Land use/cover change and its driving forces analysis during the last 50 years in the Three Gorges Reservoir area: a case study in the Wanzhou District

Based on topographic maps (1:50 000 in scale) in 1953, MSS images in 1972, TM images in 1986, 1995 and 2000, the dynamic evolution process of land use during lately 50 years in Three Gorges Reservoir Area were analyzed. And the driving forces about the dynamic change of land use in the study area were discussed. The results showed that the structure of LUCC in the study area has changed obviously during lately fifty years, the areas of woodland and grassland reduced while the areas of cultivated land and construction land were respectively increased. From land use / cover changes of time and space in the landscape pattern, the natural landscape types continuous shrink. The number of forest patches decreased and its concentration in space was obvious. The trend of Shrub, woodland and grassland was fragmentized. Policy, economic development and population growth were the main driving factors affecting land use change in the study area.