Landscape Character Diversity and Zoning Management: Case of Wuhan Metropolitan Area

Abstract

The landscape character of metropolitan areas faces the problem of competition between protection and development. This study explores the synergism of management, protection, and development of landscape character diversity (LCD) under the influence of the inherent sensitivity of cities and landscape resource. An overlay analysis using elevation, topographic relief, and land cover identified 30 landscape description units in the Wuhan Metropolitan Area. A spatial distribution pattern of LCD was obtained using the Shannon diversity index and the moving window method, and urban influence (UI) was calculated using UI sources and a minimum cumulative resistance model. Overall landscape sensitivity (OLS) was determined by evaluating the inherent sensitivity factors from the resources and visual aspects of the landscape and establishing the weight of single factors. An integration framework for LCD, OLS, and UI was constructed, and five landscape character management and protection areas were described and corresponding strategies proposed. The method proposed can be used for scientific management and protection zoning, as a valuable reference for subsequent landscape policies and landscape character assessment research.