Identifying and Setting Linear Water Space Priorities in Co-Urbanized Area Based on Multiple Levels and Multiple Ecosystem Services

Due to intense anthropogenic impacts, river networks in co-urbanized areas are severely degraded and fragmented, and their ability to supply multiple ecosystem services is greatly reduced. This study aimed to provide a novel technical approach to identify spatial priorities for complex and special linear water spaces in a co-urbanized area. This approach fully considers the features of river networks with multiple levels and multiple functions. We first identified two spatial configurations of river networks based on the river density: river cluster patches and river corridors, which were each divided into four spatial levels. We then assessed and mapped the multiple ecosystem services provided by each river level through a coupling evaluation model. Finally, based on the evaluation results and spatial clustering analysis, we identified priorities of linear water spaces using six priority grades. This priority identification method based on multiple levels and multiple ecosystem services of linear water spaces shows how a holistic catchment perspective can be applied to the practice of integrated river management in co-urbanized areas. Selecting conservation strategies for linear water spaces on the basis of their structural level and ecological contribution is a more targeted measure.