Spatio-Temporal Changes and Linear Characteristics of Rubber Plantations in Xishuangbanna, Southwest China from 1987 to 2018

Abstract

The expansion of rubber plantations is an important driving factor and main manifestation of land use/cover change in Xishuangbanna, which has extensive socio-economic and eco-environment effects locally. However, to our knowledge, the expansion trends of rubber plantations are still not clearly understood, such as the distribution characteristics and changes of rubber plantations in traffic corridors, along rivers, and along border regions. Based on the 30 m resolution rubber plantations dataset of Xishuangbanna from 1987 to 2018, we used GIS spatial analysis methods, such as overlay and buffer, to compare the spatial characteristics and regional differences of rubber plantations along roads, rivers, and boundary lines in the past 32 years. The results were as follows: Firstly, from 1987 to 2018, rubber plantations in Xishuangbanna expanded significantly in traffic corridors, along rivers, and along border regions. The planted area of rubber plantations increased by 1,874.6 km2 within 5 km along the roads, 1,484.6 km2 within 5 km along the rivers, and 1,393.1 km2 in the border regions (i.e., a buffer of 20 km). Secondly, roads have been affected by the accessibility of rubber farming and transportation. Over the past 32 years, the average proportion of rubber plantations within the 5 km buffer zone of the roads has exceeded 90%. Roads play an important guiding role in the location selection of rubber plantations. Rubber plantations are planted in areas close to roads, rather than areas far from roads with poor accessibility, because it is not convenient to pick rubber or undergo rubber plantation replacement otherwise, and this may reduce planting or result in a switch to other cash crops. Thirdly, rivers and water source irrigation are important conditions and limiting factors for rubber plantation expansion. In the past 32 years, the average proportion of rubber plantations in the 5 km buffer zone along the rivers has been 69.7%. It is worth noting that, as a result of natural rubber prices remaining low, urbanization, and ecological environmental protection, the planted area of rubber plantations along the river began to decline in the 2010s, especially within 2 km along the line. Finally, in border regions, the rubber plantations showed obvious characteristics of border-proneness in Xishuangbanna. Over the past 32 years, the average proportion has been 55.6% of rubber plantations in the border regions, and this increased from 35.4% in 1987 to 66.2% in 2018. In particular, the expansion area and rate of the Sino–Myanmar border are higher than those of the Sino-Laos border. This study is helpful for clarifying the spatial distribution and change trend of rubber plantations in Xishuangbanna. It provides support for future rubber plantation planting and cross-border cooperation.

Keywords

• rubber
• roads
• rivers
• border regions
• xishuangbanna