以地域单元作为重要层次,从区域角度研究可持续发展是地理学深入探讨人地关系地域系统、协调人和自然关系的必要途径。综合地理区划以可持续发展为目标,涉及自然因素和人文因素,其划分原则有:自然和人文地域分异规律相结合,综合分析和主导因素相结合,发生统一性原则,宏观区域框架与地域类型相结合等。综合地理区划的指标体系应涵盖环境、资源、经济、社会与人口等方面,须选择有代表性的指标,要求简洁实用,避免繁杂。所选指标应有区域可比性,能反映动态、可以量化,便于操作。由此得出的结果可作为划分区域发展状态地域类型的依据,进而提出综合地理区划的初步方案。

Regional study is an ancient and important tradition, forming the regional school of geography. In view of integrated or unified geography, regional study of sustainable development is an important level for approaching regional system of man-land relationship and effective way for coordinating man-nature relationship. Aimed at sustainable development the integrated geographical regionalization includes natural elements and human factors. Main principles for demarcation are as follows: combining regional differentiation of physical environments and human geography, integrating comprehensive analysis and principal factors, genetic unity, as well as linking regional frameworks with regional types, etc. Criterion and index system of the integrated geographical regionalization consists of environments, resources, economy, society and population, etc. The selected criteria and indices for demarcation should be practical, simplified, comparable, quantified, and reflecting dynamic state and trends of various regions. Regional types of development states may be identified based on the above mentioned results, then proposing a tentative scheme of the integrated geographical regionalization.