SUSTAINABLE LAND USE INDICATORS AT COUNTY SCALE--A CASE STUDY OF XISHAN CITY, JIANGSU PROVINCE
县级土地资源可持续利用评价指标体系与评价方法--以江苏锡山为例

It is necessary to evaluate sustainable land use at the county scale in China. By taking Xishan city of Jiangsu province in eastern China as an example, an index system for sustainable land use at county scale is put forward based on the character of sustainable land use indicators and the trait of land resources in county. The system is made up of three levels as objective, criterion and indicators. The objective is sustainable land use. The criterion level is made up of five criterions of productivity, security, protection, availability and acceptance. The indicators are the data used to evaluate sustainable land use. In addition, the methods to acquire these indicators in order to make the framework more applicable are introduced. Based on the index system for sustainable land use at county scale and the land use conditions in Xishan city, comprehensive index assessment is combined with single indicators from multi-angle methods to evaluate the sustainable land use status of Xishan. The sustainable degree of Xishan can be regarded as middle sustainable land use. Furthermore, the problems that may influence the sustainable land use at present and in the future are pointed out and some useful suggestions concerning sustainable land use and management are provided.