A Parametric Approach to Assess the Sustainability of Land Consolidation: A Case Study in Shandong Province, North China

The initial goals of land consolidation (LC) in China were to increase cropland areas, reduce fragmentation, and promote agricultural productivity. The goal of improving environmental quality was overlooked, which damaged the sustainability of LC (SLC). Thus, constructing an evaluation system of SLC, could improve the methodological principles underlying LC, and provide support for the decision-making processes of the LC authorities. Based on the criteria of SLC, a total of 15 indicators were selected and the integrated index of SLC (ISLC) was defined to evaluate the SLC on enhancing agricultural productivity, strengthening disaster bearing capacity, improving ecological environment, and being economically viable and socially acceptable. The Xiaojing land consolidation project (LCP) in Shandong Province of North China was chosen as a case study. The results of the case study showed the total score of ISLC was 63.19 before LC and 80.55 after LC in the Xiaojing LCP, indicating that the SLC was increased after LC. The results indicated that changes of agricultural productivity, disaster bearing capacity, ecological environment, and economical viability and social acceptance were the positive contributions to improve the sustainability of LC.