Adopting an ecological view of metropolitan landscape: the case of "three circles" system for ecological construction and restoration in Beijing area

Article type: Research Article

Authors: ZHANG, Feng | ZHANG, Xin-Shi

Affiliations: Laboratory of Quantitative Vegetation Ecology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China

Note: [] Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: Ecological construction and restoration for sustainable development are now a driving paradigm. It is increasingly recognized that ecological principles, especially landscape ecology theory, are not only necessary but also essential to maintain the long-term sustainability worldwide. Key landscape ecology principles – element,structure and process, dynamics, heterogeneity, hierarchies, connectivity, place and time were reviewed, and use Beijing area as a case study to illustrate how these principles might be applied to ecological construction and restoration, to eventually achieve sustainability. An example to more effectively incorporate the ecological principles in sustainable planning in China was presented.

Keywords: landscape ecology, ecological principles, ecological benefits, Beijing

Journal: Journal of Environmental Sciences, vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 610-615, 2004