Planning of Green Space Ecological Network in Urban Areas: An Example of Nanchang, China.

Haifeng Li,Wei He,Wenbo Chen

doi:10.3390/ijerph121012889

Abstract

Green space plays an important role in sustainable urban development and ecology by virtue of multiple environmental, recreational, and economic benefits. Constructing an effective and harmonious urban ecological network and maintaining a sustainable living environment in response to rapid urbanization are the key issues required to be resolved by landscape planners. In this paper, Nanchang City, China was selected as a study area. Based on a series of landscape metrics, the landscape pattern analysis of the current (in 2005) and planned (in 2020) green space system were, respectively, conducted by using FRAGSTATS 3.3 software. Considering the actual situation of the Nanchang urban area, a “one river and two banks, north and south twin cities” ecological network was constructed by using network analysis. Moreover, the ecological network was assessed by using corridor structure analysis, and the improvement of an ecological network on the urban landscape was quantitatively assessed through a comparison between the ecological network and green space system planning. The results indicated that: (1) compared to the green space system in 2005, the planned green space system in 2020 of the Nanchang urban area will decline in both districts (Changnan and Changbei districts). Meanwhile, an increase in patch density and a decrease in mean patch size of green space patches at the landscape level implies the fragmentation of the urban green space landscape. In other words, the planned green space system does not necessarily improve the present green space system; (2) the ecological network of two districts has high corridor density, while Changnan’s ecological network has higher connectivity, but Changbei’s ecological network is more viable from an economic point of view, since it has relatively higher cost efficiency; (3) decrease in patch density, Euclidean nearest neighbor distance, and an increase in mean patch size and connectivity implied that the ecological network could improve landscape connectivity greatly, as compared with the planned green space system. That is to say, the planned ecological network would reduce landscape fragmentation, and increase the shape complexity of green space patches and landscape connectivity. As a result, the quality of the urban ecological environment would be improved.

Highlights

Urbanization and industrialization can be viewed as essential causes for land use and land cover change, and it increases with the majority of the world’s population migrating into cities [1,2].China’s urban population in 2001 accounted for 37.7% of its total population, and this proportion may reach 75% in 2050 by estimation [3]
Using corridor structure analysis and network structure analysis to assess the planning ecological network, the results show that the ecological network of the two districts having high corridor density, of
This study showed that cultivated green space and the total class area of green space patches should be expanded in both districts of the Nanchang urban area if the green space system planning gets started

Summary

Introduction

Urbanization and industrialization can be viewed as essential causes for land use and land cover change, and it increases with the majority of the world’s population migrating into cities [1,2].China’s urban population in 2001 accounted for 37.7% of its total population, and this proportion may reach 75% in 2050 by estimation [3]. Urbanization and industrialization can be viewed as essential causes for land use and land cover change, and it increases with the majority of the world’s population migrating into cities [1,2]. Rapid urbanization, accompanied by the marked rise of the human population, has caused many environmental impacts associated with the reduction of green spaces [4,5,6]. Urban environments are increasingly exposed to severe conditions of thermal stress, air pollution, and noise nuisances [7,8], which critically influence the health and well-being of the cities’. It appears from a review of the relevant literature that the air quality in China has become an increasing public concern because of its health risks [10].

Objectives

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion