Exploring the Coupling Relationship Between Urbanization and Ecological Quality Based on Remote Sensing Data in Shenzhen, China

As a flagship city of China’s reform and opening-up policy and the core engine of the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen faces dual challenges of economic development and ecological conservation during its rapid urbanization. This study systematically investigates the relationship between urbanization and ecological quality in this high-density megacity over the past three decades (1990–2020) using multi-temporal Landsat imagery, incorporating an enhanced Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI), impervious surface extraction techniques, and a Coupling Coordination Degree (CCD) model. Key findings include: (1) Impervious surfaces expanded from 458.15 km 2 to 709.23 km 2 , showing a tri-phase pattern of rapid expansion, steady infill, and slight contraction, with an annual growth rate of 1.47%; (2) Ecological quality exhibited a “decline-recovery” trajectory, with RSEI values decreasing from 0.477 (1990) to 0.429 (2000) before rebounding to 0.491 (2020), demonstrating phased ecological fluctuations and restoration; (3) The CCD between urbanization and ecological environment improved significantly from “marginal coordination” (0.548) to “primary coordination” (0.636), forming a distinct “west-high-east-low” spatial pattern with significant clustering effects. This study reveals a novel three-dimensional synergistic pathway (“industrial upgrading-spatial optimization-ecological restoration”) for sustainable development in megacities, establishing the “Shenzhen Paradigm” for ecological governance in rapidly urbanizing regions worldwide.