Spatial optimization of rural settlements in ecologically fragile regions: Insights from a social-ecological system

Rural areas in ecologically fragile regions face obstacles of underdeveloped social economies and poor natural conditions. Existing studies on the optimization of rural settlements in ecologically fragile areas have mainly focused on regional ecological protection and have paid inadequate attention to social-economic dimensions and their interaction with ecological dimensions. We propose an analytical framework for the spatial optimization of rural settlements from a social-ecological perspective. Using Kaitong Town, located in western Jilin Province, China, as a case study, we analysed the development capacity in different villages and evaluated ecosystem resilience. Based on different spatial combinations of rural development capacity and ecosystem resilience, we divided the study area into four zones: relocation and merger; aggregation and promotion; key development; and stabilization and improvement. Rural settlements within the relocation and merger zone were identified as requiring resettlement. Two optimization directions are suggested: one to the key development zone within an adjacent village and the other to the aggregation and promotion zone within the same administrative village. The proposed analytical framework provides a scientific basis for optimizing the layout of rural settlements in ecologically fragile regions and can play an important role in realizing the sustainable development of rural areas.