Spatial heterogeneity characteristics and driving mechanism of land use change in Henan Province, China

We conducted a scientific quantitative analysis of the spatiotemporal evolution and driving factors of land use in Henan Province using a spatial zoning approach. The province was divided into five distinctive regions. Employing methods, such as information mapping, we analyzed land use data for 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020, investigating spatiotemporal evolution and differences. Additionally, we employed a geographic detector model to explore the dominant factors behind land use changes in 2010 and 2020. Primary land classes in Henan Province included cultivated land, forests, and construction, with cultivated land transitioning mainly to forests and construction. However, regional analyses revealed diverse outcomes. In the Yudong area, cultivated land dominated with an 80% area proportion, shifting mostly to construction. In the Yubei area, grassland transformed into cultivated land and forests, with escalating grassland loss. The Yuxi area exhibited a 40% forest area proportion, with frequent mutual conversions between forests, cultivated land, and grassland. Spatiotemporal evolution indicated active changes in cultivated land. The geographic detector revealed a shift in influential factors from natural to economic drivers for cultivated land changes in Henan Province between 2010 and 2020. By uncovering land use disparities across regions, we contribute suggestions for sustainable development decisions regarding land use in Henan.