Abstract: In the context of rapid urbanization, the traditional terraced agricultural cultural landscape in mountainous areas is experiencing severe degradation and the need for sustainable development. Therefore, it is of practical significance to clarify the spatial-temporal patterns and evolution rules of the production-living-ecological space in terraced areas for the protection and development of agricultural landscapes in mountainous regions. Taking the Nanzhai terraces in Qingshui River Valley as a case study, we employed GIS spatial data, Participatory Rural Assessment (PRA), terrain niche index, and land use transfer matrices to analyze the spatial-temporal evolution and pattern characteristics of the production-living-ecological space from 2000 to 2020. The results are as follows: 1) In terms of quantity change, the production space has decreased in area, while the living and ecological spaces have expanded. 2) Regarding pattern evolution, the production space exhibits a ladder distribution pattern with significant aggregation and weak dispersion. Notably, a contraction trend is in the southern and eastern parts of the study area. The living space tends to expand in a dispersed manner from the central aggregation point towards the periphery. The ecological space spreads along both banks of the Qingshui River, and when intersecting with production and living spaces, it exhibits fragmented distribution characteristics. 3) Concerning changes in topographic distribution, the production space has shifted towards medium-high terrain gradients, while shrinking on low terrain gradients. The living space has shifted towards medium and low terrain gradients. In terms of the ecological space, there is a concentration trend towards low topographic gradients. 4) As for area transfer behavior, frequent transfers occur among the production, living, and ecological spaces. Notably, the main characteristics include the outflow of production space and the inflow of living space and ecological space.

Key words: production-living-ecological space, spatial-temporal evolution, Geographic Information System, population migration in mountainous region, Nanzhai Terrace