Positioning Ecocities within the planetary system: ecological performance of China’s National New Areas

Boqian Xu and Zhongjie Lin

Landscape Research, 2025, vol. 50, issue 4, 696-712

Abstract: Conceptualised initially as ‘ecologically healthy cities,’ Ecocities sought to accommodate human habitation within the planet’s resource constraints. However, as this concept evolved, concerns emerged with regard to its broader impact on the global ecosystem beyond local landscapes. This study revisits the Ecocity concept and its synonyms, grounded on an empirical assessment of China’s 19 National New Areas (NNAs). This research examines two indicators, Ecosystem Service Value (ESV) and Ecological Footprint (EF), to assess the NNAs’ influences on local landscape and global ecosystems from land cover and resource consumption perspectives. Findings reveal that ESV increased in 15 NNAs, while EF decreased in 8, suggesting that most projects contribute positively to local landscapes but have limited influence on global overshoot mitigation. This study further discusses the intrinsic nature of Ecocities and advocates for a One-Planet-Living worldview when developing Ecocities to foster sustainability for the collective well-being of humanity.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/01426397.2025.2451976

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