Landscape Integrity Research Articles

Issues of a dialogue as a way to shape a harmonious landscape and landscape integrity

The article explores Poland as an example of a country in which generations were living under substandard circumstances and where the socio-economic transformation after 1989 did not go along with an aesthetics education. The result is the lack of cultural harmony іn Polish landscapes, widely acknowledged by local experts. Politicians often do not see the problem and neither do the people living in the country as it is developed.The author of this article shows that in order to change the path of development to a more harmonious one, there would have to be a compassionate dialogue, simultaneously with spreading awareness of the problem within all the stakeholders.The author believes that his method called “Seeing Anew” brings some competence to all the parts of the dialogue. Understanding of the factors which created the problem can reconnect people to the environment, the landscape, and ultimately to themselves. All these factors have to be thought of when thinking to restore integrity of the landscape.

Integration of In-VEST Habitat Quality Model with Landscape Pattern Indices to Assess Habitat Fragmentation Under the Dynamic Development of Park City: Southwest China Case

With rapid urbanization, the types of land in China’s cities are continuously evolving, irreversibly impacting the habitat patches within urban areas. However, the development of park cities has reversed this trend to some extent, particularly in Chengdu, China. To investigate the influence of land use type changes on habitat quality in Chengdu Tianfu New District, the research team selected remote sensing imagery data from the Landsat satellite for three distinct periods: 2014, 2019, and 2024. By employing a comprehensive approach that includes land cover trajectory analysis, land transfer matrices, FRAG-STATS landscape pattern indices, and the habitat quality module within the In-VEST model, this study analyzes the spatial and temporal evolution of land use patterns and the dynamics of habitat quality categories. The findings reveal: (1) the coverage of trees and shrubs in the study area initially declined but later increased, primarily driven by anthropogenic construction activities. Specifically, the land use types in the built-up areas on the northern side of Tianfu New District underwent notable fluctuations, whereas those on the southern side, adjacent to the Longquan Mountain Range, remained relatively stable. (2) From 2014 to 2019, high-quality habitats were predominantly distributed in the southeast of Tianfu New District, characterized by a robust ecological foundation, high landscape integrity, and strong connectivity of ecological land. In contrast, the areas with the poorest habitat quality were situated in the northern built-up areas of Tianfu New District, exhibiting highly fragmented habitat patches, simple edge shapes, and low connectivity. However, between 2019 and 2024, the overall habitat quality within the study area improved, characterized by an increase in the number of high-quality habitats and continuous expansion of habitat areas. The research findings offer valuable insights into future urban planning, ecological restoration, and conservation efforts in Chengdu Tianfu New District, providing critical guidance for the implementation and strategic development of the park city policy.

The Regional Scale of Landscape Planning: the Possibilities for Measuring the Effectiveness of Nature-Based Solutions

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the measurement of landscape integrity based on ecological support processes in the Federal District, with the aim of defining a multi-scalar and multi-functional Regional Green Infrastructure Network (IVR) based on Nature-Based Solutions (NBS). Theoretical Framework: This topic presents the main concepts and theories that underpin the research. Landscape Ecology, Restoration Ecology, Green Infrastructure and Geodesign stand out, providing a solid basis for understanding the research context. Method: The methodology adopted for this research comprises the analysis of ecological support processes in the landscape, using the multispectral “CO2flux” index, related to the photosynthetic efficiency of vegetation and a proxy for energy, carbon and biomass inputs, which, together with the “Topographic Wetness Index”, related to the flow and accumulation of water and sediment in the landscape, provided the basis for the elaboration of a Geodesign process. Data was collected using multispectral satellite scenes - “Landsat 8”, collected during the dry season. Results and Discussion: The results obtained revealed the design of a mosaic of “hotspots”, corridors and patches that consolidates and intensifies carbon flows in the Federal District's landscape, with positive impacts on territorial resilience. In the discussion section, these results are contextualized in the light of the theoretical framework, highlighting the implications and relationships identified. Possible discrepancies and limitations of the study are also considered in this section. Research Implications: The practical and theoretical implications of this research are discussed, providing “insights” into how the results can be applied, or how to influence practices in the field of landscape planning. These implications can cover the design of Nature-Based Solutions at a regional scale, climate mitigation and adaptation actions for territories, and people's access to ecosystem services. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by proposing the design of a regional network of green infrastructures based on the analysis of the flow of ecological support processes in the landscape, considering different demands and goals for environmental recovery. The relevance and value of this research is evidenced by the possibility of planning and designing mosaics in the landscape based on the identification of networks with greater potential for the provision of ecosystem services and, consequently, for the adaptation and mitigation of territories to climate impacts and those resulting from human occupation.

The Landscape as a Pillar of the Metropolis of Tomorrow: Sustainable Strategies for Better Integration in Annaba, Algeria

Objectives: This study aims to address the urban and landscape challenges faced by Annaba, a city in Algeria, due to environmental degradation resulting from rapid urbanisation and rural-to-urban migration. Once celebrated for its natural beauty, Annaba now seeks to restore its appeal and improve the quality of life for its residents. The objective is to demonstrate how integrating the landscape into urban planning can play a crucial role in sustainable development, preserving the city's unique identity, and enhancing its social, ecological, and aesthetic environment. Methods: Our approach involves a thorough analysis of Annaba’s landscape characteristics and biodiversity, exploring strategies for reintegration into urban planning frameworks. We focus on the coastal landscape as a primary asset in planning recommendations. This study reviews existing literature on sustainable urban planning, biodiversity conservation, and landscape integration in cities experiencing similar environmental and demographic shifts. Results: The findings suggest that integrating landscape elements into urban planning in Annaba would significantly enhance its ecological and aesthetic appeal. A sustainable development approach that prioritises the landscape can help to combat environmental degradation, improve the quality of urban life, and strengthen the city’s identity. Specific recommendations emphasize preserving coastal and natural features to support biodiversity and attract residents and tourists alike. Conclusion: Reintegrating landscape considerations into Annaba’s urban development strategy is essential for addressing present and future challenges. This approach would not only protect the city's natural assets but also promote a sustainable and appealing urban environment. By focusing on the landscape as a foundation of urban planning, Annaba can redefine its developmental path, offering a model of sustainable growth for other Mediterranean cities facing similar issues.

Blending Nature with Cuisine: A Review of Landscape Integration Strategies in Fine Dining Restaurant

Blending Nature with Cuisine: A Review of Landscape Integration Strategies in Fine Dining Restaurant

Artistic Practice of Urban Renewal

With the acceleration of urbanization, the transformation and regeneration of old industrial areas have become an important issue in urban renewal. As a typical project in this context, the renovation of Taizhou Fanxing Sports Science and Technology Park is not only to rebuild the environmental landscape of the old factory, but also to comprehensively improve the urban function, spatial layout, ecological environment and regional cultural connotation. The purpose of this paper is to elaborate three innovative strategies in the transformation of Taizhou Fanxing Sports Science and Technology Park, namely, the use of design color and landscape integration, the multifunctional utilization of internal space, and the promotion and operation of industrial park design IP, in order to provide useful reference and inspiration for the practice of similar projects.

Spatial multiomics atlas reveals smooth muscle phenotypic transformation and metabolic reprogramming in diabetic macroangiopathy

BackgroundDiabetic macroangiopathy has been the main cause of death and disability in diabetic patients. The mechanisms underlying smooth muscle cell transformation and metabolic reprogramming other than abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism remain to be further explored.MethodSingle-cell transcriptome, spatial transcriptome and spatial metabolome sequencing were performed on anterior tibial artery from 11 diabetic patients with amputation. Multi-omics integration, cell communication analysis, time series analysis, network analysis, enrichment analysis, and gene expression analysis were performed to elucidate the potential molecular features.ResultWe constructed a spatial multiomics map of diabetic blood vessels based on multiomics integration, indicating single-cell and spatial landscape of transcriptome and spatial landscape of metabolome. At the same time, the characteristics of cell composition and biological function of calcified regions were obtained by integrating spatial omics and single cell omics. On this basis, our study provides favorable evidence for the cellular fate of smooth muscle cells, which can be transformed into pro-inflammatory chemotactic smooth muscle cells, macrophage-like smooth muscle cells/foam-like smooth muscle cells, and fibroblast/chondroblast smooth muscle cells in the anterior tibial artery of diabetic patients. The smooth muscle cell phenotypic transformation is driven by transcription factors net including KDM5B, DDIT3, etc. In addition, in order to focus on metabolic reprogramming apart from abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism, we constructed a metabolic network of diabetic vascular activation, and found that HNMT and CYP27A1 participate in diabetic vascular metabolic reprogramming by combining public data.ConclusionThis study constructs the spatial gene-metabolism map of the whole anterior tibial artery for the first time and reveals the characteristics of vascular calcification, the phenotypic transformation trend of SMCs, and the transcriptional driving network of SMCs phenotypic transformation of diabetic macrovascular disease. In the perspective of combining the transcriptome and metabolome, the study demonstrates the activated metabolic pathways in diabetic blood vessels and the key genes involved in diabetic metabolic reprogramming.Graphical abstract

Innovative approaches to promote inclusive processes for noise barriers landscape integration

Noise barriers, in addition to their own functions as specific mitigation interventions to protect health, can represent important architectural elements, both in urban environment and natural context. In this perspective the design stage cannot ignore an integrated evaluation of the reference social and natural context based on the peculiarities and vocations of the territories involved. Aiming to the primary objective of identifying the "right" project that best fits into the reference territorial context, also for acoustic barriers it is therefore necessary to carry out a preliminary analysis of the socio-territorial and landscape context to understand specific local features of the territories and promote barriers as an essential part of the urban environment and landscape in a synergistic vision between innovation and sustainability also through new models of co-design and co-management with the communities involved. This paper aims to describe the approach adopted by RFI - the National Manager of the Italian Railway Network - to promote effective integration and synergy between noise mitigation interventions and the territorial reference context with the aim of creating a "tailor-made" project with the contribution of citizens and stakeholders.

Determining the relevance of noise barriers along railway lines based on a multi-criteria analysis

Rail transport is one of the friendliest in environmental terms, but the noise generated by this mode of transport remains a weak point. To improve local residents' living conditions against this noise, two locations for protection devices are possible : close to the source, to be preferred in accordance with French legislation, within the limit of economical acceptability (not defined) or by façade insulation otherwise. A method has been developed to assess the relevance of noise barriers or merlons based on a cost-benefit analysis. A multi-criteria analysis is required, based on acoustic benefits provided by protection near to the source, building density, number of people protected, technical feasibility, costs directly linked to the construction conditions and landscape integration possibilities. The article details the method used during the preliminary study phase to determine the possible conditions for implementation, the associated costs and the impact of protection, and presents the analysis grids used to validate the choice of protection type, close to the source or on the facade.

Impact of Typical Land Use Expansion Induced by Ecological Restoration and Protection Projects on Landscape Patterns

Land use and land cover (LULC) changes driven by ecological restoration and protection projects play a pivotal role in reshaping landscape patterns. However, the specific impacts of these projects on landscape structure remain understudied. In this research, we applied geographically weighted regression (GWR) to analyze the spatial relationships between typical land use expansion and landscape pattern characteristics in the Lesser Khingan Mountains–Sanjiang Plain region between 2017 and 2022. Our results indicate three key findings: (1) Significant spatial heterogeneity exists in the relationship between landscape patterns and land use expansion, which varies across geographic locations; (2) Ecological restoration projects generally reduce fragmentation, dominance, and heterogeneity while enhancing connectivity, particularly in forest and farmland regions. However, excessive land use expansion in certain areas may reverse these positive effects; (3) Landscape complexity increases in high-altitude mountainous regions due to land use expansion but decreases in plains, particularly in forest-to-farmland conversions. These findings provide new insights into how landscape patterns respond to ecological restoration efforts and offer actionable guidance for improving future land use planning and policy decisions. Our study highlights the need to consider local geomorphological factors when designing ecological projects, ensuring that restoration efforts align with regional landscape dynamics to maintain landscape integrity.

Correlation between mammal track abundance and Forest Landscape Integrity Index validates actual forest ecological integrity

Human disturbance compromises the ecological integrity of forests, negatively affecting associated species. Assessing the impact of forest integrity on biodiversity is complex due to the interplay of various human activities, ecological factors, and their interactions. Current large-scale indices assess forest integrity but often lack a direct connection to the biotic environment. We tested the effectiveness of the global Forest Landscape Integrity Index (FLII) in evaluating aspects of anthropogenic forest degradation on the biotic community. We analyzed the relationship between changes in the ecological integrity of Finnish forests and variations in mammal species abundance, using the number of tracks from 17 different species collected during the winter seasons between 2016 and 2020 in south-central Finland. Beyond the FLII, we analyzed forest and canopy cover to enhance the accuracy of habitat preference assessments. We found that the FLII captures the varying degrees of forest integrity, as reflected by the correlation between the abundance of winter tracks and the FLII for most mammals. Species that were positively associated with forest integrity were all native to the boreal forest, while mammals that adapt well to human-disturbed environments including two invasive species were more common in lower FLII forests. Significant differences in habitat preferences were also observed in relation to forest and canopy cover, revealing additional nuances that the FLII alone did not capture. This study demonstrates that the FLII, when combined with a comprehensive dataset and supplemented with region-specific factors, can assess species' adaptability to human-modified forests, aiding in the development of conservation strategies.

Multi-Dimensional Landscape Connectivity Index for Prioritizing Forest Cover Change Scenarios: A Case Study of Southeast China

Predicting forest cover change (FCC) and screening development scenarios are crucial for ecological resilience. However, quantitative evaluations of prioritizing forest change scenarios are limited. Here, we took five shared socio-economic pathways (SSPs) representing potential global changes, namely SSP1: sustainability, SSP2: middle of the road, SSP3: regional rivalry, SSP4: inequality, and SSP5: fossil-fueled development, which were constructed by integrated assessment and climate models. We modeled them with the patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) and constructed a multi-dimensional landscape connectivity index (MLCI) employing forest landscape connectivity (FLC) indices to assess forest development in Fujian Province, Southeast China. The MLCI visualized by radar charts was based on five metrics, including forest patch size (class area (CA), number (patch density (PD), isolation (landscape division index (DIVISION), aggregation (mean nearest-neighbor index (ENN_MN), and connectance index, (CONNECT). The results indicate that FC will remain above 61.4% until 2030, with growth observed in SSP1 and SSP4. Particularly, FC in SSP4 substantially increased, converted from cropland (1140.809 km2) and grassland (645.741 km2). SSP4 has the largest MLCI values and demonstrates significant enhancements in forest landscape integrity, with CA, ENN_MN and CONNECT increasing greatly. Our study offers valuable approaches to and insights into forest protection and restoration.

Incorporating public perception of Renewable Energy Landscapes in local spatial planning tools: A case study in Mediterranean countries

The European energy transition requirements have been posing many questions on the deployment of renewable energy sources. The development of renewable energy infrastructures entails landscape transformations affecting the perceived landscape quality and local acceptance. Sustainable energy spatial planning considers environmental, cultural, ecological needs but often neglect community perception of landscape transformations including both the physical landscape structures and the meanings associated to them. To address this issue, the paper aims to explore public perception and incorporate it in the planning tools. The research draws on a survey of residents of Arcos de la Frontera, Spain, conducted with the visual Q methodology, and on structured interviews with local experts. A selection of 36 different photovoltaic applications in urban and rural areas was evaluated by 21 citizens. The analysis identified four distinct viewpoints on photovoltaic applications in urban and rural landscapes. Local experts provided feedback on the current local spatial planning tools and on their consideration of landscape transformations. Considering both citizens and experts, we provided landscape integration strategies linked to siting and landscape design of solar power plants to be included in urban planning tools.

Better Safe Than Sorry: A Model to Assess Anthropic Impacts on a River System in Order to Take Care of the Landscape

The need to find a trade-off between protecting water-related ecosystems and increasing safe water-use for human society is recognized in the 2030 Agenda of the European Union. We assess the ecological status of a riverine system in order to mitigate human impacts, considering its importance for supplying drinking water to more than 4 million users in Rome. We used an integrated approach, analyzing animal and plant communities at riverbanks and the riverbed. A macrobenthos analysis revealed a well-structured community with a good ecology for all sampling stations. The highest value was found immediately upstream and downstream of the springs collection system, while the lowest richness value was where the river collects urban wastewater. A floristic inventory showed Hemicryptophytes composing almost 45% of all species, and prevalence of Euroasiatic (35%) and Orophilous (34%) chorotypes. A positive correlation between riverbed vegetation and the quality of the benthic community was revealed, while tree height seems to have a negative trend. Our data suggest a river stretch affected by resurgence and water abstraction did not highlight irreversible alterations to the landscape. Indeed, the composition of vegetation and correlated animal communities mirrored a clinal gradient expected for an Apennine river system. Our study has the potential to improve the approach used to monitor the impacts of humans on freshwater ecosystems, aiming at preserving the integrity of the water-related landscape.

Role of National Testing Agency (NTA) and its Credibility in India

The National Testing Agency (NTA) plays a pivotal role in India's education system by conducting entrance examinations for higher education institutions and various professional courses. Established in 2017, the NTA aims to enhance the quality and efficiency of the examination process through the implementation of standardized testing and the use of technology. This paper explores the NTA's credibility, focusing on its transparency, reliability, and the effectiveness of its assessments. By adopting a robust framework for exam administration, including measures to prevent malpractice and ensure fair evaluation, the NTA has gained public trust. Furthermore, the agency's initiatives, such as providing a digital platform for application and result management, have streamlined the testing process, making it more accessible to students across diverse socio-economic backgrounds. This paper also examines the challenges faced by the NTA, including issues related to examination centers, infrastructure, and the continuous need for technological upgrades. Overall, the NTA's commitment to upholding high standards in educational assessments significantly contributes to the integrity of India's academic landscape, fostering an environment conducive to merit-based opportunities for students. Keywords: National Testing Agency, NTA, credibility, standardized testing, transparency, examination process, educational assessments, India, merit-based opportunities.

Sustainable Economic Growth in Vietnam: Exploring Resilience, Global Integration, and Innovation in a Changing Landscape

This article reviews the economic trajectory of Vietnam in light of sustainability, innovation, and global integration. In this context, a survey of 279 company managers from 120 small, medium, and large enterprises in Vietnam has been used to analyze some of the key variables that influence the economic landscape. The survey was done on the Google Forms platform, including companies from both the local and international levels. Our study sheds light on the important functions of innovation and global integration with regard to promoting sustainable development. We investigate the influence of FDI and international trade agreements on the economy of Vietnam by identifying such factors as resource management and competitive compliance. The findings show large obstacles and opportunities for improvement in innovation and sustainability. These include building full policy frameworks, incentives in innovative practices, and strengthening global integration. The findings from this research contribute to informed understanding and position implications that may be useful for academics, policymakers, and business leaders in how Vietnam can address its economic challenges while furthering sustainability and innovation.

Mapping Terrestrial Conservation: Showcasing Model Assessment for Map Performance Evaluation

Habitat preservation, conservation, and protection of threatened species require careful site selection procedures. The presence of several site-selection models encourages model assessments to determine their usefulness and functionality for conservation purposes. Map model assessments are not conventionally conducted between site selection models to understand the nature of their decision-making strategies and prioritization. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the relationship between a recently published site selection model, the Safe Zone with MaxEnt, representing the Species Distribution Model, and the Forest Landscape Integrity Index, representing an intact forest habitat. As expected, there was considerable variation among the three models due to their different algorithms and themes of concern; nevertheless, these had some level of agreement in selecting potential areas for conservation. In addition, this study presented a convenient method for map data collection and the analysis required for a comprehensive understanding of the model agreements and relationships with other models. The nature of the decision making of the Safe Zone model and its potential utility for selecting Strict Protection Zones was presented. This study highlighted the intersection of geospatial analysis, conservation, and model evaluation. Finally, study emphasized the importance of informed decision-making in environmental planning and management through rigorous map assessment. The limitations of this study include the varied pixel resolutions of global and local maps, temporal predictions, and the fact that the models to which the SZ was compared are limited to models and maps available in the area of interest.

Latency-Sensitive Function Placement among Heterogeneous Nodes in Serverless Computing.

Function as a Service (FaaS) is highly beneficial to smart city infrastructure due to its flexibility, efficiency, and adaptability, specifically for integration in the digital landscape. FaaS has serverless setup, which means that an organization no longer has to worry about specific infrastructure management tasks; the developers can focus on how to deploy and create code efficiently. Since FaaS aligns well with the IoT, it easily integrates with IoT devices, thereby making it possible to perform event-based actions and real-time computations. In our research, we offer an exclusive likelihood-based model of adaptive machine learning for identifying the right place of function. We employ the XGBoost regressor to estimate the execution time for each function and utilize the decision tree regressor to predict network latency. By encompassing factors like network delay, arrival computation, and emphasis on resources, the machine learning model eases the selection process of a placement. In replication, we use Docker containers, focusing on serverless node type, serverless node variety, function location, deadlines, and edge-cloud topology. Thus, the primary objectives are to address deadlines and enhance the use of any resource, and from this, we can see that effective utilization of resources leads to enhanced deadline compliance.

Spatiotemporal evolution of landscape stability in World Heritage Karst Sites: a case study of Shibing Karst and Libo-Huanjiang Karst

Landscape stability is a paramount concern within the field of landscape ecology. Indices of landscape patterns not only facilitate an effective analysis of land use transformations but also delve into the mechanisms of landscape disturbances across various spatial and temporal dimensions. Utilizing land use data spanning from 2014 to 2022 for the Shibing and Libo-Huanjiang South China Karst (SCK) World Heritage Sites (WHSs), this study delves into the landscape dynamics of these areas over the past 8 years. This investigation employs landscape pattern indices and a moving window technique to construct a landscape stability evaluation model, incorporating indices such as the Contagion Index, Patch Density, and Total Edge Contrast. Moreover, the study employs Moran's I, a spatial autocorrelation index, to scrutinize the shifts in geographical heterogeneity of landscape stability within the said period. The findings reveal: (1) Between 2014 and 2022, the landscape patterns of the Shibing and Libo-Huanjiang WHSs have undergone significant transformations, with Woodland emerging as the predominant landscape type and its area exhibiting an upward trend in recent years. (2) The level of fragmentation within the research area has decreased, landscape diversity has diminished, and the aggregation index has risen, according to the landscape pattern indices from 2014 to 2022, indicating that conservation measures have significantly influenced the evolution of landscape patterns. (3) Throughout most of the study period, landscape stability predominantly remained at a relatively stable level, albeit with noticeable fluctuations in years heavily impacted by human activities. (4) The areas of high-high agglomeration and the hotspots of the heritage sites were primarily concentrated within the core zones of these sites, suggesting focused areas of conservation and landscape integrity.

Conservation status assessments of species-rich tropical taxa in the face of data availability limitations: insights from Sulawesi Begonia

Species conservation assessments using the criteria outlined by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List can be compromised by limited data availability. Species-rich tropical plant taxa with numerous microendemics are particularly problematic. This study focusses on the Begonia flora of the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, comprised of 65 herbaceous species mainly found in rainforest habitats. Sixty-two species are Sulawesi endemics, including 20 species restricted to limestone karst landscapes. Forty-eight species are represented by fewer than 10 herbarium collections. Here, we outline and discuss an approach that, despite these data limitations, allows meaningful conservation assessments by integrating analyses of occurrences, data primarily based on remote sensing approaches, including forest landscape integrity, forest cover loss, and land cover, and extent of suitable habitat estimation. The results indicate that most Sulawesi Begonia species are narrow endemics whose rainforest habitats have substantially deteriorated in the last two decades: 27 species are assessed as Critically Endangered, 24 as Endangered, six as Vulnerable, five as Least Concern, and three species are Data Deficient. Conservation action, including extension of the protected area network in Sulawesi with emphasis on areas of old-growth forest and limestone karst landscapes, and strengthening of ex-situ living collections, is recommended.