Analysis on Dynamic Change and Driving Forces of Cultivated Land in Suzhou

With the statistical data of social economy related to land use from 1978-2005,the paper analyzed the dynamic changes of quantitative and regional differences of cultivated land in Suzhou.Based on principal component analysis,the major driving forces that influence the changes of cultivated land are discussed.The results showed that general trend of cultivated land was decreasing and the regional differences of cultivated land were very notable.The population growth,industrialization and tertiary industry development are the direct driving forces that caused cultivated land change whereas technique advancement and economic benefits are indirect driving forces.