In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the importance of ecological systems, leading to increased research on how to improve their resilience. One common approach is the creation of greenways along rivers. However, these greenways sometimes fall short of expectations due to an overemphasis on technical solutions and insufficient consideration of social impacts.
This publication, authored by Huang Huang, Jiaxin Qi, Suili Xiao, Wolfgang Wende and Yingdu Xin, examines the land use for ecosystem functions on a large scale and explores the relationship between greenway development and local recreational needs on a smaller scale. Using the Yongning River Greenways (YRG) in Huangyan-Taizhou as a case study, the research applied GIS analysis and anthropology methods. The findings show that the YRG improved the ecosystem by enhancing land use and protecting the riverfront. However, its potential to offer leisure and recreation services needs improvement, as residents in different areas have varying needs based on their daily routines.
It concludes that successful greenway implementation must balance ecological goals with the socio-cultural needs of the local population. Addressing diverse local demands for recreation will lead to more effective riparian landscape designs.