Enhancing green space exposure is a crucial strategy for proactively intervening in public health from an upstream perspective. However, the distribution of green spaces in urban areas is often uneven, leading to issues such as "green inequity." This study aims to systematically assess the level of green space exposure at overhead and eye levels, analyze the geographical and social equity of green space exposure, and propose planning and regulatory strategies. Focusing on Nanjing as the study area, the research team first constructed a green space exposure assessment system based on the composition and configuration of urban green spaces at the overhead level, and the quantity and perceived quality of street green space at the eye level, assessing the geographical equity of green space exposure. Next, by selecting housing price as a socio-economic indicator, the research used various spatial regression models to analyze the spatial correlation between green space exposure and housing price, evaluating the social equity of green space exposure. The research finds 1) significant imbalances in both the geographical and social equity of green space exposure within the study area; 2) the spatial correlation between eye-level green space exposure indicators and housing price ranges from 0.08 to 0.29, generally higher than that at overhead level (ranging from 0.02 to 0.13); 3) significant heterogeneity in the spatial correlation between green space exposure and housing price, with people in higher-priced housing being more likely to benefit from green space services. The results can accurately identify blind spots in green space exposure and imbalance areas between green space supply and socioeconomic status, providing guidance for "scientific greening, " and further promoting empirical studies in Exposure Ecology.
In the field of Landscape Ecology, due to the excessive parallel development of landscape ecological science research and landscape ecological planning and design practice, the knowledge produced by landscape ecological research cannot effectively guide landscape ecological planning and design practice. This theory–practice gap has been widely concerned by landscape ecologists and landscape ecological planning designers. Although many scholars have made useful contributions to bridging the gap, a systematic translational pathway has not yet been formed. In this context, this study first reviews the development history of landscape ecological research and landscape ecological planning and design practice, as well as the evolutionary characteristics of their integration. Second, based on the internal relationship between the two, a three-level research system linking up research to planning and design practice is constructed. Third, the spatial mechanism analysis framework is further proposed to open the "black box" in the transformation from research to planning and design practice, and to bridge the theory–practice gap. The landscape ecological planning and design procedure through synergic analyses of spatial interaction mechanism and spatial constraint mechanism is constructed correspondingly. Finally, taking the Sanya Mangrove Ecological Park project in China as an example, the effectiveness of the procedure is verified.
As carriers of rural ecological and cultural systems, rural landscapes provide essential ecosystem services. Using Wuhan, China as a case study, this study explores rural landscape classification and enhancement strategies based on dominant ecosystem services. Six ecosystem services—water retention, water and soil conservation (regulating services), grain production (provisioning service), natural scenic value, scientific, educational, and cultural value, and leisure and recreational value (cultural services)—were evaluated. The cumulative proportion method was applied to classify the results, identifying dominant ecosystem services at the administrative village level. The findings reveal significant spatial variations, with regulating services more prominent in the north and south of the study area, provisioning services in the south, and cultural services in the north. Based on these patterns, rural landscapes of the study area were classified into four major types and eight subcategories, each exhibiting distinct spatial clustering. Finally, improvement strategies were proposed from the perspectives of optimizing functions and landscape distinctiveness development, emphasizing a balance between ecological conservation and economic growth. Recommendations include optimizing industrial structures, preserving cultural heritage, and promoting green agriculture and tourism to strengthen the capacity, vitality, and appeal of rural landscapes. This study provides a new approach to rural landscape classification and offers theoretical and practical insights for rural revitalization.
Noise pollution significantly impacts people's health and quality of life, while urban green spaces not only beautify the environment but also play a crucial role in noise reduction and sound absorption. This study, using the plant communities of waterfront green spaces along Suzhou Creek in Shanghai as a case, innovatively develops a comprehensive evaluation system for physical and psychological noise reduction effectiveness, with 13 indicators. Through field measurements and surveys of 14 urban green spaces with different plant community characteristics, the study found that physical noise reduction effectiveness is closely related to plant species richness and vertical canopy density. Densely planted trees with thick trunks and tall shrubs significantly improve physical noise reduction effectiveness. When the vertical canopy density is less than 35%, the physical noise reduction effectiveness of waterfront plant communities (with 70% vegetation cover and 30% water cover) outperforms that of terrestrial plant communities (with no water cover) at the same canopy density level. For psychological noise reduction, increasing shrub crown width, height, and spacing improves visual perception, while enhancing vertical canopy density enriches auditory perception—both of which raise the auditory annoyance threshold. The most effective plant community combination for comprehensive noise reduction is a mix of densely planted trees, shrubs, and ground cover. The noise reduction effectiveness of a waterfront plant community is impacted by vertical canopy density. When it reaches 40% or more, the psychological noise reduction effectiveness will improve as the density increases.This study provides theoretical support and practical guidance for addressing noise issues in urban green spaces and optimizing plant community configurations.
Community gardens play a pivotal role in promoting urban sustainability and enhancing residents' well-being. However, various challenges persist in their development, resulting in diverse governance structures tailored by local factors such as policies, budget constraints, participating organizations, and available resources. Since 2019, Shenzhen has piloted the "We Garden" program, which fosters public participation in co-discussing, co-constructing, co-managing, and co-sharing community gardens. Existing research on this innovative initiative primarily focuses on the roles of government, non-profit organizations, and local communities. This study offers a new perspective by examining the case in Pingshan District, where Shenzhen Technology University assumes a central role in facilitating public participation and providing design services for community garden projects. It also demonstrates how such initiatives can enrich design education by offering students practical, hands-on learning experiences. The case study provides valuable insights for other cities or regions, showcasing a distinctive model of governance structure for developing community garden projects that integrates social service with design education.
