Ecological Land Suitability of the Loess Plateau and Sustainable Development Strategy in Western China

Dear Colleagues,

The Loess Plateau is one of the areas with the most fragile ecological environment in China. Ecological construction is the key to its sustainable social and economic development. Due to natural, historical and social reasons, the economic development of the western region is relatively backward. In order to improve its level of economic and social development, the Chinese government implemented the strategy of western region development in 2000. Scientific research on ecosystems, land use systems and urban–rural systems in the above-mentioned areas is conducive to ensuring regional ecological security, promoting the coordination of the population, resources and environment, and achieving higher quality, efficiency, fairness and sustainable development. With a background of ecological civilization construction and western region development strategy in the new era, the sustainable development of the Loess Plateau and western region has always been a hot topic of national ecological security and regional coordinated development.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Ecosystem services and ecological security of the Loess Plateau;
• Ecological environment construction and sustainable development of the Loess Plateau;
• Ecological suitability evaluation and land use changes of the Loess Plateau;
• Western region development and regional coordinated development in the new era;
• Urban–rural integration and collaborative governance of western China;
• New-type urbanization and rural revitalization of western China;
• Optimization of land spatial pattern and sustainable development of western China.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Libang Ma
Prof. Dr. Xiaodong Guo
Guest Editors

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• Loess Plateau
• western region development
• LUCC
• ecological suitability
• sustainable development
• ecosystem services
• ecological security
• urban and rural development