Research on Vegetation Removal Strategies for the Ming Guangwu Great Wall Based on Clearance Resistance Assessment

Weicheng Han (), Zele Mo, Wei Wang and Yicheng Zhou
Additional contact information
Weicheng Han: College of Architecture and Art, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
Zele Mo: College of Architecture and Art, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
Wei Wang: College of Architecture and Art, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
Yicheng Zhou: College of Art and Design, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-21

Abstract: The Great Wall of China, one of the nation’s most remarkable military defense structures, possesses a history spanning several millennia and is associated with numerous heritage sites. Today, it stands as a world-renowned cultural heritage asset. Vegetation growing on the ruins of the Great Wall can exert both detrimental and protective effects on the structure. Indiscriminate removal of such vegetation may lead to unintended damage to the heritage site. Drawing on the theory of “evaluative conservation”, this study integrates the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the Delphi method to develop a resistance assessment system for vegetation removal. A case study was conducted on 40 plant species or categories located along the Ming-era Guangwu section of the Great Wall, with spatial zoning analysis applied to inform removal strategies. The results reveal the structure, key factors, and classification criteria of the resistance evaluation system. Corresponding management recommendations are proposed, including strategies such as “preservation”, “partial preservation”, “removal”, and “subsequent removal and management”. This research provides a foundational reference for the conservation and restoration of the Great Wall heritage, and for the management of associated vegetation.

Keywords: The Ming Great Wall; Great Wall heritage protection; evaluative conservation; vegetation removal and preservation techniques (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/6/1137/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/6/1137/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:6:p:1137-:d:1662638

Access Statistics for this article

Land is currently edited by Ms. Carol Ma

More articles in Land from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().