Landscape Planning Strategies Research Articles

Landscape planning and polycentricity: potentialities for regional integration in transboundary natural resources

This article proposes a discussion on the potential application of polycentricity strategies in the management of strategic transboundary natural resources, such as shared water bodies and river basins with regional potential for water supply and energy production.As a method, it presents a review of the literature on polycentricity, focusing on the challenges and opportunities of governance of shared territories among polycentric cities. It identifies key aspects of polycentricity, focusing on topics such as the integration of cities in polycentric urban regions, regional policies and governance in polycentric regions, and polycentricity and natural resource management.Complementarily, potential landscape planning strategies that can be applied to strengthen regional identity between centralities, as well as to strengthen the functional, institutional and cultural identity and integration of a polycentric region, are also presented.

Air quality impact of natural protected areas: A case study of Sarayiçi Tavuk Forest, Edirne, Türkiye

This study investigated the regulatory ecosystem services of Sarayiçi Tavuk Forest, a natural protected urban forest in Edirne, Turkey, with a focus on its ability to improve air quality. The i-Tree Canopy Tool was used to categorise land-cover classes within the forest and assess air quality impacts using pollutant removal and carbon sequestration estimates. The results show that the Sarayiçi Tavuk Forest eliminates 5,014.68 kg/yr of pollutants, sequesters 183,000 kg/yr of carbon, and stores a total of 4,596,680 kg of carbon throughout the lifespan of its trees. The economic value of these regulatory ecosystem services is estimated at 864,177 USD annually and substantially improves air quality. The results of this study provide valuable insights for researchers, landscape managers, and policymakers involved in regional planning, decision-making, and green space improvement in cities. This study highlights the vital role of natural protected urban forests in improving air quality and underscores the need for their preservation and integration into landscape and urban planning strategies for sustainable development in response to 21st-century challenges.

MAPPING THE CARBON SEQUESTRATION OF MATURE TREES FOR LANDSCAPE PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT USING GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS): A CASE STUDY OF HOSPITAL GERIK, PERAK

This paper seeks to address the existing research gap by introducing a novel database in the context of mapping the carbon sequestration of mature trees, utilizing Geographic Information System (GIS) for enhanced landscape planning and management strategies. While previous studies have explored the use of GIS in landscape planning, limited attention has been directed towards its application in mapping the carbon sequestration of mature trees, particularly in health facilities. One objective of this study is to provide a carbon sequestration database that consists of spatial and attributes data that can be used by the management of landscape planning for monitoring works and become more aware of existing trees that can give more benefit to the environment and climatic change globally. The methodology consists of presenting the sequential method of developing the database with spatial and attribute data using Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD), and performing spatial analysis and carbon sequestration of mature trees map at Hospital Gerik, Perak using GIS software. The analysis shows the total amount of carbon sequestration area for 14 species of trees and 49 trees with a range of Diameter Breast at Height (DBH) between 0.5 cm to 450cm and a range height between 0.6m to 20m height. This paper provides valuable insights for health facility management, highlighting the environmental value of the mature trees currently located within the vicinity of their buildings. Depending on spatial maps of carbon sequestration, the recommendations and implications for improving the landscape planning and management at Hospital Gerik are discussed in comprehensively.

Creating wildlife habitat using artificial structures: a review of their efficacy and potential use in solar farms.

The biodiversity crisis is exacerbated by a growing human population modifying nearly three-quarters of the Earth's land surface area for anthropogenic uses. Habitat loss and modification represent the largest threat to biodiversity and finding ways to offset species decline has been a significant undertaking for conservation. Landscape planning and conservation strategies can enhance habitat suitability for biodiversity in human-modified landscapes. Artificial habitat structures such as artificial reefs, nest boxes, chainsaw hollows, artificial burrows, and artificial hibernacula have all been successfully implemented to improve species survival in human-modified and fragmented landscapes. As the global shift towards renewable energy sources continues to rise, the development of photovoltaic systems is growing exponentially. Large-scale renewable projects, such as photovoltaic solar farms have large space requirements and thus have the potential to displace local wildlife. We discuss the feasibility of 'conservoltaic systems' - photovoltaic systems that incorporate elements tailored specifically to enhance wildlife habitat suitability and species conservation. Artificial habitat structures can potentially lessen the impacts of industrial development (e.g., photovoltaic solar farms) through strategic landscape planning and an understanding of local biodiversity requirements to facilitate recolonization.

Supporting function of vegetation in urban riparian ecological corridors for ground-dwelling faunal diversity in Beijing, China

Rapid global urbanization has resulted in increased biodiversity problems, particularly the loss of ground-dwelling fauna in urban areas. Urban riparian corridors are an important green infrastructure for biodiversity conservation, in which urban vegetation plays an essential role. The influence of urban vegetation on ground-dwelling faunal diversity is poorly understood. In this study, we used camera traps to collect the species, functional and phylogenetic diversity of ground-dwelling fauna in the Wenyu River-North Canal riparian corridor in Beijing, and analyzed the effects of the vegetation structure and plant community composition on the diversity and community composition of ground-dwelling animals. A plant-ground dwelling animal interaction network was also built to investigate the food supply of plants for ground-nesting animals. We found that at the vegetation structure level, the high connectivity within a radius of 2000 m and the homogeneous distribution within a radius of 1000 m of vegetation patches had generally positive effects on ground-dwelling animals, and shrublands exhibited a supportive role for mammals in riparian corridors. At the plant community level, tall herbs were instrumental in increasing the willingness of ground-dwelling animals to stay in and pass through the area. Native plants were the main plant food resource for ground-dwelling animals. Given the significant effects of vegetation on ground-dwelling fauna, we advocate that habitat conservation and food supply for ground-dwelling animals be supported through appropriate plant landscape planning and design strategies in ecological corridors in urban areas in the future.

Assessing Landscape Planning Strategies for Riverine Flood Management: An Exploration of Implemented Projects

Assessing Landscape Planning Strategies for Riverine Flood Management: An Exploration of Implemented Projects

Influence of urban greenery on thermal comfort: a case study in a tropical city

This case study focused on the city of São Luís (MA), aiming to analyze the role of urban greenery in the thermal comfort of São Luís, identifying urban and landscape planning strategies that promote the integration of urban vegetation to create a more livable and thermally comfortable environment in the city. To do so, a research methodology with an exploratory and quantitative-qualitative character was employed, involving data collection on temperature and precipitation provided by INMET, as well as a floristic survey in the central region of São Luís, considering the significant impact of urban vegetation on the city's temperature and precipitation. The results showed a strong association between the urbanization process and the increase in urban temperatures, a phenomenon known as the "urban heat island," while urban greenery has been proven as an effective strategy to mitigate this effect, even under conditions aggravated by the El Niño phenomenon. In this context, the research also revealed that an increase in urban vegetation can have positive impacts on reducing temperature and improving the thermal comfort of residents, with the analysis of climate data from 2018 to 2023 being crucial in understanding the relationship between urban vegetation and thermal conditions in the city. The results emphasize the importance of the quantitative-qualitative approach, which allows for a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the studied phenomenon. Furthermore, the use of climate data provides a solid foundation for analysis and encourages the exploration of specific urban and landscape planning strategies, taking into consideration the effectiveness of these strategies in enhancing thermal comfort within urban centers.

A study on the landscape and cultural space of Yulin City, China

Urban growth in China over the past 40 years has increased sharply. Following a modernist approach during this period, the historic urban cultural landscape was neglected. Recently, in response, scholars have been investigating alternative approaches whose conceptual roots spring from traditional Chinese urban planning. The theory of the ‘Science of Human Settlement Environment’ has emerged as a framework for exploring this direction. This research, drawing upon literary records, historic city maps, and field investigations, builds on this approach. Yulin City, initially developed as a high-ranking military city during the Ming Dynasty, drew upon the characteristics of the existing landscape and traditional Chinese planning strategies for its design. Noting the relationship of the city’s layout to its surrounding Shan-Shui (Mountain-Water), the development of its principal axis, the influence of the Tuo Mountain spiritual space, and the definition of the city wall, greater insight into traditional Chinese planning can be learned.

Rethinking for the Land

Several researchers have explored how landscape planning and design can effectively mitigate floods and leverage flood benefits in flooded land. However, these landscape planning opportunities are rarely used and rarely discussed in research areas. Generally, the people who live in flood-prone areas are economically dependent on this land. Hence, they come back repeatedly after every flood for their livelihood. For instance, Bangladesh, which suffers from floods due to its geographical location and topographical characteristics, has yet to learn about the opportunities available for landscape planning & design. In this research, Shahzadpur Upazila situated near the Jamuna River is considered a case, is the most vulnerable and flood-prone area in Sirajganj. Every year around 20000 people are suffering more or less in Shahzadpur. Many of them are obliged to do temporary migration and start from nothing all over again. Government management response commonly involves riverbank erosion treatment and non-government organization (NGO) funding only for installing tube wells and toilets. Moreover, the importance of bringing back resiliency in those lands is diverting backward due to a lack of knowledge and attention. Due to many challenges, the research focuses on only landscape planning & design before architecture. This paper presents a strategic framework that will discuss the challenges that need to be overcome and the opportunities to address each. The following three landscape planning strategies are discussed to reduce flood damage: raising the land, creating wetlands, and using agriculture as a buffer. Along with this, a mixed-method approach will shortlist the opportunities according to the villager’s needs in terms of implementation. The approaches will introduce the possibilities coming with floods and bring back resilience to the land again.

Do carbon sequestration and food security in urban and rural landscapes differ in patterns, relationships, and responses?

The urbanization process and implementation of various ecological restoration projects have altered the urban-rural landscape patterns and ecosystem services (ESs). Do carbon sequestration and food security, which can be found differences in patterns in both urban and rural landscapes, reflect these relationships and responses? Therefore, taking the Wuding River Basin as an example, we analyzed the variations in carbon sequestration and food security across diverse urban-rural landscapes, and the evolving trade-offs/synergies between them. The results showed that carbon sequestration and food security significantly increased in urban and rural landscapes over the past 20 years, with a greater increase observed in rural landscapes due to a substantial reduction in human pressure. The maximum increase in carbon sequestration occurred at a distance of 16.6 km from human settlements. Population decline significantly strengthened the trade-offs between carbon sequestration and food security in landscapes with high and low agricultural pressure. Conversely, in developed urban landscapes, population decline enhanced the synergistic relationship between carbon sequestration and food security. Understanding the evolving patterns of carbon sequestration and food security in different urban-rural landscapes provides important evidence for developing effective landscape planning and policy strategies, which is of great significance for promoting the sustainability of urban-rural landscapes.

Study on Highway Landscape Environment Assessment and Grading Method

The assessment and grading of a highway landscape environment is the basic work of highway route layout and landscape planning, and it is also a key link to whether the highway can be integrated into the surrounding environment. This article analyzes the connotation and value standard system of highway landscape assessment and proposes a highway landscape environment assessment method that combines a quantitative assessment and a humanistic assessment. Consequently, a highway landscape environment assessment indicator system with landscape features, environmental harmony, visual environment and environmental carrying capacity as assessment contents is constructed. Finally, using the set-pair analysis method, an evaluation model for grading the quality of the highway landscape environment is proposed. The model divides the highway landscape environment into four grades and proposes highway landscape planning and design strategies under the conditions of different grades. The theory is applied in the landscape planning of the Xi’an-Baoji highway in China. The results show that the overall assessment of the total indicator is “Grade 2”, the environmental carrying capacity of the subsystem is “weak”, and the landscape quality is “good”. This theoretical approach combines discursive cognition with quantitative analysis to achieve a systematic and refined assessment of the highway construction environment.

Quantifying the spatial impact of landscape fragmentation on habitat quality: A multi-temporal dimensional comparison between the Yangtze River Economic Belt and Yellow River Basin of China

Landscape fragmentation due to urban sprawl and industrialization has caused habitat loss and threatened global biodiversity. However, the magnitude, spatial pattern, and mechanisms of how landscape fragmentation leads to habitat loss remain unclear. The Yellow River Basin (YRB) and the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YZREB) are important ecological security barriers that play a decisive role in landscape connectivity and biodiversity conservation in China. From a comparative perspective, this study analyzes the temporal-spatial changes of land cover in the YRB and the YZREB from 2005 to 2018 and simulates the land use pattern in 2031 using a patch-level simulation (PLUS) model. Then the degree and tendency of landscape fragmentation during 2005–2031 are measured based on the entire region and a 10 km grid, respectively. The habitat quality (HQ) is measured using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model. The temporal-spatial evolution characteristics of HQ are analyzed across multiple dimensions, including the entire region, urban agglomerations and watersheds (upstream, midstream, and downstream). Finally, spatial econometric models are applied to examine the spatial dependence of HQ and quantify the spatial impact of landscape fragmentation on HQ in the YRB and YZREB based on 10 km grids. Results show that: (1) there would be a significant trend of landscape fragmentation and habitat degradation in both the YRB and YZREB during 2005–2031. (2) HQ in the YRB and YZREB has the spatial distribution characteristics of being low in coastal areas and urban agglomerations but high in inland areas and mountainous forest areas. (3) The spatial distribution and spatial relationship of landscape fragmentation and HQ in YRB and YZREB differ significantly in multi-spatiotemporal dimensions. The findings could provide support for landscape planning and biodiversity conservation strategies in China and other developing countries.

A combined GIS and remote sensing approach for monitoring climate change-related land degradation to support landscape preservation and planning tools: the Basilicata case study

Monitoring landscapes in times of climate change patterns is a crucial issue, moreover, in the analyzed Mediterranean area, one of the major global candidates to develop land degradation stresses and consequential desertification phenomena. The research presented here is developed in the Mediterranean Basin, specifically in the Basilicata Region (southern Italy). The region is characterized by a very long history of intensive anthropization endowed by the high diversity of relatively geologically young soil types that consequentially created a vastity of spatial mosaics, which contributed to the composition of its archeolandscapes and endorsed some specific characteristics of the Mediterranean region, that evolved to respond to the human impact, including grazing, cultivation, and fires. Those key elements lead to the crucial issues of the region investigated here as soil erosion, salinization, loss of organic carbon, loss of biodiversity, and landslides, which together with deforestations, depopulation, and wildfires, define the exact framework of degradation and marginality. The evaluation of the sensitivity to degradation was performed (i) firstly at the regional scale, through a MEDALUS (Kosmas et al. 1999) approach, by implementing 6 main indicators (Soil Quality Index, Climate Quality Index, Vegetation Quality Index, Management Quality Index, Landslide Risk Index, Water Availability Index), and (ii) secondly at the mid-regional scale, through remote sensing by evaluation of the NDVI differencing thresholds in time intervals, covering a 20 years’ time span going from 2000 to 2020. The study helped to define the in-progress land degradation trends and scenarios of the region, which must be the evidence-based foundation of integrated landscape planning strategies in marginal territories, implemented through a Decision Support System (DSS) based both on ecological, climate-adaptive, and environmental indicators, and on social, cultural, and economic development co-creation strategies.

Evaluation for the spatiotemporal patterns of ecological vulnerability and habitat quality: implications for supporting habitat conservation and healthy sustainable development.

Currently, the rapid socioeconomic development and urbanization around the world have caused the ecological environment on the earth surface to become extremely fragile and destroyed. In addition, the increasing demand of human beings for material also leads to the unsustainable development of resources and environment. However, how to achieve the win-win goal between socioeconomic development and ecological protection in the context of these impacts? It is becoming a major problem for governments and policy makers. To further reveal the contradiction between man and land, taking Wuhan metropolitan area as the study area, this study mainly proposed a framework for the comprehensive optimization of landscape pattern and ecological environment and constructed the ecological vulnerability mixed evaluation model. Then, the integrated valuation of ecosystem services and trade-offs (InVEST) model was employed to evaluate the changes in habitat quality, focusing on the analysis of the impact mechanism of the evolution of ecological environment. This study found that the hybrid model of landscape vulnerability can successfully explore the landscape ecological vulnerability of Wuhan metropolitan area from 2000 to 2020, and its spatiotemporal differentiation pattern was obvious. The InVEST model showed that the habitat quality had obvious spatial differentiation. On the whole, the overall quality of the habitat was low and the degradation degree was high. Furthermore, our study also showed that the change of landscape ecological environment was influenced by the common potential of local nature and social economy, rather than a single factor. Finally, the main purpose of this study is to help scientifically formulate habitat protection and landscape planning strategies through in-depth study of landscape ecological environment, so as to alleviate man-land contradiction and support regional sustainable development.

Spatial and Temporal Differentiation of Mountain Ecosystem Service Trade-Offs and Synergies: A Case Study of Jieshi Mountain, China

There are complex interactions among various services in mountain ecosystems, and the optimization of ecosystem spatial patterns based on the trade-offs and synergies of mountain ecosystem services can effectively improve the comprehensive benefits of a multi-ecosystem service. Jieshi Mountain is a typical historical and cultural mountain in China, and its social and economic development is at the average level in China. It is of great significance to explore the ecosystem services and mountain environmental factors in the trade-offs and synergies of ecosystem services to promote the coordinated development of the man–land relationship. Based on an evaluation of ecosystem service value and comprehensive analysis of the spatial and temporal pattern of trade-offs and synergies in the Jieshi Mountain area from 1980 to 2020, the spatial differentiation of the trade-offs and synergies of four key ecosystem services—water yield, soil retention, carbon storage, and habitat quality—were identified. We found that carbon storage-soil retention and habitat quality-soil retention have a strong trade-off relationship, and the area accounts for a relatively high proportion. In terms of land-cover types, the frequency of the synergistic effect between woodland and cultivated land is higher. There are different correlations between ecosystem service trade-offs and synergies among mountain environmental factors, among which elevation has a higher influence on synergy. Identifying the trade-off and synergy relationship between ecosystem services helps in making decisions about different mountain landscape planning and management strategies.

Quantitative Evaluation of Urban Style at Street Level: A Case Study of Hengyang County, China

Urban style is the comprehensive expression of the material environment, the associated cultural connotation and social life. Under the influence of globalization and rapid urban expansion, many cities around the world show a global convergence in style, which poses a challenge in terms of satisfying both function and local identity. However, the current insufficiency of research on the quantitative evaluation of urban style makes it hard to have a full grasp on how urban style can instruct land use and landscape planning strategies. In this paper, we propose Suitability, Aesthetics and Vitality as three core dimensions of urban style, and construct a quantitative evaluation framework for urban style evaluation at the street level. Taking a street in Hengyang County, China as an example, the method’s operability is demonstrated, and the results show that urban style performance is closely related to building construction periods, trends of urban expansion, and the natural environment. Improvement strategies include harmonizing urban spatial form, increasing the diversity of land use, and moderately improving the quality of building facades. This method can be applied at a greater scale to effectively reflect local characteristics and relevant problems. It can also provide an objective basis for future planning and construction.

A New Approach to Investigate the Spatially Heterogeneous in the Cooling Effects of Landscape Pattern

Although many prior studies have found that landscape pattern significantly affects urban heat environment globally, the spatially heterogeneous in the cooling effects of landscape pattern remains poorly understood. In addition, most previous studies have only employed a single landscape metric separately, without holistic consideration of the composition and configuration of different landscapes. Taking one of the new “stove” cities in China-Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, as an example, we employed the principal component analysis (PCA) to synthesize a landscape pattern comprehensive index (LPCI) composed of the four common landscape metrics (i.e., aggregation index, AI; mean patch area, Area mn; largest patch index, LPI; and percentage of landscape, PLAND) of the three major land surfaces (i.e., water, vegetation, and impervious surface). Then, the local model (geographically weighted regression, GWR) was proposed to explore the spatially heterogeneous in the cooling effects of urban landscape. The results revealed that: (1) from 2000 to 2016, the land surface temperature (LST) increased by 4.262 °C, and the proportion of the urban heat island region showed an upward trend, while the urban-heat-island ratio index (URI) increased from 0.328 to 0.457; (2) the cooling effect of different land surfaces ranked from high to low was: water (29.69 °C), vegetation (38.56 °C), and impervious surface (41.82 °C); (3) compared with vegetation patches, water patches had a more obvious cooling effect on the surrounding environment, with the cooling distance within 60–90 m for the vegetation, while reaching 120–150 m for water body; (4) the proposed LPCI could explain more than 80% of the information for all of the landscape metrics for all of the landscape types, and presented a patchy distribution in the study area; (5) the GWR results revealed that the cooling effect of the landscape pattern varied spatially across the study area, indicating that the configuration of landscapes is more important in an urban center in alleviating urban heat environment than in an urban fringe area. The proposed approach provides a new understanding of the interaction between the landscape patterns and urban heat environments, providing a strong basis for landscape planning strategies for specific local sites.

Contrasting wolf responses to different paved roads and traffic volume levels

In some regions of the world, large carnivores, such as wolves, persist in landscapes with dense networks of paved roads. However, beyond the general impacts of roads on wildlife, we still lack information on carnivore responses to different types of roads and traffic volume levels. Using wolves in NW Spain as a case study, we show how wolves respond differently to paved road classes depending on road size, speed limit and traffic volume. All wolves evaluated (25 GPS collared wolves) crossed paved roads. Overall, during 3,915 sampling days, we recorded 29,859 wolf crossings. Wolf crossings of all paved road classes were recorded at a mean rate of 0.022 crossings/day/km (95% CI 0.016–0.027). Wolves crossed low speed and low traffic volume roads more frequently, and more often during the night, in order to lessen the chances of encountering traffic. We found mortality to be highest on roads with high speed and high traffic volume. How wolves interact with paved roads should be considered in landscape planning strategies in order to guarantee wolf long-term persistence in human-dominated landscapes. In our case, our results support an increasing focus on primary roads (class II) to identify segments of these roads where road mitigation efforts should be prioritised. Our study also highlights the importance of considering paved road classes when studying the impact of roads on wildlife.

Prediction-Adaptation-Resilience (PAR) approach- A new pathway towards future resilience and sustainable development of urban landscape

Urban land-use planning, especially in the peripheral region, has become an issue in contemporary urban studies. Simultaneously, urban resilience is very indispensable for future urban land use planning and management. Therefore, consistent urban proliferation can be coped through Prediction-Adaptation-Resilience (PAR), to accomplish future urban land use and sustainable development of any growing up urban areas worldwide. Therefore, different dynamic simulation models, e.g. Cellular automata-Markov model, artificial neural network, are used to project and predict any urban areas' spatial growth. Then, the adaptation strategies are taken to assess the urban land use transformation in the past and present context. Those strategies help to strengthen urban land use planning using an integrated supply and demand chain. Finally, this study checks the resilience of how much it will be threatened or saved for future sustainable urban developmental goals and urban resilience. Therefore, it is important to establish a conceptual framework to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) based on principles of the PAR approach. Advocating the on-going adaptation of sustainability, resilience, and rapid urban transformation in the developing cities requires clear and explicit definitions that are embedded with the recent and particular context. Thus, government and policy makers should draw their attention to make proper urban landscape planning and adaptation strategies for the future urban expansion in a holistic way by maintaining appropriate urban resilience.

Diversity of Insects in Nature protected Areas (DINA): an interdisciplinary German research project

Insect declines and biodiversity loss have attracted much attention in recent years, but lack of comprehensive data, conflicting interests among stakeholders and insufficient policy guidance hinder progress in preserving biodiversity. The project DINA (Diversity of Insects in Nature protected Areas) investigates insect communities in 21 nature reserves in Germany. All selected conservation sites border arable land, with agricultural practices assumed to influence insect populations. We taught citizen scientists how to manage Malaise traps for insect collection, and subsequently used a DNA metabarcoding approach for species identification. Vegetation surveys, plant metabarcoding as well as geospatial and ecotoxicological analyses will help to unravel contributing factors for the deterioration of insect communities. As a pioneering research project in this field, DINA includes a transdisciplinary dialogue involving relevant stakeholders such as local authorities, policymakers, and farmers, which aims at a shared understanding of conservation goals and action pathways. Stakeholder engagement combined with scientific results will support the development of sound policy recommendations to improve legal frameworks, landscape planning, land use, and conservation strategies. With this transdisciplinary approach, we aim to provide the background knowledge to implement policy strategies that will halt further decline of insects in German protected areas.