Habitat Protection in Urban–Rural Fringes through Coordinated Ecological Network Construction and Territorial Planning

Yuting Xie, Jiaxin Ying, Jie Zou, Ruohao Li, Haoxun Zhang, Qie Shi and Yonghua Li ()
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Yuting Xie: Institute of Landscape Architecture, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Jiaxin Ying: Institute of Landscape Architecture, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Jie Zou: Institute of Landscape Architecture, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Ruohao Li: Institute of Landscape Architecture, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Haoxun Zhang: Institute of Landscape Architecture, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Qie Shi: Institute of Landscape Architecture, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Yonghua Li: Department of Regional and Urban Planning, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-26

Abstract: Urban–rural fringes (URFs) are crucial for biodiversity yet often neglected in conservation efforts. This study refines URF habitat evaluation and integrates it into a coordinated ecological network (EN) and territorial planning framework. Using Qingpu District, Shanghai as a case study, we defined its URF via k-means clustering of night-time light data and applied the InVEST model, MSPA, Integrated Habitat Value, Patch Importance, and Betweenness Centrality analyses to identify high-value URF habitats. Furthermore, we constructed the EN using circuit theory and evaluated the impact of URF sources on network connectivity and construction costs. Our findings reveal that integrating URF sources increased connectivity indices significantly ( α by 127.18%, β by 47.00%, and γ by 33.4%) and decreased construction costs ( CR index by 0.07). Despite these benefits, under China’s “Three Zones and Three Lines” policy, 78.18% of Qingpu’s URF sources remain unprotected, with 56.78% at risk of conversion to construction land. Our study proposes a comprehensive evaluation system for URF habitats and strategic recommendations for their incorporation into regional ENs, thus informing policy making and planning for more inclusive ecological conservation.

Keywords: habitat protection; ecological network; urban–rural fringe; stepping stones; cost-effectiveness; territorial planning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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