Land use/cover change in the red soil region, China during the period 1988-2000

The red soil region in Southeastern China covered an area of 1.13 million km², and Jiangxi province is one of the typical regions for red soils. On the one hand population is still growing, on the other hand, from 1978 onwards, at the beginning of the period of opening and reforming, the farmers were assigned a piece of land and were encouraged to cut down the forest as a measure to increase local economy. All of these result in significant change of land use/cover. In particular, land use/cover change in red soil regions in Jiangxi is very significant. The land cover/use maps were created by classifying the satellite images. The results showed land cover/use change is very remarkable, good cultivated land decreased very significantly, whereas the settlement area, garden land and unused land increased very remarkably because of population growth and economic activities.