Improving Rural Human Settlements in China: Synergistic Development of Ecology, Society, and Economy

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 01 March 2026.

Guest Editor (1)

Jiazhen  Zhang
Prof. Dr. Jiazhen Zhang 
Wales College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
Interests: Sustainable Cities and Human Settlement; Industrial Heritage Protection; Rural Revitalization; Landscape Architecture

Topic Collection Information

With the deepening implementation of the Rural Revitalization Strategy, the improvement of rural human settlements has become a crucial focus for achieving comprehensive rural revitalization. This special issue centers on the optimization and enhancement of rural human settlements in China, exploring pathways for the synergistic development of ecology, society, and economy. Through interdisciplinary perspectives, it examines how to protect the ecological environment while improving the quality of life for rural residents and promoting social equity and economic growth. The issue will cover policy innovations, technological applications, community participation, and practical case studies, aiming to provide theoretical support and practical guidance for the improvement of rural human settlements and to advance the goals of sustainable rural development.

Keywords:
Rural human settlements
Ecological protection
Social equity
Economic development
Rural revitalization
Sustainable development
Community participation
Policy innovation
Technological application
Public open space

Published Papers (1 papers)

Article

18 April 2025

Factors Influencing the Incomes of Chinese Herdsmen in the Context of Grassland Ecological Compensation: A Meta-Analysis

This original paper, within the context of grassland ecological protection subsidies and reward policies, draws on 27 empirical studies conducted between 2011 and 2024 to conduct a meta-analysis of the factors influencing Chinese herdsmen’s incomes concerning heterogeneity and its sources. The results reveal 16 variables that have a significant positive impact on herdsmen’s incomes. These include herdsmen’s gender, age, ethnicity, level of education, household size, labor force, membership in cooperatives, subsidy amount, livestock quantity, living and production expenses, fixed assets, grassland area, per capita grassland area, grassland quality, and location. Among them, the quantity of livestock shows the greatest effect. Significant heterogeneity is evident across six variables: Subsidy amount, livestock quantity, grassland area, labor force, production expenses, and per capita grassland area. The heterogeneity in subsidy amount and grassland area originates from the use of different statistical methods, while the heterogeneity in livestock quantity is attributable to differences in the type of literature; per capita, grassland area heterogeneity is caused by differences in the geographical regions under analysis.

Shun Li*
Ling Zhao
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