Traditional villages are human treasures left behind by the integration of material space and non-material culture in the process of agricultural civilization. Studying the spatial autocorrelation characteristics, heterogeneity, and quantitative attribution of the factors influencing traditional villages provides new ideas for the protection of traditional villages. This study took 75 traditional villages as the research object. From the perspective of spatial autocorrelation and spatial heterogeneity, the study used nuclear density estimation and Moran’s I index to analyze the spatial distribution patterns and selected 12 factors to construct the GWR modeling and geodetector to analyze the main driving forces and the interaction mechanism. The results showed that, firstly, the overall spatial layout of traditional villages in the Awa Mountain area had two cores, two sides, and a scattered distribution; the global Moran’s I was 0.774, and 55.6% of traditional villages showed a clustering phenomenon. Second, the spatial layout of traditional villages in the Awa Mountain area has been jointly promoted and mutually constrained by multiple factors in a dynamic and complex mechanism with obvious spatial heterogeneity. The natural factor is the basic factor, which determines the location and scale of development of villages; the spatial factor is the auxiliary factor; the social factor is the decisive factor, with a negative global correlation and a positive local correlation; the regional cultural factor is the key factor, and the regional factor and the social factor complement each other; and factors such as a backward economic level, restricted transportation, less external communication, and low population density play a protective role. Third, the main driving factor is the proportion of ethnic minorities (X10), and the explanatory power of q-value reaches 0.54; the proportion of ethnic minorities (X10) ∩ average annual precipitation (X4) has the strongest interactive driving force, which belongs to nonlinear enhancement, and the q-value is 0.93, which proves that the explanatory power of the two-factor model is much greater than the single-factor model from the system perspective.

Optimizing the pattern of land space development and protection as well as improving regional ecological security are significant tasks in the construction of an ecological civilization. The Lancang River Basin is a significant ecological barrier in Southwest China, and its ecological security is critical to the Natural World Heritage Site of “Three Parallel Rivers” and even to Southeast Asia. In this study, the InVEST model and MSPA method were used for the identification of the ecological sources; the resistance surface was corrected by the night light coefficient; and the ecological linkages, pinch points, obstacles, and ecological breakpoints were extracted using the circuit theory to construct the ecological security pattern of the Lancang River Basin. The major study results indicated that: (1) A total of 23 ecological sources were identified in the watershed, covering an area of 9019.56 km², mostly large-scale irregular patches. (2) A total of 39 ecological corridors were identified in the study area; 15 key corridors, 17 important corridors, and 7 general corridors were extracted based on the gravity model, which together formed a ecological security network for the watershed. (3) Sixteen ecological pinch points, one primary ecological improvement area, twelve secondary improvement areas, and twenty-nine ecological breakpoints were identified in this study. The ecological protection and restoration of different important ecological areas are conducive to the protection of biodiversity and the construction of the ecological security pattern in the Lancang River Basin.

Based on the issue of how to preserve vernacular landscape characters in the process of rural development, an innovative research system for identifying the extrinsic characters and the intrinsic value of village landscapes was developed through content analysis. Landscape genes are values, knowledge, cultural practices, and modes of thought implicit in the rural landscapes. The village landscape gene research system includes three aspects: landscape element and trait research, landscape composition regularity research, and landscape genes research; as well as two stages: extracting landscape genes and exploring the adaptability of landscape genes. Afterwards, through the content extraction and statistical analysis of 182 theses, 71 descriptive indices for landscape gene research were selected from the scales of rural environment, internal space of the village and vernacular architecture respectively. A comparative map of the landscape element traits and composition regularities of the two traditional villages, Wuli village and Baya Middle village, was drawn based on the index system. The research framework developed in this study has great significance for recommending rural development and management policies as well as enhancing the identification and belonging of local communities, especially for ethnic minority people.

Traditional villages (TVs) are clusters for the conservation of farming civilization heritage with multiple values. Studying their spatial distribution and driving mechanisms is conducive to formulating conservation and development strategies. In this study, 777 TVs in Yunnan Province were examined. Spatial analysis methods such as the nearest neighbor index (NNI), kernel density estimation (KDE), and Moran’s I were used to investigate their spatial distribution patterns. Twelve driving factors were selected from natural, spatial, social, and cultural aspects. The driving mechanisms affecting the distribution of TVs were explored by employing the geographically weighted regression (GWR) model and Geodetector combined with mathematical and statistical methods to systematically study the spatial autocorrelation and heterogeneity of TVs in Yunnan. The results of this study indicate that: (1) The 777 TVs in Yunnan Province are evidently clustered in the overall distribution, presenting a contiguous and concentrated distribution pattern of “3 high-density areas + multiple medium-density belts”. However, the distribution of TVs is unbalanced. The spatial distribution is significantly positively correlated globally, and there exist three types of clustering in local areas. (2) The spatial layout of TVs in Yunnan Province is jointly influenced by multiple factors, with obvious spatial heterogeneity. Regional cultural factors are the key ones. TVs tend to be distributed in areas with medium–high elevation, flat slops, sunny slopes, moderate precipitation and temperatures, and a certain distance from water sources and roads. A large number of TVs are distributed in areas with a high proportion of ethnic minorities. (3) The main factors affecting the distribution of national-level TVs in Yunnan are intangible cultural heritage, cultural relic protection units, followed by factors such as transportation, slope, and elevation. The interaction between intangible cultural heritage (X11) and cultural relic protection units (X12) reveals the strongest interactive driving force. This study reveals the diverse characteristics of the spatial distribution of national-level TVs in Yunnan and their influencing mechanisms, which can provide a scientific decision-making basis for the future protection and development of TVs in Yunnan and guide the sustainable development of TV cultural heritage clusters.

The construction of ecological security patterns is an effective means to improve ecological environment quality, protect regional biodiversity, and alleviate the landscape fragmentation caused by urbanization in plateau lake cities. Taking the Dianchi Lake area as an example, we used the morphological spatial pattern analysis method (MSPA) and the minimum cumulative resistance model (MCR) to construct a comprehensive resistance surface, ecological corridor network, and ecological security pattern for the study area. Firstly, we selected 12 ecological sources with more than 1000 hm², PC, IIC index more than 1, and high habitat quality and connectivity from the study area, including the Dianchi lake body and the mountain forests in the south, north, and west. The overall habitat quality in the eastern region was poor. Secondly, the regional comprehensive resistance value was 1.0925–4.5395. The comprehensive resistance surface showed that the influence of human activities in the region was strong, and the connectivity between important sources was poor. Thirdly, we identified 26 important corridors with interaction force values higher than 50, mostly mountain corridors, between sources that were close to one another and over 40 general corridors with interaction force values lower than 50 in urban built-up areas, most of which were river corridors. Fourthly, by identifying five potential sources and 43 potential corridors in the eastern region, we improved the ecological network function and overall connectivity. The α index (loop pass degree), β index (line point rate), and γ index (connectivity degree) were 2.895, 5.5, and 2.2 before optimization and 3.206, 6.412, and 2.422 after optimization, respectively. Lastly, the “ridge lines” and “valley lines” were used to screen the ecological nodes in our ecological network model and construct a “one core, three regions, and one belt” ecological security pattern by combining the geographical characteristics of the research region and the local policy planning guidance. We also provided ecological control, restoration, and construction suggestions based on the corridor plans of other administrative regions and the different types of source area.

Traditional villages (TVs) constitute an integral segment of China’s cultural heritage, encapsulating diverse values. This research scrutinizes 777 national-level TVs spanning six batches in Yunnan Province. Spatial distribution patterns were examined via the nearest neighbor index, kernel density, and Moran’s I. A comprehensive framework for driving factor analysis was devised, encompassing four principal categories and twelve subcategories of natural, spatial, social, and regional cultural factors. The driving factors influencing the distribution of TVs at the provincial scale were analyzed using geographically weighted regression (GWR) models and geodetector, thoroughly investigating the spatial autocorrelation and heterogeneity of TVs in Yunnan. The results reveal: (1) Three spatial nucleus areas of national-level TVs in Yunnan Province are discerned in western, northwestern, and southeastern Yunnan. The global Moran’s I is 0.66, with 61.9% of TVs displaying clustering. (2) The spatial configuration of national-level TVs in Yunnan Province is collectively impacted by twelve factors, exhibiting significant spatial heterogeneity. Natural factors dictate the location and development scale of TVs, with slopes exerting the strongest influence. Among spatial factors, the proximity between villages and roads manifests the most substantial impact. The driving force of per capita GDP, categorized as a social factor, attains a value of 0.119. Regional cultural factors present the strongest overall driving force, with intangible cultural heritage and cultural relic protection units generally demonstrating a positive correlation, albeit with some negative correlations in specific locales. (3) Intangible cultural heritage (X11) emerges as the single factor with the highest driving force, bearing a p-value of 0.326. The interaction between intangible cultural heritage (X11) and cultural relic protection units (X12) reveals the most robust interactive driving force, possessing an explanatory power of 0.745, indicating that these two factors, with the highest explanatory power, constitute the most critical driving combination. These insights can furnish decision-making support for the holistic development and preservation of TVs in plateau mountainous regions and guide the sustainable evolution of TV cultural heritage clusters in Yunnan.