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Urban Ecosystem Health Assessment: Perspectives and Chinese Practice

Author

Listed:
  • Meirong Su

    (State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Yan Zhang

    (State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Gengyuan Liu

    (State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Linyu Xu

    (State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Lixiao Zhang

    (State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Zhifeng Yang

    (State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

Abstract

The concept of ecosystem health is a way to assess the holistic operations and development potential of urban ecosystems. Accelerated by the practical need for integrated ecosystem management, assessment of urban ecosystem health has been greatly developed and extensively applied in urban planning and management. Development is aimed at comprehensively evaluating the performance of urban ecosystems, identifying the limiting factors, and providing suggestions for urban regulation. The time has come for reviewing and establishing an instructional framework for urban ecosystem health assessment to shed light on certain essential issues of urban ecosystem health. Based on literature reviews and series of practice, a holistic framework of urban ecosystem health assessment is proposed. The framework covers the essential elements of urban ecosystem health and integrates three dimensions: theoretical foundation, assessment method, and practical application. Concrete assessment methods are also established, focusing on both external performance and internal metabolic processes. The practice of urban ecosystem health assessment in China is illustrated to briefly demonstrate the application of the established framework and methods. Some prospects are discussed for urban ecosystem health assessment and its application in urban planning and management.

Suggested Citation

  • Meirong Su & Yan Zhang & Gengyuan Liu & Linyu Xu & Lixiao Zhang & Zhifeng Yang, 2013. "Urban Ecosystem Health Assessment: Perspectives and Chinese Practice," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-12, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:10:y:2013:i:11:p:5874-5885:d:30209
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zhang, Yan & Yang, Zhifeng & Yu, Xiangyi, 2009. "Evaluation of urban metabolism based on emergy synthesis: A case study for Beijing (China)," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 220(13), pages 1690-1696.
    2. Su, Meirong & Fath, Brian D. & Yang, Zhifeng & Chen, Bin & Liu, Gengyuan, 2013. "Ecosystem health pattern analysis of urban clusters based on emergy synthesis: Results and implication for management," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 600-613.
    3. Zhang, Yan & Yang, Zhifeng & Liu, Gengyuan & Yu, Xiangyi, 2011. "Emergy analysis of the urban metabolism of Beijing," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(14), pages 2377-2384.
    4. Liu, G.Y. & Yang, Z.F. & Chen, B. & Zhang, Y., 2011. "Ecological network determination of sectoral linkages, utility relations and structural characteristics on urban ecological economic system," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(15), pages 2825-2834.
    5. Liu, G.Y. & Yang, Z.F. & Chen, B. & Ulgiati, S., 2009. "Emergy-based urban health evaluation and development pattern analysis," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 220(18), pages 2291-2301.
    6. Su, M.R. & Yang, Z.F. & Chen, B. & Ulgiati, S., 2009. "Urban ecosystem health assessment based on emergy and set pair analysis—A comparative study of typical Chinese cities," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 220(18), pages 2341-2348.
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    Cited by:

    1. Xuefeng Xie & Lijie Pu, 2017. "Assessment of Urban Ecosystem Health Based on Matter Element Analysis: A Case Study of 13 Cities in Jiangsu Province, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-17, August.
    2. Jingwei Wang & Jinhe Zhang & Peijia Wang & Xiaobin Ma & Liangjian Yang & Leying Zhou, 2022. "Progress in Ecosystem Health Research and Future Prospects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-22, November.
    3. Yu Hu & Tong Wu & Luo Guo & Shidong Zhang, 2023. "Spatiotemporal Relationships between Ecosystem Health and Urbanization on the Tibetan Plateau from a Coupling Coordination Perspective," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-17, August.

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