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Mapping Re-Naturalization Pathways for Urban Ecological Governance: A Spatial Decision-Support Framework Based on Ecosystem Service Valuation

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Listed:
  • Chengji Shu

    (The Center for Modern Chinese City Studies, Institute of Urban Development, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
    State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environment Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shuangqing Rd. 18, Beijing 100085, China)

  • Kaiwei Du

    (Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture, School of Architecture and Design, Chongqing College of Humanities, Science & Technology, Chongqing 401524, China)

  • Wenbo Cai

    (The Center for Modern Chinese City Studies, Institute of Urban Development, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
    State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environment Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shuangqing Rd. 18, Beijing 100085, China
    The Digital Engineering Technology Innovation Center for Ecological Governance of Land and Space Under the Ministry of Natural Resources, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China)

  • Zhengwu Cai

    (State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environment Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shuangqing Rd. 18, Beijing 100085, China)

  • Li Lin

    (College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China)

Abstract

Traditional urban expansion struggles to balance economic and ecological demands. Intensive development planning based on re-naturalization has become the policymakers’ choice. However, planning-oriented land use patterns and re-naturalization pathways remain difficult to determine. This study developed a spatial decision-support framework integrating ecosystem service valuation (ESV), land-use simulation, and ecological planning for Shanghai. This study assessed the spatiotemporal dynamics of ESV and simulated land use patterns and ESV for 2035 under different scenarios (inertial development, cropland protection, and ecological development). The optimal scenario and corresponding re-naturalization pathways were determined based on the principle of the optimal ESV. The results showed that ESV has declined over the past 20 years (−5.21%/5 years). High-value areas shrank significantly due to ecological space degradation. The planning-oriented ecological development scenario is the optimal scenario, with the highest ESV of CNY 189,240.29 million, which is higher than the status quo, inertia development scenario, and cropland protection scenario by 9.69%, 23.27%, and 9.53%, respectively. Taking the land use patterns under the ecological development scenario as the re-naturalization objective, 12 re-naturalization pathways totaling 686.88 km 2 were identified. Cropland to forestland and built-up land to cropland were the largest, accounting for 67.88% and 15.02%, respectively. This study provides valuable insights into ecological planning and re-naturalization in urbanized areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Chengji Shu & Kaiwei Du & Wenbo Cai & Zhengwu Cai & Li Lin, 2025. "Mapping Re-Naturalization Pathways for Urban Ecological Governance: A Spatial Decision-Support Framework Based on Ecosystem Service Valuation," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-22, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:5:p:917-:d:1640445
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    References listed on IDEAS

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