A Framework for Assessing Trade-Offs and Synergies in Green Space System Services Based on Ecosystem Services Bundles

Abstract

Urban green and blue spaces (UGBS) take on critical significance in urban development. In this study, the physical characteristics and landscape-ecology-society-space (LESS) system services of 24 urban parks in 2 greenbelts surrounding Foshan City are analyzed. Five service bundles are proposed based on the four systems, comprising landscape-ecological-social-spatial-composite driving bundles. Subsequently, the trade-offs and synergies (TOS) of the four systems are assessed through principal component analysis (PCA), a self-organization neural network model (SOM), and geographically weighted regression (GWR). As indicated by the results, a high trade-off relationship is identified between the landscape and ecology systems, as well as a low synergy relationship between the ecology system and the society system. Furthermore, there are structural differences in the physical characteristics of the parks in the greenbelts surrounding the city, with parks in the inner ring having higher social and spatial effects, while parks in the outer ring have higher landscape and ecological effects. Lastly, recommendations are presented for planning UGBS around the city. In this study, a feasible framework is developed to achieve high-quality urban living environments based on the multi-objective balanced strategies for UGBS.