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A greener urban-growth scenario still left old habitat barriers intact

Yangtze River Delta connectivity modeling distinguishes prevented future damage from repairing existing fragmentation.

Evidence
Peer-reviewed
Geography
Yangtze River Delta urban region, China
System
Urban development; ecological networks; landscape connectivity

WHAT THE EVIDENCE SAYS

A spatial scenario study of the Yangtze River Delta compared future urbanization and ecological-protection pathways through 2035. It projected major built-up expansion under a development-oriented scenario and relatively small net ecological-space gains under protection assumptions; important inherited connectivity bottlenecks persisted even in the more favorable scenario.

WHY IT MATTERS / OUR READ

A planning rule that slows habitat conversion does not necessarily restore connections already severed by infrastructure. Effective blue-green network plans should distinguish avoided loss, restored passage and feasible long-term management.

CAVEATS / UNCERTAINTY

These are model scenarios, not measured 2035 outcomes or validated animal movements. Land-cover definitions, scenario inputs and spatial resolution constrain quantitative forecasts; accepted journal version awaits final formatting.

SOURCE

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution · Yangtze Delta urban-connectivity scenario study
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