Assessing urban environmental resources and services of Shenzhen,
China: A landscape-based approach for urban planning
and sustainability
a b s t r a c t
More than half of the planet’s residents now live in urban areas. In the foreseeable future, global urbanization
will continue. China is one of the most rapidly urbanizing countries in the world, and during the
past three decades its urban expansion has encroached on productive lands and caused myriad environmental
problems. To achieve urban sustainability, Chinese cities need to be better designed, planned,
and managed in a more ecological and sustainable way. In this study, we focused on Shenzhen City
in southern China, which has experienced extremely rapid urbanization and socioeconomic transformations
since China’s economic reform and open-door policy enacted in 1978. We have proposed a
methodology for environmental resource accounting, which consists of ecosystem services, atmospheric
environment capacity, water environment resource, and land value. Our methodology recognizes the
strategic significance for conserving biodiversity and maintaining high environmental quality. In particular,
protecting the remaining natural and semi-natural areas in and around the city – ecological core
areas – is of paramount importance. In addition to valuating urban environmental resources and services,
we have also proposed an ecological network-based urban landscape design in order to improve
urban sustainability for the city. Our proposed urban design plan has been taken seriously by the city
government. Overall, this study provides a quantitative approach for research and practice in urban
sustainability, and should be of value to other rapidly urbanizing regions around the world.