Promoting ecosystem services through ecological planning in the Xianghe Segment of China’s Grand Canal

Ecological planning can significantly enhance ecosystem services (ES) and revitalize historic landscapes, as demonstrated by a 67% increase in ES following its implementation along the Xianghe Segment of China’s Grand Canal. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, once a vital transportation artery, now suffers from degraded water quality due to wastewater disposal. The study applied modern ecological theory to redesign the waterfront landscape, establish wetlands, and improve environmental governance, shifting the dominance of ES from regulating and supporting services to cultural and regulating ones. These measures not only restored historic landscapes but also provided a framework for sustainable heritage management, offering a practical model for balancing ecological renewal with cultural preservation.

Guo, Q., Wu, J., & Xiao, L. (2016). Promoting ecosystem services through ecological planning in the Xianghe Segment of China’s Grand Canal. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 23(4), 365–371. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2015.1117995