A thesis submitted in pattial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of master of science

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1993

This research presents a descriptive profile of current land use and land use change of Nanchang during 1980 and 1992. The emphasis is given to loss of farmland and its impact on local socio-economic development in Nanchang Suburbs. Through analyzing the process of change of land use patterns and assessing the impacts of such change, policy suggestions are formulated for improvement of land use management and protection of farmland in the study area. This study is conducted at two levels (Nanchang Municipality and Nanchang Suburbs) for two time periods (1980 and 1992). The methods of comparative study and GIS techniques are employed for the assessment of impacts and spatial analysis It is found that the land use management system in Nanchang is incomplete and conflicting, and the procedure of land allocation is complicated and haphazard. In the process of land use change, much farmland were lost and most of them was highly or moderately suitable for farming. The average farmland loss was 1898 mu (126.6 ha.) per year in Nanchang from 1980 to 1991. Land speculation and construction of the economic open zones have emerged due to the implementation of new economic reforms in 1992. This has led to misuse and arbitrary use of urban land and accelerated a rapid loss of farmland in and around Nanchang. Based on the findings, this research suggests the measures to address the conflicting land use situation in Nanchang. Specifically, the policy recommended on controlling loss of farmland and controlling land speculation. These recommendations are (i) improvement of land administrative structure; (ii) land use planning and zoning control; (iii) imposing taxation; (iv) land resources banking; (v) diverting speculation on land into investment in land.