Understanding the Benefits from Green Areas in Rome: The Role of Evergreen and Deciduous Species in Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Capability

Urban areas are a major source of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions because of road traffic and local heating with natural gas, oil or coal. Rome is among the largest European cities (129,000 ha) with a large volume of green areas (69.6% of the total Municipality area). The CO2 sequestration (CS) capability for the greenery extending for about 300 km2 inside the area delimited by the Great Ring Road (GRA) in Rome was calculated combining satellite data with CS data measured in the field. Data from Sentinel-2 were collected and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was computed on a pixel-base. Three plant classes homogeneous in terms of annual NDVI profile were identified: deciduous trees (DT), evergreen trees (ET) and meadows (M) covering an area of 14,142.027 ha within the GRA, of which M had the highest percentage (48%), followed by DT (27%) and ET (25%). CS ranged from 428,241,492.9 Tons CO2 year-1 (ET) to 263,072,460.6 Tons CO2 year-1 (M). The total CS of the greenery inside the GRA was 1049,490,355.4 Tons CO2 year-1 resulting in an annual economic value of $772,424,901.6/ha. The CO2 sequestration capability of the considered plant classes could be incorporated into the national greenhouse gas emission budget to calculate the contribution of CO2 sequestration to the economy of Rome.

A Study of the Correlation between the Concentration of Particulate Matter and Green Area Ratio Measured through a Portable Monitoring System: With Particular Focus on the Case of Dalseo-Gu, Daegu Metropolitan City

This study analyzed the relationship between the measured concentration of particulate matter (PM) and green area, which is an important spatial factor affecting urban PM concentration and even more carbon neutral in cities. In order to investigate the effects of green area, the green area ratio (GAR) is used and correlated with particulate matter. As a result of analyzing the correlation between GAR and PM concentration using the measured PM data, it was found that there was a positive correlation between the two variables. Hence, the higher the GAR, the lower the PM concentration. It can be said that the introduction of spatial elements with high GAR scores, such as parks and forests in cities, is effective in reducing PM concentration. In this study, a portable PM monitoring system using a vehicle for PM measurement was also established and operated. As a result, it was found that a PM monitoring system using a light-scattering sensor is an effective PM measurement method that can be used at the local government level. It was also found that a follow-up study is needed in the future to identify the PM mitigation functions of urban green areas according to the detailed characteristics of green areas as well as various environmental factors. This study can be used in air quality improvement activities and efforts as reference data by policy decision makers and in the field of environmental planning associated with the removal of airborne particulate matter pollution in urban areas.

Effects of vegetation strata and human disturbance on bird diversity in green areas in a city in southern Chile

Background: Urbanisation is a dominant geographical trend and an important component of global change, with unprecedented implications for socio?economic, cultural and environmental characteristics. However, green areas, including original fragments, can help to conserve native diversity, improving the functioning of these artificial systems in the long term. Urban areas can still provide habitats usable by wild birds, however the structural charac?teristics of the habitat formed by different types of green area differ, and therefore dissimilar bird diversities are to be expected. The object of this study was to characterise the α and β diversities of birds in different green areas and to analyse how diversity relates to ten variables that characterise the habitat.Methods: We studied the green areas in the city of Temuco, southern Chile(Park, Square and Median strips of main streets), evaluating the variables:(a) surface area,(b) vegetation,(c) estimated human impact as the proportions of vegetation and bare soil by area, and the vehicle traffic. The bird assemblage structures were characterised by α(intra?environment) diversity and β diversity(between environments) and the statistical analysis identified the environmen?tal variables related with the presence and abundance of birds. A statistical model was constructed to describe the contribution of the variables to bird diversity.Results: We found significant differences between the diversity of bird species in the three types of green area. The β showed medium to high similarity between the different study units. There was a negative correlation with bare soil areas; the correlations with vehicle flow, plant structure and tree and shrub cover were not significant, meaning that these variables did not explain the variation in the richness of bird species between the green areas. However the surface area did explain this variation presenting a positive potential relation. There was also a high correlation with the origin(native) of shrub species.Conclusions: The bird diversity varied significantly according to the type of urban green area. The environmental variables presenting significant correlations with bird diversity were: surface area, native species of shrub stratum, shrub cover, and bare soil area. The best multiple regression model showed that the three most important variables for bird diversity are the surface area of the green area, the cover of the shrub stratum and the presence of native shrub species.

A global consistent positive effect of urban green area size on bird richness

Background: Although the species-urban green area relationship (SARu) has been analyzed worldwide, the global consistency of its parameters, such as the fit and the slope of models, remains unexplored. Moreover,the SARu can be explained by 20 different models. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate which models provide a better explanation of SARus and, focusing on the power model,to evaluate the global heterogeneity in its fit and slope. Methods: We tested the performance of multiple statistical models in accounting for the way in which species richness increases with area, and examined whether variability in model form was associated with various methodological and environmental factors. Focusing on the power model, we analyzed the global heterogeneity in the fit and slope of the models through a meta-analysis. Results: Among 20 analyzed models, the linear model provided the best fit to the most datasets, was the top ranked model according to our efficiency criterion, and was the top overall ranked model.The Kobayashi and power models were the second and third overall ranked models, respectively.The number of green areas and the minimum number of species within a green area were the only significant variables explaining the variation in model form and performance, accounting for less than 10% of the variation. Based on the power model,there was a consistent overall fit (r2=0.50) and positive slope of 0.20 for the species richness increase with area worldwide.Conclusions:The good fit of the linear model to our SARu datasets contrasts with the non-linear SAR frequently found in true and non-urban habitat island systems;however, this finding may be a result of the small sample size of many SARu datasets. The overall power model slope of 0.20 suggests low levels of isolation among urban green patches, or alternatively that habitat specialist and area sensitive species have already been extirpated from urban green areas.

Optimization of Green Space Plant Configuration in Residential Areas of Chongqing Central Business District Based on Green Plot Ratio—A Case Study of Xuhui City Residential Community

The current urban green space construction was guided by a two-dimensional index evaluation system, resulting in weak ecological benefits of green space. Green plot ratio (GPR), as a three-dimensional indicator, can characterize the ecological benefits of green areas and the ability of green areas to participate in the operation and regulation of urban ecosystems. As an important component of urban green space, the GPR index was added to the two-dimensional index evaluation system to optimize the green space, which can promote the development of low-carbon, healthy and ecological green space. Based on the research of 22 residential districts in the central city of Chongqing, the Leaf area index (LAI) index of common native garden plants in Chongqing was formed to improve the accuracy of green capacity index measurement in Chongqing. The study also took the residential community of Sunrise City in Banan District of Chongqing as an example, and carried out the optimization design practice from four types of residential community green areas: green areas next to houses, road green areas, concentrated green areas, and green areas attached to public service facilities.

Spatial-temporal Heterogeneity of Green Development Efficiency and Its Influencing Factors in Growing Metropolitan Area: A Case Study for the Xuzhou Metropolitan Area

This study analyzed the spatial-temporal heterogeneity of green development efficiency and its influencing factors in the growing Xuzhou Metropolitan Area for the period 2000–2015.The slacks-based measure(SBM)model,spatial autocorrelation,and the geographically weighted regression(GWR)model were used to conduct the analysis.The conclusions were as follows:first,the overall efficiency of green development of the Xuzhou Metropolitan Area decreased,the regional differences and spatial agglomeration shrunk and differences within the region were the main contributors to the regional differences of green development efficiency.Second,the counties with high-efficiency green development were distributed along the coast,and along the routes of the Beijing-Shanghai and the Eastern Longhai railways.A developing axis of the high-efficiency counties was the main feature of the spatial pattern for green development efficiency.Third,regarding spatial correlation and green development efficiency,the High-High type counties in the Xuzhou Metropolitan Area formed a centralized distribution corridor along the inter-provincial border areas of Henan and Jiangsu,whereas the Low-Low type counties were concentrated in the external,marginal parts of the metropolitan area.Fourth,the major factors(ranked in decreasing order of impact)influencing green development efficiency were innovation,government regulations,the economic development level,energy consumption,and industrial structure.These factors exerted their influence to varying extents;the influence of the same factor had different effects in different regions and obvious spatial differences were observed for the different regions.

Trade-offs and Synergies of Ecosystem Services in Karst Area of China Driven by Grain-for-Green Program

As an important means regulating the relationship between human and natural ecosystem,ecological restoration program plays a key role in restoring ecosystem functions.The Grain-for-Green Program(GFGP,One of the world’s most ambitious ecosystem conservation set-aside programs aims to transfer farmland on steep slopes to forestland or grassland to increase vegetation coverage)has been widely implemented from 1999 to 2015 and exerted significant influence on land use and ecosystem services(ESs).In this study,three ecological models(In VEST,RUSLE,and CASA)were used to accurately calculate the three key types of ESs,water yield(WY),soil conservation(SC),and net primary production(NPP)in Karst area of southwestern China from 1982 to 2015.The impact of GFGP on ESs and trade-offs was analyzed.It provides practical guidance in carrying out ecological regulation in Karst area of China under global climate change.Results showed that ESs and trade-offs had changed dramatically driven by GFGP.In detail,temporally,SC and NPP exhibited an increasing trend,while WY exhibited a decreasing trend.Spatially,SC basically decreased from west to east;NPP basically increased from north to south;WY basically increased from west to east;NPP and SC,SC and WY developed in the direction of trade-offs driven by the GFGP,while NPP and WY developed in the direction of synergy.Therefore,future ecosystem management and restoration policy-making should consider trade-offs of ESs so as to achieve sustainable provision of ESs.

Saving Strategy and Simulation Analysis of Green Log Walls in Severe Cold Area

Log house is a traditional type of vernacular dwelling in Chinese cold area. It contains distinct regional characteristics and architectural cultures. In recent years,log house has come into vogue softly with the development of wood techniques. However,log houses expend too much wood materials. There are also many negative aspects of this type of wood building which go against the criteria of energy conservation,and its high prime cost hinders the application as well. To solve these problems, the paper emphasizes using more environmental standardized techniques which save cost at the same time,and put forward technical strategy to improve the log walls. The optimization schemes are mainly divided into two categories: internal insulation and filled insulation. Each type of insulation is respectively derived two schemes through changing the thickness of main structure layers and insulation layer. Firstly,we use Weto software to calculate the timber volume of the four schemes,and it concludes that all the optimizations can save more timber than the prototype log wall with the section of 200 mm × 200 mm. Secondly,thermal comfort of each scheme is insulated in Design Builder.The results show that thermal insulation of filling type represents better than the other schemes. At last,we use thermal calculating formula to calculate thermal resistance of every scheme. Contrast to the energy efficiency standards of Heilongjiang Province, the data show that the four schemes meet the requirements of the specification.

Reflections on Plain Greening in Coastal Urban Areas： A Case Study of Plain Greening in the Main Urban Area of Taizhou

The current situation,existing problems and characteristics of greening in the main urban area of Taizhou were analyzed,and the construction ideas and safeguard measures of plain greening in urban areas in the new era were put forward.

雄安新区绿色金融与大气环境耦合协调的时空演变

绿色金融与大气环境耦合协调发展是经济可持续发展的一个重要问题,也是雄安新区建设绿色之城的前提和保障。以雄安新区为研究对象,构建绿色金融与大气环境综合评价的指标体系,运用熵权TOPSIS法、耦合度模型、协调度模型和相对发展度模型,研究了2018年1季度至2021年4季度雄安新区绿色金融与大气环境耦合协调的时空演变。研究表明:(1)从时间层面来看,雄安新区绿色金融和大气环境综合指数呈现波动上升的趋势,两系统耦合度处于0.193~0.862之间,其相互影响逐渐增强;协调度水平从0.227增长到0.697,进入初级协调等级;相对发展度大幅上升,但整体上仍处于绿色金融发展滞后的阶段,绿色金融对大气环境的支撑力度还有待加强。(2)从空间层面来看,雄安新区绿色金融与大气环境耦合度、协调度和相对发展度总体水平均高于其周边绝大多数区县,雄安新区的设立与建设极大促进了该地区绿色金融与大气环境的协调发展。

Research on Evaluation System of Green Residential Buildings in Cold Areas of Sichuan

With regard to the rapid growth of China’s building area and the increasing energy consumption of buildings, green buildings have become an important issue for balancing economic development and environmental impact. However, the current evaluation systems for various types of green buildings are often unable to achieve a set of standards in practice due to the distinct regional characteristics of each region. Therefore, in view of the regional characteristics of the climate, terrain, ecology, and economic development in the cold regions of Sichuan, it is important to study the evaluation system of green residential buildings suitable for the cold regions of Sichuan. This article focuses on the regional characteristics of climate, topography, ecology, and economic development in the cold regions of Sichuan, and discusses the limitations of the current standards on the practice of green building in cold regions of Sichuan through a sociological questionnaire survey on the comfort of living in the local population. Then from the two dimensions of the advantages of traditional houses and the particularity of national culture, the strategies for the optimization and improvement of the evaluation index system for green residential buildings in the cold regions of Sichuan were proposed. After comprehensively considering the factors that affect the green residential buildings, including the regional characteristics of the cold regions of Sichuan, and the green performance of buildings, local characteristics and ethnic features were included in the evaluation system. The evaluation index system of green residential buildings in the cold regions of Sichuan, consists of 92 three-level indicators. A professional hierarchical analysis software yaahp was used to establish a multi-level hierarchical model between the indicators, and the indicators were compared with each other layer by layer to clarify the importance of the indicators. Based on this, a judgment matrix for each layer was constructed and obtained. The weight of each indicator is accurate, and the scoring mechanism and grading standards are constructed according to it. Through the calculation, the consistency test of the entire model was passed, thereby confirming the scientificity and rationality of the entire evaluation system.

“双碳”目标下老旧小区绿色改造的有机更新策略研究——以广州为例

老旧小区绿色改造作为实现城市低碳化的重要途径,对我国实现“双碳”目标及高质量发展具有重要意义。随着城市化进程的加快,老旧小区存在既有建筑能耗过高、碳排放量超标等现实问题,对老旧小区进行绿色改造成为政府开展城市更新时需重点关注的内容。在总结广州老旧小区绿色改造现状及国内外相关实践经验的基础上,按照有机更新的思路,从顶层设计、人文建设、生态建设、建筑绿色更新、新技术新能源以及成本经济等方面提出对老旧小区绿色改造的策略建议。

粤港澳大湾区绿色创新效率时空演化与影响因素研究

基于Super-SBM模型对2011—2020年粤港澳大湾区11个城市绿色创新效率进行测算,并运用核密度估计模型、莫兰指数以及冷热点法分析粤港澳大湾区绿色创新效率的时空演化特征,在此基础上采用空间杜宾模型(SDM)探究粤港澳大湾区绿色创新效率的影响因素。研究表明:研究时间区间,粤港澳大湾区绿色创新效率总体处于较高水平,且呈波动上升趋势;粤港澳大湾区绿色创新效率具有显著的空间非均衡性,呈现“东南高、西北低”的空间分异格局,且该格局有加剧趋势,同时空间相关性于2020年由正转负;政府支持、教育水平以及经济水平对粤港澳大湾区绿色创新效率具有显著的促进作用,教育水平对邻近地区的绿色创新效率具有正向溢出效应,而政府支持对邻近地区效率值具有负向溢出效应。

河南省化工产业集聚区绿色发展研究

结合河南省现代化工产业发展现状以及“十四五”期间国家和河南省对化工行业发展所提出的要求,对河南省濮阳、济源、焦作、沁阳、鹤壁宝山、永城6个现代化工产业集聚区进行调研。分析了“双碳”目标下河南化工产业集聚区绿色发展存在的问题及对策,并提出了发展建议。以市场需求和国家产业政策为导向,结构调整和产业升级为主线,科技创新为动力,技术改造为手段,推动化工产业集聚区绿色高质量发展。

长株潭绿心地区产业绿色转型发展策略

长株潭绿心地区是绿色转型发展的重要战略地区,其转型发展是一个系统性整体,发展模式具有复杂的多元属性,需要因地制宜差异化选择绿心转型发展途径。长株潭绿心依托系列上位规划有序推进产业转型发展,初步形成了绿色产业发展基础。针对现存的区域协调联动不足、产业发展机制薄弱、产业项目落地难等问题,研究探索多主体、多空间、多内容的整体性转型路径:以保值增值为根本遵循,推进实现绿心生态增值、服务增值、资产增值及生活品质增值,打造可持续的绿心地区“4+N”的绿色低碳产业生态圈;建立更具包容度和功能适应弹性的弹性空间管控机制,优化形成绿心地区绿色产业发展名录,确保产业清单的协同性;通过统筹横向和纵向两大产业融合维度,发挥一三产业融合发展的乘数效应,推动空间生态产业绿色化;构建嵌入式链接发展和飞地式链接发展的创新网络,提升绿心创新竞争力,支撑区域产业经济生态化。总体通过建立更深层次的区域合作机制,保障绿心地区产业升级转型,推动长株潭绿心地区绿色转型发展。

建筑立体绿化对微气候改善作用实测研究

为研究立体绿化改善微气候的作用,选取重庆地区具有代表性的4个立体绿化建筑物进行微气候实测分析,比较了绿化朝向、距外墙距离、叶面积指数等因素对绿墙降温增湿能力的影响。实测结果表明面宽小于30 m的立体绿化可以降低空气温度约0.7℃,增加空气相对湿度约15%。面宽大于30 m的立体绿化可以实现1.5~3℃的降温效应。东西朝向的立体绿化要比南北向的多降温约0.9℃,增加约1.5%空气湿度。叶面积指数对立体绿化的降温增湿效应影响较大,叶面积指数增大0.40,空气温度降低约0.6℃,增加空气湿度约3%。立体绿化对微气候的影响范围较广,研究结果证实,在街区尺度实施立体绿化可以调节城市微气候,改善城市热环境。

城乡数字鸿沟、生产经营方式与农业绿色发展

弥合城乡数字鸿沟可以有效提高农民数字素养,优化农业生产经营中要素配置,促进农业绿色发展。利用2010—2020年中国省级面板数据,以农业生产经营方式为切入点,对城乡数字鸿沟影响农业绿色发展的机理与路径进行实证检验。结果表明,城乡数字鸿沟对农业绿色发展存在显著的抑制作用,且城乡数字鸿沟能够显著降低农业生产经营的规模化和专业化水平,进而抑制农业绿色发展。进一步分析发现,城乡数字鸿沟主要从接入鸿沟和意识鸿沟两个方面,通过降低农业资源利用、农业绿色产出和绿色经济效益三个层面制约农业绿色发展,这种抑制作用在信息化发展高水平地区尤为显著,而二者之间的影响机制则主要体现在非粮食产区。最后,针对性提出了政策建议。

中国农业数字化绿色化协同发展的时空格局及收敛性分析

加快农业数字化绿色化协同转型发展,是促进农业农村高质量发展、实现全面推进乡村振兴战略的重要举措,亦是中国对数字中国战略和“双碳”承诺的践行。在测度2012—2021年中国农业数字化和农业绿色化发展指数的基础上,研判中国农业数字化与绿色化的协同关系与相对发展现状,并剖析农业数字化绿色化协同发展过程中的空间不平衡问题及其收敛机制。研究表明:第一,样本考察期内,全国及三大粮食功能区农业数字化与绿色化的协调发展度均稳步提升,各地区农业数字化与绿色化整体向协调发展靠拢,但存在较大的空间差异,区域间差异对总体差异的贡献最大;第二,全国相对发展类型始终处于数字化发展滞后型,但其相对发展度波动上升,农业数字化与绿色化发展的不同步状况不断改善;第三,全国及三大粮食功能区均存在显著的绝对β收敛和条件β收敛特征,且省份间农业数字化与绿色化协同发展的空间互动效应对β收敛趋势存在显著影响。研究结果对于把握农业数字化绿色化协同发展的效能和水平以及探寻出农业数字化绿色化协同发展推进策略提供实证支持具有重要启示和现实指导意义。