How can a social-ecological integration green space network be developed with land constraints? A case study from Sichuan Tianfu New Area, China

Maximizing the social-ecological benefits of urban green spaces with land constraints presents a challenge for cities facing high population density, farmland protection, and urban expanding. In this study, we develop an integrated ecological and social service framework (IESSF) to optimize green space networks. It comprehensively considers social and ecological benefits and innovatively establishes a cross-scale connectivity network, linking green spaces at both regional and urban scales to form a more cohesive network. First, we conduct an ecosystem service assessment based on the objective weighting method to evaluate the social-ecological service values of green spaces across the entire study area. Second, combining the assessment results with morphological analysis, we identify core green space patches and construct a regional scale green space network using Minimum Cumulative Resistance (MCR) and the gravity model. Third, we assess urban green space services through ecosystem service evaluation, network analysis and the quantitative evaluation of route selection potential (QERSP), adding new parks and selecting recreational greenway routes. Finally, we construct a cross-scale connectivity network that links regional and urban green space networks, creating a more cohesive overall network. The results show that based on the IESSF method, the connectivity integration index (IIC) increased from 0.0091 to 0.1979, the Splitting index decreased from 1418.84 to 203.61, and the integrated increase in forest service coverage rate was 9.67%, which substantially improved the efficiency of social-ecological system services. This study provides an alternative way for cities facing similar land constraints in the post-urbanization era to develop an integrated green space network.