Study on landscape quality evaluation of Urban Forest Park: a case from China

Abstract Background: Nanjing Zijinshan National Forest Park is a 5A level scenic spot approved by the Chinese government and a world-famous tourist attraction. Due to the decrease of forest coverage and the environmental pollution caused by the large scale of tourism, the requirements of landscape quality evaluation of urban forest parks are put forward. Results: In order to explore assessment methods of landscape quality (LQ) of Urban Forest Park, based on the literature review and current situation analysis, this paper selected 26 assessment indexes of five categories to construct the index system of comprehensive landscape quality assessment of urban forest parks. In view of requirements of landscape quality assessment of urban forest parks, niche suitability model (NSM) was introduced. On the basis of analysis and improvement, spatial niche suitability model (SNSM) was constructed combining absolute niche suitability model and relative niche suitability model by using weighted average method. Then, the application test of SNSM was carried out taking Nanjing Zijinshan National Forest Park as the research target. Conclusions: The assessment results show that the landscape quality of Nanjing Zijinshan National Forest Park showed a slow upward trend from 2000 to 2018, and was at the lower middle level in 5A scenic area; at the same time, due to buildings increasing and environmental pollution, forest landscape quality showed a slow downward trend. The assessment results of spatial niche suitability model are in line with the actual situation of landscape quality of Nanjing Zijinshan National Forest Park, and provide an effective quantitative analysis method for urban forest parks to strengthen landscape quality management and prevent landscape quality risks. Keywords: Landscape quality; urban forest park；spatial niche suitability model; comprehensive assessment；Nanjing Zijinshan National Forest Park