[Dynamic analysis of land use and land coverage in mid-eastern China during 1988-2000]

Using remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS) technologies and based on the documentary and field sampling data, this paper constructed and analyzed the 1988 and 2000 landscape maps of mid-eastern China. The mapping area of mid-eastern China was about 2.87 x 10(6) km2. With the rapid increase of economy and population, the area of farmland and town in mid-eastern China increased 10.921 x 10(5) hm2 and 13.754 x 10(5) hm2, accounted for a 2.14% and 19.25% increase, respectively from 1988 to 2000. At the same time, the forest area decreased 17.83 x 10(4) hm2, declined by 1.12%, because of the increasing demand for lumber provision and reclamation. The meadow area in 2000 increased 19.287 x 10(5) hm2, ascending 7.75%, while the coverage and quality of grassland declined, owing to the deteriorating environment. The untilled land in 2000 dropped 34.31%, contrast with 1988 by the reason of a large number of lands being exploited.