Sustainable land use management for improving land eco-efficiency: a case study of Hebei, China

Land cover is being continuously transformed at an accelerating pace because of urbanization and economic development, which is, in turn, impacting ecosystem services and human well-being. Consequently, there is a need to enhance sustainable land use management to achieve high levels of land eco-efficiency across different regions in China. Accomplishing this entails adjustments not only in terms of the spatial layout of land but also in land use management. The relationship between land use management and land eco-efficiency was explored taking Hebei, a province of China, as a case study. With the help of Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) and other statistical analysis, we analyzed land use conversions and land eco-efficiency in Hebei, China. In this study, we first explored the relationship between land use conversion, ratio of cultivated land, and crop production using scatter plots. Further, we analyzed the land eco-efficiency and ecological performance of cities in Hebei based on SFA. The findings of the study revealed that land use output is the key factor linking land use management and land eco-efficiency. Spatial differences of land eco-efficiency are clearly apparent in Hebei, and the results of the study showed a corresponding decrease in land eco-efficiency with a reduction in the distance to the city center. In conclusion, a step-by-step regulatory process for improving land eco-efficiency within China’s land use management scheme is proposed.