Assessment of urban green space based on landscape ecological principles

Abstract

Ecological factor has not always been the main factor to be concerned with when planning a city, thus a city has always been forgotten to be regarded as an ecosystem. If the city is treated as an ecosystem, there is a need to conserve adequate green space to fulfill the ecosystem services. Although the Malaysian statutory planning system through its development plan provides allocation of open space, the contribution of these open spaces towards urban ecosystem is still questionable. Therefore, this research is done to evaluate the ability of the planned urban green space of Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB) in two levels: neighbourhood and city to perform other function than just as a recreational space. By using GIS as a tool, assessment is done by using landscape ecological principles such as landscape element (urban green space), landscape structure (size, connectivity, shape and distribution) and landscape function (recreational and habitat for biodiversity) to assess whether the urban green space is able to function as a recreational space and habitat for biodiversity. The research finds that the urban green space is hard to become a habitat for biodiversity in terms of the connectivity. Nevertheless, in terms of the size of green space on the city level, it has a good potential to become a habitat compared to the size of green space in the neighbourhood level. Finally. the research concludes with recommendations for future research and recommendations to improve the green space condition to be able to perform another landscape function which is to become a habitat for biodiversity.