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Metropolitan Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Urban Growth

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Urban and Rural Development".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 August 2019) | Viewed by 51811

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Giulia Capotorti

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Guest Editor

Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, RM, Italy
Interests: ecosystem mapping and assessment; ecological classification of land; vegetation dynamics; urban and peri-urban plant diversity; rural landscapes; biodiversity conservation; sustainable land planning
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Marta María Alós Ortí

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Guest Editor

Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, 51014, Tartu, Estonia
Interests: urban ecology; green infrastructure; ecosystem services; ecosystem disservices; biodiversity conservation; ecological connectivity; ecosystem resilience; GIS-based analysis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Urban settlements represent increasingly large spaces in many countries around the world. Accordingly, peri-urban land is facing ever-rising pressures, including soil consumption, ecosystem fragmentation, the introduction of invasive species and over-exploitation of natural resources.

Green Infrastructure (GI) has been expressly conceived as a planning tool for combining socio-economic development and environmental conservation. As such, GI projects within and around urban agglomerations should effectively lead growing cities towards integrated and sustainable socio-ecological systems. In this respect, this Special Issue aims at collecting theoretical models as well as empirical studies for the development of green and green–blue infrastructure at the metropolitan level, with a special focus on the urban–rural interface. In particular, contributions on the following themes are welcome, though other relevant topics and reviews will also be considered:

functionality of socio-ecological systems at different scales;
biodiversity condition and metropolitan land planning schemes;
relationships between urban expansion patterns and ecosystem service capacity and flows;
synergies and trade-offs between socio-economic activities and biodiversity conservation in metropolitan areas;
sustainable development of urban peripheries;
services and disservices of urban and peri-urban agro-ecosystems;
green–blue infrastructure and urban–rural linkages.

Dr. Giulia Capotorti
Dr. Marta María Alós Ortí
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

Urbanization models
Metropolitan dimension of biodiversity and ecosystem services management
Urban–rural interaction
Multifunctionality of peri-urban agro-ecosystems
Sustainable development of urban peripheries
Metropolitan Green(–Blue) Infrastructure
Ecosystem services and disservices

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 7588 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Quality of Urban Green Spaces Based on Urban Neighborhood Green Index—A Case Study of Guangzhou City

by Zhanqiang Zhu, Wei Lang, Xiaofang Tao, Jiali Feng and Kai Liu

Sustainability 2019, 11(19), 5507; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11195507 - 04 Oct 2019

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5659

Abstract

Urban green space (UGS), as a form of green infrastructure, has been given increasing attention in urban planning and its policies. The quality of a UGS is fundamental for the sustainable development of the urban economy, society, environment, and quality of human life, although UGS is unevenly distributed within cities. Aiming to analyze the quality of UGS at the scale of Jiedaos in China, this paper took Haizhu district in Guangzhou as a case study based on collected data from 2010 and aerial imagery from 2012. The Urban Neighborhood Green Index (UNGI) was established by combining four weighted parameters: the green index (P1), the density of buildings (P2), proximity to green areas (P3) and building height (P4). Results from comparing with green index show that (1) the UNGI performed better for UGS planning due to its ability of uncovering impact of the built environment and its accessibility on quality of UGS; (2) the UGS has significant effects on neighbors, which underlies social inequity of UGS supply and presents rich information for urban planning and decision making; (3) a small green field attaching to a community plays a key role in fulfilling the need of neighbors for green space, fitness, and leisure in China, which is usually ignored due to the ownership of private property. It suggests recognizing UGS and improving its quality in old towns as well as improving urban villages characterized by poor quality of green space with green infrastructures. The UNGI can inform city planners regarding their consideration of UGS, and it can contribute to measurements of sustainability and the development of green infrastructure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metropolitan Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Urban Growth)

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20 pages, 2645 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Local Scale Prioritisation of Green Infrastructure for Enhancing Biodiversity in Peri-Urban Agroecosystems: A Multi-Step Process Applied in the Metropolitan City of Rome (Italy)

by Giulia Capotorti, Vera De Lazzari and Marta Alós Ortí

Sustainability 2019, 11(12), 3322; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11123322 - 16 Jun 2019

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 4427

Abstract

Urban–rural interfaces represent complex systems that require complex solutions for sustainable development and resilience against pollution, habitat fragmentation, biodiversity loss and impaired flux of ecosystem services (ES). Green infrastructure (GI) is increasingly recognised as an effective tool for addressing such a complexity, but needs priority setting to maximise benefits and minimise drawbacks of implementation. Therefore, a prioritisation approach focused on biodiversity and ES in peri-urban areas is required. In the present work, a systematic and hierarchical framework is proposed for setting priority GI objectives, location and actions aimed at enhancing local biodiversity, ES flux and farming sustainability in urban peripheries. By means of a case study in the Metropolitan City of Rome, the framework allowed identification of the main demand for ES and biodiversity; the most suitable location for GI implementation; and the best cost-effective actions. The GI implementation showed an improvement in terms of wooded hedgerow density, an increase regarding the ecological connectivity of riparian ecosystems, and an increment of agroecosystems designated to enhance the ecological network and wildlife support. Finally, the prioritisation framework contributes to fostering environmental benefits while complying with regulations and management practices from the regional to the farm/field decision level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metropolitan Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Urban Growth)

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22 pages, 3378 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysing the Synergies and Trade-Offs between Ecosystem Services to Reorient Land Use Planning in Metropolitan Bilbao (Northern Spain)

by Lorena Peña, Miren Onaindia, Beatriz Fernández de Manuel, Ibone Ametzaga-Arregi and Izaskun Casado-Arzuaga

Sustainability 2018, 10(12), 4376; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10124376 - 23 Nov 2018

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 4957

Abstract

In the last decades, some European cities have undergone important changes in search of a more sustainable development. This is the case for the city of Bilbao (Bizkaia, Basque Country), where a Greenbelt has been maintained surrounding the urban areas allowing the periurban areas to deliver ecosystem services (ES) to society. However, the role of the different ecosystems in the provision of ES is not the same, which can lead to conflicts among them. The aim of this study is to analyze the synergies and trade-offs among the eight most important ES in the Bilbao Metropolitan Greenbelt (BMG) to orient their management strategies towards more multifunctional landscapes. We mapped the ES and overlapped them looking for the most relevant areas for the provision of multiple ES and areas that are mostly lacking ES provision. We identify also existing ES trade-offs and synergies between ES using correlations so that managers can prioritize preservation efforts of land use types in the rest of the area. The results show that provisioning ES had trade-offs with regulating and cultural ES and the latter showed synergies between them. The former are mainly delivered by semi-natural ecosystems, while regulating and cultural ES are delivered mainly by natural ecosystems. Moreover, the most relevant areas for the provision of multiple ES were proposed as potential components of a Green Infrastructure (GI). Their identification and ES bundles could help decision-makers to orient their management strategies towards sustainability in metropolitan areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metropolitan Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Urban Growth)

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17 pages, 708 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transforming the Peri-Urban Fringe in China: The Example of Xi’an-Xianyang

by Guy M. Robinson and Bingjie Song

Sustainability 2018, 10(11), 3932; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10113932 - 29 Oct 2018

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3834

Abstract

Rapid urbanization in the past four decades has transformed the hinterlands of China’s major cities. While urban growth has consumed large quantities of farmland, many of the remaining farms in the country’s peri-urban fringes have responded to the nearby presence of a fast-expanding and wealthier urban market by changing the farm enterprise to cater directly for this market. The various responses are exemplified herewith, for the metropolis of Xi’an-Xianyang (13 million population), in north-west China’s Shaanxi Province. Based on participant observation and structured interviews with a sample of farmers from three peri-urban fringe villages, the study charted changes in ecosystem services as a quantitative measure of change between 1986 and 2017. An additional Delphi approach focused on the chief technological innovations during this period. The survey revealed the growing multi-functionality of those villages that had switched from traditional grain production to horticulture, supported by various government-funded programs. A significant development has been the introduction of farm-based tourism catering for urban-based tourists. The physical appearance of the fringe now resembles the so-called desakota landscape associated with south-east Asian cities, as massive new urban-industrial complexes sit alongside villages amidst islands of intensive farmland. The conclusion addresses key issues regarding the overall sustainability of agriculture within this fast-changing process of rapid urbanization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metropolitan Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Urban Growth)

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13 pages, 3478 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Hydrologic Role of Urban Green Space in Mitigating Flooding (Luohe, China)

by Tian Bai, Audrey L. Mayer, William D. Shuster and Guohang Tian

Sustainability 2018, 10(10), 3584; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10103584 - 09 Oct 2018

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 5603

Abstract

Even if urban catchments are adequately drained by sewer infrastructures, flooding hotspots develop where ongoing development and poor coordination among utilities conspire with land use and land cover, drainage, and rainfall. We combined spatially explicit land use/land cover data from Luohe City (central China) with soil hydrology (as measured, green space hydraulic conductivity), topography, and observed chronic flooding to analyze the relationships between spatial patterns in pervious surface and flooding. When compared to spatial–structural metrics of land use/cover where flooding was commonly observed, we found that some areas expected to remain dry (given soil and elevation characteristics) still experienced localized flooding, indicating hotspots with overwhelmed sewer infrastructure and a lack of pervious surfaces to effectively infiltrate and drain rainfall. Next, we used curve numbers to represent the composite hydrology of different land use/covers within both chronic flooding and dry (non-flooding) circles of 750 m diameter, and local design storms to determine the anticipated average proportion of runoff. We found that dry circles were more permeable (curve number (mean ± std. error) = 74 ± 2, n = 25) than wetter, flooded circles (curve number = 87 ± 1). Given design storm forcing (20, 50, 100 years’ recurrence interval, and maximum anticipated storm depths), dry points would produce runoff of 26 to 35 percent rainfall, and wet points of 52 to 61 percent of applied rainfall. However, we estimate by simulation that runoff reduction benefits would decline once infiltration-excess (Hortonian) runoff mechanisms activate for storms with precipitation rates in excess of an average of 21 mm/h, contingent on antecedent moisture conditions. Our spatial metrics indicate that larger amounts and patches of dispersed green space mitigate flooding risk, while aggregating buildings (roofs) and green space into larger, separate areas exacerbates risk. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metropolitan Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Urban Growth)

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15 pages, 2556 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Urban Green Space Suitability Evaluation Based on the AHP-CV Combined Weight Method: A Case Study of Fuping County, China

by Zhiming Li, Zhengxi Fan and Shiguang Shen

Sustainability 2018, 10(8), 2656; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10082656 - 28 Jul 2018

Cited by 61 | Viewed by 6646

Abstract

Urban green space (UGS) provides critical ecosystem services and alleviates environmental problems caused by rapid urbanization. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method is recognized as a traditional technique to identify the weight of the UGS suitability evaluation. We reveal the limitations of the AHP method for its subjectivity and uncertainty. Then, we introduce the AHP and coefficient of variation (AHP-CV) combined weight method to better evaluate the suitability of UGS. Based on the principle of minimum information entropy, the AHP-CV combined weight method takes advantage of both the AHP and CV methods, thus keeping a good balance between subjectivity and objectivity. We used the green space system planning of Fuping County in China as a case study. A new evaluation index system was established using 4 aspects. Our results show that high-suitability areas are mainly distributed around the northern mountainous regions, 2 important rivers and the outer areas of the central city. By comparing the UGS suitability evaluation results obtained by the AHP, CV, and AHP-CV combined weight methods, we found that the AHP-CV method was optimal. Therefore, the AHP-CV combined weight method will not only enrich spatial Multi-Criteria Decision-Making techniques but also have a wide application in the related fields of land-use planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metropolitan Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Urban Growth)

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23 pages, 725 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Urban Foraging in Berlin: People, Plants and Practices within the Metropolitan Green Infrastructure

by Jonah L. Landor-Yamagata, Ingo Kowarik and Leonie K. Fischer

Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1873; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061873 - 04 Jun 2018

Cited by 52 | Viewed by 7800

Abstract

Gathering wild plants in cities (urban foraging) is likely an important, but understudied human-nature interaction globally. As large European cities are critically understudied in this regard, we performed in-depth ethnography-based interviews in Berlin, Germany, to shed light on the cultural background of foragers, their motivations and which plants and fungi are gathered for which purposes. Results demonstrate multiple uses of 125 taxa, mostly frequently-occurring species but also some Red List species, from a range of formal and informal greenspace types. Both native and non-native species were gathered, with significant differences in use patterns. Use for food was most common, followed by medicinal uses, and personal enjoyment was a frequent motivation, indicating that urban foraging combines provisioning and cultural ecosystem services. Familial and childhood foraging exposure were common, pointing to influences of early-in-life exposure on later-in-life activities and transgenerational aspects of the practice. Results further suggest legacy effects from the post-war and communist eras on foraging knowledge. Although non-commercial foraging is allowed in Berlin, over-harvesting was not evident. Interviews indicate that stewardship of urban biodiversity is common among foragers. Results thus suggest considering urban foraging as a promising vehicle for linking humans with nature when developing a biodiverse urban green infrastructure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metropolitan Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Urban Growth)

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22 pages, 7925 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Delimitation of the Urban Development Boundary in a Special Economic Zone: A Case Study of the Central Urban Area of Doumen in Zhuhai, China

by Biao Zheng, Guangsheng Liu, Hongmei Wang, Yingxuan Cheng, Zongliang Lu, Huawei Liu, Xuexin Zhu, Miaomiao Wang and Lu Yi

Sustainability 2018, 10(3), 756; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10030756 - 09 Mar 2018

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4384

Abstract

Since it implemented open-door policies, China has become the fastest growing economy in the world, and its urbanization level has steadily improved. Taking a special economic zone as the object of study, this paper delineates the urban development boundary of the Central Urban Area of Doumen. Using multiple models and methods, the urban development rigid and elastic boundaries are delineated separately, with the rigid boundary serving as the premise and foundation for delineating the elastic boundary. The results are as follows. First, the scale of the urban development rigid boundary is 79.60 km². Moreover, the scales of the urban development elastic boundaries in 2020 and 2026 are 24.51 km² and 28.53 km², respectively. Second, by delimiting the urban development elastic boundary, the compactness of urban land will be improved. Third, the urban development boundary of this paper is reasonable in theory. This paper suggests that the urban development boundary can curb urban sprawl and guide rational urban development, which is conducive to optimizing an urban spatial layout. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metropolitan Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Urban Growth)

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Review

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17 pages, 830 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Multifunctional Benefits of Green Infrastructure in Community Development: An Analytical Review Based on 447 Cases

by Donghyun Kim and Seul-Ki Song

Sustainability 2019, 11(14), 3917; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11143917 - 18 Jul 2019

Cited by 54 | Viewed by 7777

Abstract

This article describes the relationship between the design features of green infrastructure and the benefits of multifunctionality. To do so, it examines the descriptive linkages between 12 design features and nine benefits using 447 project case studies from the American Society of Landscape Architects. Multiple benefits of green infrastructure were found in 65% of the projects, regardless of the number of applied design features. The major green infrastructure design features with multiple benefits were: bioretention areas, permeable pavements, grassed swales, rainwater harvesting, rain gardens, and curb cuts. The major benefits of applied design features were: enhanced economic capacity, educational opportunities, improvements to the built environment, and enhanced environmental soundness. The findings show that the multiple benefits of green infrastructure’s multifunctionality can be inferred in many current cases. Knowing the relationship between design features and their benefits for green infrastructure would facilitate selecting optimal design features to achieve specific goals and planning outcomes. For communities that require a range of complex benefits, a multifunctionality-based green infrastructure will advance highly acceptable climate change adaptation measures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metropolitan Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Urban Growth)

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