An investigation of changes in cultivated land in Guangdong Province of China using GIS

In order to make a thorough investigation about relationship between population increase and cultivated land decrease along with economic development over recent years in Guangdong province, this paper aims to study the relationship between the changes in cultivated land and the rapid economic development in Guangdong Province of China using GIS. The spatial database of administrative boundary in the province is captured and stored in GIS and then several county-based statistics produced by the National Statistical Bureau of China are linked to the spatial data. In the study, the correlation analysis between decrease of cultivated land in some metropolitan counties and population increase is conducted. Besides, similar analysis is carried out between decrease of cultivated land in the Zhujiang (Pearl) River Delta Region and gross industrial output. The result of the analysis is presented in GIS with the boundary data to show the spatial distribution and trend of the phenomenon. Some measures of conserving cultivated land in the province in order to achieve a sustainable development are also proposed.