Rural Land Use Transformation and Agricultural Sustainable Development II

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land Socio-Economic and Political Issues".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 August 2023) | Viewed by 15122

Special Issue Editors

College of Management, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Interests: land use policy; sustainable livelihoods and poverty; emergency management; rural sustainable development; climate change and behavioral response; resources and environment policy; policy evaluation; rural revitalization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
School of Economics, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu 610074, China
Interests: farmers’ livelihood; ecological protection; green and low carbon; disaster economy; sustainable development; resource and environmental carrying capacity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
Interests: land use policy; sustainable development of mountain areas; sustainable livelihoods for farmers; resources and environment policy; rural sustainable development; land use transformation; rural revitalization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Since the reform and opening up, China's urban and rural areas have been undergoing rapid development and transformation driven by various social and economic policies. The interaction of urban and rural factors leads to the drastic transformation of land use in both depth and breadth. In the process of rapid transformation, rural regional development faces many negative effects, such as non-agricultural factors of production, old and weak social subject of farmers, increasingly empty and abandoned rural construction land, and polluted rural water and soil. How to realize sustainable agricultural development through the rational utilization of land resources is an urgent problem that deserves attention and needs to be solved. This Special Issue is dedicated to building a theoretical and practical research platform for studies exploring rural land use transformation and agricultural sustainable development. Original research and review articles in this research field are welcome. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Rural land use transformation, farmland protection and food security;
  • Rural land use transformation and sustainable livelihood of farmers;
  • Rural land use transformation and rural industrial development;
  • Spatial-temporal processes and dynamic mechanisms of rural land use transition.

Dr. Dingde Xu
Dr. Shili Guo
Dr. Shaoquan Liu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • land use transformation
  • land use policy
  • food security
  • sustainable rural development
  • agricultural systems
  • climate change
  • rural revitalization

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 1718 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Livelihood Capital Endowment on Household Poverty Alleviation: The Mediating Effect of Land Transfer
by Xiaonan Zhao and Feng Lan
Land 2023, 12(7), 1346; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12071346 - 05 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1125
Abstract
(1) Background: Poverty eradication is the common goal and challenge of human development. Livelihood capital is the basis for poor families to escape poverty and is also the key to enhancing the ability for sustainable development. (2) Methods: Using data from the 2018 [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Poverty eradication is the common goal and challenge of human development. Livelihood capital is the basis for poor families to escape poverty and is also the key to enhancing the ability for sustainable development. (2) Methods: Using data from the 2018 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), this paper empirically examines the impact of livelihood capital on poverty alleviation. In addition, the mediating effect of land transfer is explored. (3) Results: The results show that human, physical, financial, and social capital all have a significant positive impact on poverty alleviation, while natural capital has a significant negative impact on poverty alleviation. Moreover, land transfer plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between livelihood capital and poverty alleviation. (4) Conclusions: Based on the above findings, we suggest that the government formulate targeted poverty alleviation policies according to rural households’ livelihood capital endowment characteristics, reasonably guide the land flow, and achieve sustainable poverty reduction. Full article
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18 pages, 2689 KiB  
Article
The Influence Mechanism of Farmer Behavior on the Spatial Pattern Evolution of Agricultural Production in the Yanhe River Basin
by Quanhua Hou, Ziye Hu, Yuxuan Yang, Xiaoyang Fan, Jizhe Zhou, Lingda Zhang and Yaqiong Duan
Land 2023, 12(7), 1281; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12071281 - 24 Jun 2023
Viewed by 856
Abstract
Featuring complex and fractured terrain, the Loess hilly and gully regions suffer poor grain production capacity. The behavior of farmers, the major users of agricultural production space, significantly influences the agricultural production space. Hence, it is essential to explore the evolution rules of [...] Read more.
Featuring complex and fractured terrain, the Loess hilly and gully regions suffer poor grain production capacity. The behavior of farmers, the major users of agricultural production space, significantly influences the agricultural production space. Hence, it is essential to explore the evolution rules of the agricultural production space under the influence of farmer behavior and reveal the influencing mechanism of agricultural production space change, which will facilitate the promotion of ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin. Relying on six-stage remote sensing images of the Yanhe River Basin from 1995 to 2018, this study utilized a land use dynamic index, transfer matrix and landscape pattern index to analyze the spatial pattern evolution of agricultural production in the Yanhe River Basin. Furthermore, the geographic detector model was applied to quantitatively analyze the influencing factors of the spatial pattern evolution of agricultural production. The results demonstrated the following: (1) From 1995 to 2018, the overall area of cultivated land in the Yanhe River Basin decreased by 927.02 km2, with a change degree of 21.07%. The spatial structure of agricultural production changed, mainly transferring the cultivated land to woodland and grassland. (2) The spatial form of agricultural production has changed from fragmentation to regularity, and the complexity of the production space shows a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. (3) The evolution of the spatial pattern of agricultural production was affected by multiple factors of farmer behavior, where significant interactive enhancement effects existed. Specifically, labor input was the dominant factor affecting the overall scale of the production space, with an influence value of 0.202; fertilization input and cultivated land transfer were the key factors affecting the spatial distribution of production, with influence values of 0.264 and 0.242, respectively; income level and social interaction were the base factors affecting the spatial form of production, with influence values of 0.558 and 0.438, respectively. The research results provide scientific support for the improvement of agricultural production quality and the spatial evolution mechanism of agricultural production in the Yanhe River Basin. Full article
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14 pages, 3554 KiB  
Article
Spatial Patterns and Influencing Factors of Rural Land Commodification at Township Scale: A Case Study in Shijiazhuang City, North China
by Lin Fu and Junko Sanada
Land 2023, 12(6), 1194; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12061194 - 07 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 998
Abstract
The rapid spread of capitalism in rural areas has facilitated rural land commodification (RLC). While some scholars have studied RLC, few have analyzed its spatial characteristics. Taking Shijiazhuang city as a study area, this paper applies Moran’s I method and spatial regression models [...] Read more.
The rapid spread of capitalism in rural areas has facilitated rural land commodification (RLC). While some scholars have studied RLC, few have analyzed its spatial characteristics. Taking Shijiazhuang city as a study area, this paper applies Moran’s I method and spatial regression models to analyze township-scale RLC patterns and driving factors. The study investigates four common pathways of RLC: production-oriented farmland, tourism-oriented farmland, rural homesteads, and construction land commodification which are predominantly found in urban fringe areas. The distribution of RLC demonstrates positive spatial autocorrelation, characterized by spatial aggregation and polarization. Population, economic level, agriculture, and location conditions are identified as key drivers, and their specific mechanisms vary across development pathways. Future efforts should focus on ensuring balanced and coordinated RLC development in accordance with regional conditions and capacity, while also addressing the implications arising from the coexistence of RLC with rural aging and poverty. Full article
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22 pages, 2631 KiB  
Article
Land Use Structure Optimization and Ecological Benefit Evaluation in Chengdu-Chongqing Urban Agglomeration Based on Carbon Neutrality
by Zhi Wang, Fengwan Zhang, Shaoquan Liu and Dingde Xu
Land 2023, 12(5), 1016; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12051016 - 05 May 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1478
Abstract
Optimizing land use structure in urban agglomerations is essential to mitigating climate change and achieving carbon neutrality. However, the studies on low-carbon (LC) land use in the urban agglomeration based on carbon neutrality are still limited and lack the consideration of the optimized [...] Read more.
Optimizing land use structure in urban agglomerations is essential to mitigating climate change and achieving carbon neutrality. However, the studies on low-carbon (LC) land use in the urban agglomeration based on carbon neutrality are still limited and lack the consideration of the optimized land ecological benefits. To reduce land use carbon emissions (LUCEs) and improve the ecological benefits of urban agglomerations, we constructed the framework of land use structure optimization (LUSO) under carbon neutrality. Then, in view of land use quantity structure and spatial distribution, we compared the results of LUCEs and the ecological benefits of the Chengdu–Chongqing urban agglomeration (the CCUA) in 2030 under different scenarios. The results showed that in 2030, the LUCEs of the CCUA is 3481.6632 × 104 t under the carbon neutral scenario (CN_Scenario), which is significantly lower than the baseline scenario (BL_Scenario) and 2020. In the CN_Scenario, the land use/cover change (LUCC) in the CCUA is more moderate, the aggregation degree of the forestland (FL), grassland (GL), wetland (WL), and water (WTR) patch area deepens, and the overall landscape spreading degree is increased, which is more conducive to play the ecological benefit of carbon sink land. The results can provide a reference for the more efficient use of land resource areas and the formulation of land use and spatial planning. Full article
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20 pages, 20435 KiB  
Article
Identification and Analysis of Territorial Spatial Utilization Conflicts in Yibin Based on Multidimensional Perspective
by Bao Meng, Shaoyao Zhang, Wei Deng, Li Peng, Peng Zhou and Hao Zhang
Land 2023, 12(5), 1008; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12051008 - 04 May 2023
Viewed by 1144
Abstract
The measurement of territorial spatial conflict degrees and the identification of conflict areas are important issues in the field of regional development planning. The scientific and comprehensive recognition and measurement of territorial spatial utilization conflicts, from a multidimensional perspective, are significant for the [...] Read more.
The measurement of territorial spatial conflict degrees and the identification of conflict areas are important issues in the field of regional development planning. The scientific and comprehensive recognition and measurement of territorial spatial utilization conflicts, from a multidimensional perspective, are significant for the optimization of reasonable land use and the realization of sustainable spatial development in various regions. In this study, the territorial spatial development and utilization conflicts in Yibin were measured and analyzed in terms of the development intensity, landscape pattern index, and spatial suitability from a multidimensional perspective of the “upper limit-structure-bottom line” perspective of territorial spaces. Certain corresponding development strategies were proposed, and some major conclusions could be drawn: (1) In terms of the development intensity, the developable intensity value for most townships in Yibin is lower than the minimum developable intensity value, indicating their fine development potential in the future. However, the current development intensity of a few townships is higher than the maximum developable intensity value. These townships can be divided into topographic restricted zones, urban concentrated zones, and natural reserves. (2) In terms of landscape conflict, areas with mild, moderate, and severe conflict in the southern region of Yibin decreased significantly from 1990 to 2018, and severe conflict areas in the middle and northern regions decreased; however, moderate and mild conflict areas increased. Potential ecological conflict risks to the landscape cannot be ignored. (3) For spatial suitability, urban spatial conflict areas, agricultural spatial conflict areas, urban–ecological spatial conflict areas, and agricultural–ecological spatial conflict areas were recognized according to a comparison of the utilization status and suitability assessment results. (4) According to estimation results of three types of conflicts, townships in Yibin were divided into eight types of conflicts: (1) conflict caused by improper urban planning to squeeze ecological spaces and replace agricultural spaces; (2) conflict caused by extensive and disordered agricultural development; (3) conflict controlled by the squeezing of ecological spaces; (4) conflict controlled by the encroachment of ecological spaces; (5) conflict caused by backward urbanization; (6) conflict caused by low-level agricultural development; (7) conflict caused by overall development hysteresis; and (8) conflict caused by a shortage of development space. This study has some theoretical and practical implications for a comprehensive understanding of territorial spatial development patterns and their degrees, the scientific recognition and trade-off of multidimensional territorial spatial utilization conflicts, and realizing sustainable development in certain regions. Full article
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20 pages, 571 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Government Support and Social Networks on Peasants’ Effective Participation in High-Standard Farmland Construction: Evidence from Yancheng City, China
by Huawei Zheng, Kunyu Lou, Yuanyuan Yang, Han Wang and Yong Lu
Land 2023, 12(5), 955; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12050955 - 25 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1095
Abstract
The effective participation of peasants can raise the quality of high-standard farmland construction (HSFC) in China. How to avoid inefficient participation is an urgent issue that needs to be solved in the field of HSFC. However, the factors that influence peasants’ effective participation [...] Read more.
The effective participation of peasants can raise the quality of high-standard farmland construction (HSFC) in China. How to avoid inefficient participation is an urgent issue that needs to be solved in the field of HSFC. However, the factors that influence peasants’ effective participation in the HSFC remains to be further studied. This study used factor analysis and a comprehensive evaluation method to calculate social networks and the level of peasants’ effective participation in HSFC based on a survey dataset of 347 peasants in Yancheng City, China. The influence of information support, incentive support, constraint support, network interaction, network trust, and network norms on the level of peasants’ effective participation in HSFC was analyzed using an ordered logistic model. The results of the study indicate that: (1) The overall level of peasants’ effective participation in the HSFC is at a “medium” level, and the level of peasants’ effective participation needs to be further raised. (2) Government support considerably influences peasants’ effective participation in HSFC. Information support, incentive support, and constraint support significantly impact peasants’ effective participation in HSFC. (3) Social networks possess a significant positive impact on the level of peasants’ effective participation in HSFC, with the core variables contributing to peasants’ effective participation in the order of network interaction, network trust, and network norms. (4) Peasants’ cognition significantly impacts peasants’ effective participation in HSFC. Therefore, to enhance the level of peasants’ effective participation in HSFC, it is suggested to further improve government information support, incentive support, and constraint support; strengthen network interaction, enhance network trust, improve network norms, and effectively play the role of social networks; and to strengthen peasants’ education and training. Full article
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20 pages, 575 KiB  
Article
Does Land Lease Affect the Multidimensional Poverty Alleviation? The Evidence from Jiangxi, China
by Hui Xiao, Xian Liang, Shu Xing, Longjunjiang Huang and Fangting Xie
Land 2023, 12(5), 942; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12050942 - 23 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1283
Abstract
This study uses field survey data from 382 families in the year 2020 in Jiangxi province, China, to explore the effects of land lease and labor migration, a well-known occurrence in China, on rural households’ multidimensional poverty status. We used the A-F method [...] Read more.
This study uses field survey data from 382 families in the year 2020 in Jiangxi province, China, to explore the effects of land lease and labor migration, a well-known occurrence in China, on rural households’ multidimensional poverty status. We used the A-F method to measure the household’s multidimensional poverty in terms of health, education, income, living standard, and social relations. The Bootstrap Test approach, which worked well with our data, was used to build our mediating effect models while taking into account the influence mechanisms of land leasing and multidimensional poverty. According to our findings, 76.70% of sample homes experience multidimensional poverty at the threshold of 0.33. The reduction of multidimensional poverty is significantly aided by both leasing in and leasing out land. Land lease out and land lease in, however, have asymmetrical effects on multidimensional poverty alleviation, with the proportion of land lease out being 1.147 without control variables and the proportion of land lease in being 0.969 without control variables. Land lease in and lease out have positive effects on the multifaceted alleviation of poverty due to the mediating effect of labor migration. For policymakers to develop and put into action more relevant policies to help multidimensional poverty alleviation, our analysis offers critical insights. Full article
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18 pages, 877 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Influencing Factors of Farmers’ Homestead Revitalization Intention from the Perspective of Social Capital
by Bin Guo, Lei Yuan and Mengyuan Lu
Land 2023, 12(4), 812; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12040812 - 03 Apr 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1473
Abstract
Revitalizing idle rural residential bases is essential for improving the utilization rate of residential resources, activating pastoral land resources assets, increasing farmers’ property income, and stimulating rural development vitality. Social capital is one of the essential social resources owned by farmers, which is [...] Read more.
Revitalizing idle rural residential bases is essential for improving the utilization rate of residential resources, activating pastoral land resources assets, increasing farmers’ property income, and stimulating rural development vitality. Social capital is one of the essential social resources owned by farmers, which is closely related to rural social governance and farmers’ daily lives and plays an indispensable role in revitalizing residential land. Based on the theory of social capital and the survey data of 316 farm households in Shaanxi Province in 2022, this study first empirically analyzes the influencing factors of social capital and its constituent dimensions on farm households’ willingness to revitalize their home-steads using a Logit regression model, and then empirically analyzes the hierarchical structure relationship among the influencing factors using an ISM model. The results of the study show that: (1) Social capital and its three constituent dimensions of social network (“Contact with relatives, neighbors, and families” and “Contact with village committee staff”), social trust (“Trust in friends and relatives” and “Trust in village committee and other organizations”), and social participation (“Participation in meetings of village committees and other organizations”) have significant positive effects on farmers’ willingness to revitalize their residential land. (2) There are differences in the effects of different dimensions of social capital on farmers’ willingness to revitalize their homesteads: social trust as a deep-seated cause affects farmers’ social networks and social participation, which in turn affects farmers’ knowledge of homestead revitalization policies and ultimately farmers’ willingness to revitalize their homesteads. Based on the findings of the study, to improve farmers’ willingness to revitalize their homestead bases, government departments should base their efforts on the social capital characteristics of farmers, increase the cultivation of farmers’ social capital, and strengthen the publicity of the work of revitalizing homestead bases and related policies. Full article
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21 pages, 2626 KiB  
Article
Quantifying the Contribution of Rural Residents’ Participation in the Cultural Tourism Industry to Improve the Soil Erosion Control Effect in Ecologically Fragile Areas: A Case Study in the Shaanxi–Gansu–Ningxia Border Region, China
by Yilun He, Shaowen Zhan and Noshaba Aziz
Land 2023, 12(4), 734; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12040734 - 24 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1240
Abstract
Previous studies have paid little attention to the causal effect and mechanism between rural residents’ participation in the cultural tourism industry and the effect of soil erosion control. To analyze this phenomenon empirically, this study employs the propensity scores matching (PSM) method and [...] Read more.
Previous studies have paid little attention to the causal effect and mechanism between rural residents’ participation in the cultural tourism industry and the effect of soil erosion control. To analyze this phenomenon empirically, this study employs the propensity scores matching (PSM) method and the mediating effect model to explore the impact and mechanism of rural residents’ participation in the cultural tourism industry on the effect of soil erosion control in ecologically fragile areas. Using data gathered from 572 rural households from the Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia border region, China, the results show that: (1) Compared with non-participation, residents’ participation in the cultural tourism industry positively influences the soil erosion control effect; if the residents participating in the cultural tourism industry did not participate, the soil erosion control effect would decrease to 2.715–2.844. (2) Considering the heterogeneity of residents’ endowments and attributes of soil erosion technology, the effect of water erosion control is also heterogeneous. (3) Mechanism analysis confirms that residents’ participation in the cultural tourism industry mainly affects soil erosion control through increased non-agricultural income, optimal allocation of labor, and improved environmental protection awareness. Finally, some valuable and promotable policy implications are put forward. Full article
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16 pages, 9478 KiB  
Article
Classification and Evaluation Methods for Optimization of Land Use Efficiency at Village Level
by Xiaoyu Chen, Qingming Zhan and Yuli Fan
Land 2023, 12(3), 710; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12030710 - 19 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1475
Abstract
Land fragmentation hinders sustainable development in rural areas by reducing the efficiency of land use, and it could be mitigated by optimum allocation of land resources. However, most land use allocation models address micro-scale interaction, which is not conducive to the arrangement of [...] Read more.
Land fragmentation hinders sustainable development in rural areas by reducing the efficiency of land use, and it could be mitigated by optimum allocation of land resources. However, most land use allocation models address micro-scale interaction, which is not conducive to the arrangement of the specific implementation plan. Facing such issues, this study proposed a village classification method (LUEOVC) that can provide specific optimization strategies for each village according to different optimization objectives. Specifically, we used a multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm to find the best land use adjustment strategies under different land use optimization objectives, and the pros and cons of these strategies are based on land use efficiency evaluation. The proposed village classification method can reflect the impact of the optimal allocation of different types of land resources on the land use efficiency of each village. The results of experiments conducted in Xinxing County, Guangdong Province showed that the village-based land use optimization strategy provided in this method can improve the land use efficiency of the cultivated land with the most serious fragmentation in the study area by 0.9%. The method also enables planners to compare the costs and gains under different objections, so as to better help decision-makers in formulating land use optimization strategies for different villages. Full article
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Review

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18 pages, 2568 KiB  
Review
A Review of Village Ecosystem Structure and Stability: Implications for the Karst Desertification Control
by Li Lin, Kangning Xiong, Qi Wang, Rong Zhao and Jiayi Zhou
Land 2023, 12(6), 1136; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12061136 - 27 May 2023
Viewed by 1507
Abstract
Villages are places where people gather and live. Due to economic and social development, the irrational behavior of the population has led to an imbalance in the village structure and has threatened the stability of the village ecosystem, resulting in the deterioration of [...] Read more.
Villages are places where people gather and live. Due to economic and social development, the irrational behavior of the population has led to an imbalance in the village structure and has threatened the stability of the village ecosystem, resulting in the deterioration of the village environment. Therefore, it is of great necessity to study the structure and stability of village ecosystems and to optimize the structure of village ecosystems to better guide spatial planning and to restore village ecology. This study conducted a literature search and statistical analysis on the structure and stability of village ecosystems based on WOS and CNKI literature databases. We reviewed 105 relevant articles. The current research status and progress are clarified from structural characteristics, structural optimization, structure and function and stability study. To reveal the research achievements and deficiencies of research on the structure and stability of village ecosystems, the vital scientific issues that need to be addressed are summarized based on current research results. The study found that: (1) the quantity of studies on it were on the rise; (2) the study content mainly focused on structure and function (38%) and structural characteristics (21%); (3) the regions studied are mainly in Asia (73%), Europe (12%) and Africa (10%); and (4) research institutions are mainly colleges and universities. Therefore, future research should give attention to the following three aspects: strengthening the differentiation research on the spatio-temporal scale, qualitative and quantitative analysis of the influence of the Karst Desertification Control (KDC) village structure on stability; based on the mechanism of structure on function, appropriate village ecosystem structure should be established to improve ecosystem service function; based on the influence mechanism of structure on stability, the stability evaluation index system will be constructed so as to lay a solid foundation for the stability strategy of the KDC village ecosystem. By applying the strategy of structure optimization and stability improvement to the KDC village ecosystem, the service function of the Karst village ecosystem can be improved, which can provide scientific reference for the sustainable development of the KDC village ecosystem. Full article
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