Optimization of land-use pattern based on suitability and trade-offs between land development and protection: A case study of the Hohhot-Baotou-Ordos (HBO) area in Inner Mongolia, China

Determining comprehensive land-use suitability is crucial for effective zoning management. However, limited research on land-use multi-suitability and the trade-offs between land development and protection hinder optimal environmental management. This study focuses on the Hohhot-Baotou-Ordos (HBO) area in Inner Mongolia, China, known for its unique geographical attributes, including abundant energy resources, potential arable land, and vulnerable ecological environment. The objective is to determine comprehensive land-use suitability for ecological protection, agricultural production, and urban construction, while addressing the trade-offs involved in land-use multi-suitability. Multi-scenarios were conducted based on multi-suitability using quantitative indicators, such as per capita space occupancy, patch density, and conductance index. The most suitable scenario, identified through these comparisons, was subsequently optimized for the HBO area by addressing land conflict zones using the InVEST model. The results revealed that: (1) Extremely suitable areas for ecological protection, agricultural production, and urban construction accounted for 47.75%, 18.19%, and 8.61% of the HBO area, respectively, indicating significant potential for ecological conservation. (2) Trade-offs were categorized into six scenarios based on land-use multi-suitability. The ecological-agricultural priority scenario demonstrated reasonable space allocation, the highest landscape agglomeration and connectivity, making it the most suitable option for optimizing the land-use pattern. (3) The optimized zoning delineated the ecological protection red line (EPR), which accounted for the highest percentage at 40.71%, while the urban reserve area (URA) was minimal, constituting only 1.28%. The primary goal of zoning management is to curb urban expansion and alleviate ecological degradation through effective strategies. Consequently, regulatory strategies focusing on management zoning were proposed. Overall, this study developed a comprehensive index system for land-use suitability, providing a method for balancing land development and protection. The findings offer a scientific reference for sustainable development in the HBO area and other regions with similar natural environmental backgrounds.