Process and mechanism of transition in regional land use function guided by policy: A case study from Northeast China

Land use transition is a new theme and frontier of LUCC study and a key issue related to regional sustainable development. However, research has focused on the transition process for the dominant morphology of land use, paying insufficient attention to the transition process for the recessive morphology. Research on the mechanism of transition in land use functions (LUF) is also lacking, and the influence of policy factors on LUF transition is unclear. These shortcomings limit the effectiveness of policy response in terms of sustainable use of regional land resources. To address these gaps and to construct a classification system and theoretical framework using Northeast China as example, this study measures the characteristics of LUF transition and explores its mechanism guided by policy. The results show that the mechanism is the result of coupling and antagonism between the socio-ecological feedback path under the guidance of policy and the socioeconomic change path under the in-fluence of policy. The former determines the direction of regional LUF transition, whereas the latter determines its intensity. This study enriches and expands the theory of land use transition mechanisms, and it supports the optimization of the policy system to promote sustainable use of regional land resources.