Coupling coordination relationship between village development intensity and landscape pattern and its driving factors of 563 villages in Anhui, China

Development intensity and landscape pattern are two fundamental components of village development systems. Understanding their coupling coordination and underlying driving mechanisms is important for guiding territorial spatial development and conservation in rural areas. This study integrates a development intensity model, landscape pattern indices, bivariate spatial autocorrelation, a coupling coordination degree model, and an optimal parameter-based geographical detector to construct an analytical framework at the micro-scale village level. Using data from 563 villages in Mengcheng, Lai'an, and Xiuning counties in Anhui Province, China, we find marked variability and spatial heterogeneity in both development intensity and landscape pattern, with High-High and Low-Low clusters dominating. The overall coupling coordination degree is at a medium-to-low level, with pronounced regional differences. Mengcheng is characterized by high levels of mild maladjustment and transitional states, Lai'an by low maladjustment and a high proportion of transitional states, and Xiuning by high maladjustment and limited transitional states, indicating relatively more pronounced development-landscape conflicts. Vegetation coverage and the proportion of construction land emerge as the primary shared drivers, while the effects of other factors vary across regions. Overall, coupling coordination is jointly shaped by socio-economic and environmental factors. Based on these findings, region-specific development strategies are proposed. This study contributes to the understanding of village development and landscape patterns and provides a scientific basis for rural planning and territorial spatial management.