Exploring the trade-offs between grain yield and ecological benefits in an economic development context: land-use optimization of Heilongjiang Province

Land is one of the most important resources of human．It provides the material basis for but also limits socio-economic activities and human development．Therefore, the optimization of land use is an inevitable requirement for sustainable development．This study was performed in a new era of economic development, in which our country attaches more importance to the construction of ecological civilization, food security, and high-quality development．In this context, we explored the trade-off between grain yield and ecological benefits in an economic development context．Taking Heilongjiang province (China) as a pilot, we developed four optimized land-use solutions for the province in 2035 under different scenarios．The solutions can serve as a scientific reference for developing the spatial planning policies of Heilongjiang．In addition, the methodology can also be applied to other provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities of China for decision support in spatial planning．