Spatial Mismatch Between Agricultural Heritage Systems and Eco-Cultural Service Provision in Zhejiang Province, China

Agricultural heritage systems are traditional agroecosystems formed through long-term ecological adaptation, farming practices, and local knowledge transmission. Their conservation depends not only on formal recognition but also on ecological support and effective links with contemporary cultural service networks. Yet it remains unclear whether they are spatially aligned with the eco-cultural service conditions required for socio-ecological resilience and agroecological transition. Using 205 important agricultural heritage systems in Zhejiang Province, China, this study integrates nearest neighbor analysis, kernel density estimation, the InVEST model, a cultural service index, and spatial autocorrelation analysis. Results show that agricultural heritage systems are significantly clustered in northern and southwestern Zhejiang. Ecosystem service values are concentrated in the mountainous and hilly areas of southwestern and south-central Zhejiang, whereas cultural service provision is concentrated in the northern Zhejiang Plain and urbanized areas around Hangzhou Bay. Agricultural heritage systems show weak but statistically detectable spatial associations with ecosystem services, cultural service provision, and their eco-cultural synergy pattern, indicating limited spatial correspondence rather than strong spatial coupling. These findings indicate a spatial mismatch between historically evolved agricultural heritage systems, ecological support conditions, and contemporary cultural service provision. This study contributes a spatial diagnostic framework for identifying ecological-support gaps, cultural-service gaps, and eco-cultural mismatch areas, thereby informing differentiated agricultural heritage governance and regional planning.