Research & reports

Shunxiang Fan, Min Yan, Linfei Yu, Bowei Chen, Li Zhang · Ecological Indicators · China (Beijing)

A framework integrating ecosystem service supply-demand and landscape ecological risk assessment was developed for urban planning in Beijing, China's plain area. This study quantified the supply and demand of five ecosystem services (biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, water conservation, food production, and landscape recreation) and identified landscape ecological risks. Findings revealed an imbalance in total ecosystem service supply-demand and a high level of landscape ecological risk in Beijing's plain area, with protection priority areas accounting for 10.39% and restoration priority areas for 19.94% of the total area. Land use, distance to settlements, and vegetation cover were identified as primary influencing factors.

Mansoure Jozay, Mohammad Hossein Zarei, Sarah Khorasaninejad, Taghi Miri · Pollutants · Global

This study evaluates the conceptual potentials and limitations of urban biomass circulation for energy production, food production, and CO2 consumption, with a focus on multi-purpose green walls. It aims to discover new methods of carbon sequestration using green walls to achieve sustainable urban development and CO2 reduction. Green walls are presented as a solution for CO2 absorption in urban areas due to their land efficiency and ecosystem services.

Ioanneta Dimouli, Dimitra Koumparou, Spyros K. Golfínopoulos · Geographies · Greece (Acharnes)

This case study in Acharnes, Greece, examined a local initiative that transforms schoolyards into community gardens, involving teachers, pupils, parents, grandparents, and neighbors. The research collected data from 85 participants, including parents, guardians, and school staff, using a questionnaire to explore their perceptions, with a focus on interactions with non-human beings like pollinators. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics and Kendall’s tau correlation, and the survey results revealed that these new urban green areas were "embraced" by both the school and the local community.

Alishba Saqib, M Sana Ullah Khan, Irfan Ahmad Rana · Nature-Based Solutions · Global

A systematic review of 123 publications on green roofs and climate change identified recurrent themes including urban heat islands, stormwater runoff, thermal comfort, biodiversity, carbon footprint reduction, urban agriculture, and human well-being. The study proposes a Green Roof Resilience Framework (GRF) that integrates these concepts to enhance urban resilience.

Yannick Useni Sikuzani, Bernard Kisangani Kalonda, Médard Mpanda Mukenza, Jonas Yona Mleci, Alex Mpibwe Kalenga, François Malaisse, Jan Bogaert · Ecologies · DR Congo (Lubumbashi)

This study analyzed the spatial structure, plant diversity, propagation strategies, and ecological functions of domestic gardens across three distinct neighborhoods—planned, unplanned, and residential—in Lubumbashi, DR Congo. The study identified 232 taxa across 68 families, with exotic species predominating in all neighborhoods (80%), especially in unplanned areas (82.25%). This dominance of exotic species highlights a potential for ecological imbalances and emphasizes the strong human influence on domestic gardens in Lubumbashi.

Irada Ismayilova, Sabine Timpf · AGILE GIScience Series · Global

Allotment gardens, a type of Urban Green Space (UGS), offer environmental, social, and health benefits but are often not recognized as a distinct category in land use maps due to their specific characteristics. This research proposes an identification approach utilizing semantic features such as the presence, density, and height of garden huts, proximity to water bodies and railroads, and the presence of pathways. The three-step workflow, combining a Random Forest classifier, hut extraction, and density-based clustering, accurately identified 78% of allotments in Augsburg and 88% in Wuerzburg.

Phillip James Tabb, Lahra Tatriele · · Global

Chapter 6 presents specific physical design strategies at the landscape design scale for wellness planning, based on Halbert Dunn’s concept of high-level wellness. These strategies provide principles for human health, benefits to the natural environment, and implementation opportunities within the urban built environment. The chapter covers diverse applications from parks and greenspaces to healing gardens and edible landscapes, offering concrete approaches and design principles illustrated through precedents.

Girish Visvanathan, Kailas Patil, Yogesh Suryawanshi, Vishal Meshram, Shrikant Jadhav · Scientific Reports · India (Chennai)

A study conducted in Chennai, India, from April to June 2023, assessed temperature dynamics on a building's terrace by comparing a well-maintained garden area with an exposed region using temperature and humidity sensors. Findings indicated a significant reduction in internal room temperatures in areas with rooftop gardens, ranging from 4 to 11 °C, compared to rooms with fully exposed roof configurations. Simulation studies suggested that optimizing soil beds and plant density could yield an additional 3-4 °C reduction, resulting in an overall difference of up to 14-15 °C.

Atiqullah Sarwari, Abdieva Guljamal, Abdul-Bari Hejran, Mohammad Hassan Hassand · Bulletin of Toraighyrov University Chemistry & Biology series · Global

This study aimed to accurately measure soil quality parameters through the application of manure compost and bacteria fertilizers or their combination during maize development, in order to establish a quick and effective method for repairing deteriorated farmland soils. The research investigated the dynamic effects on the variety of community structure, basal respiration, and microbial count and biomass in soil.

Shujun He, Shumei Xiao, Qiaoying Lin, Hong Wu, Shufen Xiao, Tingwei Deng · Journal of life sciences and agriculture. · Global

This study focused on the commercial potential of medicinal and edible plants, analyzing the growth traits, nutritional worth, market demand, and potential applications in landscape architecture of Gynura bicolor. Through an assessment of its cultivation techniques and ecological value, the plant's adaptability to diverse environments and its potential contribution to enhancing urban green spaces were highlighted. A dual strategy integrating ecological aesthetics with a commercial model was proposed, demonstrating that the plant's utilization contributes to both ecological balance and economic feasibility.

Marina Torreblanca, Flavio Choquehuanca, Javier Martínez, Martinez Alfaro · Land · Peru (Arequipa)

This research developed indicators for Cultural Ecosystem Services (CESs) in peri-urban agricultural and natural areas (PANAs), using Arequipa, Peru, as a case study. A systematic review combined with a participatory workshop identified 230 indicators across 19 subclassifications, with 115 indicators across 13 subclassifications assessed for impact level. This study enables the selection of practical indicators to facilitate PANA landscape management and support decision-making for interventions.

Ehsan Rahimi, Chuleui Jung · Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment · South Korea

This study developed a methodology to identify optimal urban locations for pollinator-dependent crops in South Korea. Researchers generated habitat suitability maps for 243 pollinating insects across 10 major cities using species distribution models and Graphab 2.8 software. The analysis found a strong positive correlation between green space cluster modularity and pollinator distribution, indicating that areas with higher modularity have richer pollinator populations and are suitable for urban agriculture.

Dika Supyandi, Pipit Pitriani, Mahra Arari Heryanto · MIMBAR AGRIBISNIS Jurnal Pemikiran Masyarakat Ilmiah Berwawasan Agribisnis · Indonesia (Bandung)

This quantitative research, using Rasch Modeling and a census of urban farming group members in RW 04 Pajajaran District, Cicendo, Bandung City, aimed to analyze community perceptions of urban farming benefits. The study found that the community sufficiently benefited from the program, perceiving it as making the environment green, beautiful, and productive. However, respondents believed urban farming could not minimize household food consumption costs, indicating environmental benefits were more dominant than household resilience.

Hao Yang, Runyan Zou, Yueming Hu, Lu Wang, Yingkai Xie, Zhengxi Tan, Zhiqiang Zhu, A‐Xing Zhu, Jianzhou Gong, Xiaoyun Mao · Land Use Policy · China

This study introduced an "element coupling-function synergy" analytical framework and constructed a causal Bayesian belief network to identify trade-offs and synergies among multiple functions of cultivated land resources in Guangdong, China. The findings revealed trade-offs between food cleanliness and food production/social security. Synergistic relationships were found among food production, social security, and ecological regulation, as well as among ecological regulation, habitat maintenance, and landscape culture. The study divided the area into eight functional zones and formulated multi-objective management plans.

Salma Ardelia Darmastuti, IRFAN ABU NAZAR, AHMAD DWI SETYAWAN · Asian Journal of Ethnobiology · Indonesia (Surakarta)

An ethnobotanical study in ProKlim RW 16 Banjarsari Village, Surakarta City, Central Java, Indonesia, identified medicinal and food plants in urban home and community gardens. The study found 56 species commonly used by residents for medicinal and food purposes, with lemongrass being the most used medicinal plant and chili the most used food plant. Likert Scale calculations indicated that 90.25% of respondents agreed self-grown food plants are fresher and healthier, and 93.39% agreed more plants reduce air pollution and lower earth temperature.

Margaretha Häggström, Mårten Häggström · The Trumpeter · Sweden

This four-year exploratory study in a clearcut in western Sweden investigated the feasibility of cultivating crops in a nutrient-poor, shadowless environment to support biodiversity. The study found that while it was possible to grow potatoes, peas, and some summer flowers without special efforts, it was difficult to grow other vegetables and root vegetables. The project suggests that planting activities in clearcuts may impact people's sense of human-nature identity and respect for the natural environment.

T Jeyasurya, C. Subesh Ranjith Kumar, P. Irene Vethamoni, K. Sivasubramanian, M. Djanaguiraman · Plant Science Today · Global

This review explores the concept, suitable plant choices, and benefits of green walls in urban settings, identifying them as a solution to environmental challenges from urbanization. Green walls offer environmental, social, and economic benefits such as improved air quality, noise reduction, energy conservation, and biodiversity enhancement, while also promoting urban agriculture and community engagement. Implementation requires careful consideration of structural integrity, irrigation, and maintenance.

Qingxian Lin · Applied and Computational Engineering · Global

This paper examines the ecological benefits of rooftop gardens in response to rapid urbanization and its associated environmental problems. Rooftop gardens were found to improve air quality, store rainwater, mitigate the heat island effect, and protect biodiversity. These benefits alleviate urban air pollution, water resource stress, urban heat island effect, and ecological destruction, with numerous existing applications confirming their feasibility for future cities.

Inger‐Lise Saglie · ˜The œGeojournal library · Norway

This study investigated the motivations for urban agriculture policies in Oslo, Bergen, and Trondheim, Norway, identifying five categories of motivations. These include urban "green" development, food production and alternative food systems, provision of social meeting places and community building, municipal welfare services (work training, integration, health promotion, knowledge sharing), and active citizenship and co-creation of city development. While motivations were similar across cities, their emphasis varied.

Julia M. Schmack, Monika Egerer, Susan Karlebowski, Astrid E. Neumann, Ulrike Sturm · Journal of Insect Conservation · Germany

A survey was conducted in urban community gardens in Berlin and Munich, Germany, to assess perceptions of social wasps and their ecosystem functions. Gardeners rated wasps as the least beneficial insect for urban gardens among other insect taxa, and predation was perceived as a negative function in insects and spiders. Knowledge of wasp ecology was positively associated with respondents' willingness to share gardens with wasps, suggesting negative perceptions are likely driven by a lack of knowledge and negative emotions.

Roberta Bulgari, Erdona Demiraj, Calogero Schillaci, Ahlem Tlili, Yushu Xia · Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems · Global

This special issue examines urban and peri-urban soil and plant management, highlighting that soil-related factors in urban agricultural systems pose unique challenges. Issues such as soil fertility, soil biodiversity, and soil contamination require further investigation to enhance urban agriculture's contribution to livability. The issue collects studies supporting sustainable soil management and crop diversification, and explores remote sensing and deep learning for soil health monitoring and plant disease detection related to contamination.

YUDHA LESMANA, Sambas Basuni, Rinekso Soekmadi · Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity · Indonesia

This qualitative study in the Batang Toru Landscape, North Sumatra, Indonesia, investigated human-orangutan conflict arising from forest clearing for economic development. It found that Tapanuli orangutans migrate to community gardens, leading to crop destruction and decreased economic income for local communities, thus triggering conflict. The study suggests that the concept of ecosophy, integrating intellectual, spiritual, and emotional dimensions, can raise public awareness for orangutan protection, with higher education levels showing more positive results, but highlights the economic viability challenge for communities.

Han Li, Jeremy A. White · Sustainability · United States

This study assessed bat activity patterns at Glacier Creek Preserve in Omaha, Nebraska, USA, from 2018 to 2020 using acoustic monitoring to determine its conservation value for bats. Nine species, including the endangered Myotis septentrionalis, were recorded, with edge habitats showing higher overall and foraging activities for several species compared to open habitats. The preserve provides roosts, commuting corridors, and foraging grounds for different bat species.

Budi Utomo, Rezky Nizar, Rizky Wahyudi, YUNASFI YUNASFI, Samsuri Samsuri, Mohammad Basyuni · OnLine Journal of Biological Sciences · Indonesia

This study analyzed land cover changes in Sianjur Mula-Mula District, Samosir Regency, Indonesia, between 2017 and 2022 using Sentinel 2 imagery and a guided classification method. In 2017, shrubs dominated, covering 4,689 hectares (39.68%), a pattern that persisted in 2022 with 4,529 hectares (38.32%). Forest land decreased by 182 hectares (1.54%), while built-up land increased by 111 hectares (0.95%). The study concluded that reforestation of 4,529 hectares of shrubs is necessary to maintain Lake Toba's water quality.

MVV Satyaveni · South Asian Journal of Agricultural Sciences · Global

This article explores how AI technologies are reshaping urban green infrastructure and optimizing horticultural planning to address challenges from urbanization and climate change. Using a mixed-methods approach including a literature review (2010-2024), meta-analysis, and case studies, the research found that AI integration improves plant health monitoring, precision irrigation, predictive biodiversity modeling, and spatial planning of green zones. AI also enables real-time responses to climatic shifts, strengthening ecosystem services like carbon sequestration and cooling effects.