The Carbon Effects of the Urban Ecological Recreational System Based on Systems Simulation

Abstract

Abstract As a major component of urban ecological systems, the urban ecological space is an important carbon pool in the urban carbon circulation. Meanwhile, its special recreational function adds to the complexity of its carbon effects. According to the carbon process and effects of the urban ecological recreational system, the Source-Leakage-Sink-Order (SLSO) framework is proposed as the basis of the four subsystems of the system model. Consisting of 63 parameters, the system dynamics model of urban ecological recreational system is constructed by using VENSIM PLE. Then the urban ecological recreational system in Shanghai under different scenarios is simulated, and the carbon sources and sinks of the system as well as the process of carbon effects such as carbon footprints are analyzed and predicted. Research shows that due to the imbalance of the spatial pattern of ecological recreational space, the carbon sink effects of the system are quite limited. The human carbon source is the main contributor of the system’s carbon sources and the carbon footprint deficit is striking. The management ability of ecological recreational space influences the carbon sink potentials of the system. In addition, the maintenance mode of ecological green space plays a non-trivial role in the composition of carbon sources.