSFCs, significantly enhanced in the northeast. (2) The imbalance degree followed the order LF > PF > EF, showing a decreasing trend primarily driven by intra-group imbalances within FCs, SMSFCs, and MCs. The coordinate areas were mainly concentrated in central FCs, and the dysfunctional areas was largely located in MCs and SMSFCs, the degree was improved, especially in northwestern and southeastern MCs and SMSFCs. (3) The study area fell into 18 functional areas, optimized into 13 areas, with recommendations for differentiated development control paths to achieve an optimization of PLEFs. These results provide theoretical references for promoting sustainable utilization of territorial resources and facilitating high-quality regional development in UACY and other parts of the country.