Functional zoning provides a basis for establishing a regional development layout with clear functions, reasonable division of labor, and complementary advantages. In the process of urban development, a large number of behaviors such as occupying ecological land and generating a lot of pollution cause damage to the urban ecological environment. Functional zoning of the ecological environment has become an important tool used by the local and central governments to establish a harmonious relationship between socio-economic welfare and the ecological environment in recent years. Guided by the concepts and principles of ecological function zoning, this study applies and extends the methodological approach of ecological function zoning to the scale of urban space. Based on consideration of an evaluation of ecological environment sensitivity, ecosystem service function importance, and socio-economic coercion, this paper divides urban space into four types, namely: ecological environment restoration zone, ecological economy bearing zone, ecological environment preservation zone, and ecological environment protection zone, utilizing a mutually exclusive matrix classification. Taking Taizhou in Jiangsu Province as a pilot study, this paper verifies the actual application of a theoretical model and its technicalities, thus advancing the general case for function zoning of the ecological environment. Furthermore, it outlines measures for ecological environment protection and the industrial development orientation of each function area, thus providing a scientific basis for Taizhou’s ecological city development and construction.

Vegetation change is of significant concern because it plays a crucial role in the global carbon cycle and climate. Many studies have examined recent changes in vegetation growth and the associated drivers. These drivers include both natural and human activities, but few studies have identified the regulation factors. By employing normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data, we analyzed the spatiotemporal pattern of vegetation change in China and then explored the driving factors. It was found that the overall greening of China has improved significantly, especially in the Loess Plateau and southwest China. The Yangtze River Delta and Bohai Rim, however, have not seen as much growth. Natural conditions are conducive to vegetation growth. Although socioeconomic development will be more beneficial for vegetation restoration, the current level and speed of development have a negative effect on vegetation. The regulation factors are considered separately since they affect both directly and indirectly. Regulation factors have accelerated vegetation growth. By understanding the factors affecting the current vegetation growth, we can provide a guide for future vegetation recovery in China and other similar countries.

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Blue–green infrastructure provides a variety of ecosystem services and is becoming an increasingly vital part of urban ecosystem protection. It is an ecological facility for ecological conservation and environmental protection, and a foundation for realizing people’s needs for a better life. This study selects indicators from four dimensions: social, economic, environmental, and ecological, and the demand for blue–green infrastructure is assessed comprehensively. The results show that: (1) the demand for blue–green infrastructure varies spatially with the development of the city; (2) the total demand for blue–green infrastructure in Nanjing from 2000 to 2020 shows a pattern of “high in the center and low in the periphery”; (3) the level of economic development, urban spatial pattern, and decision management orientation have different degrees of influence on the demand for blue–green infrastructure, with the urban spatial pattern having the greatest impact. Therefore, in the future, blue–green infrastructure should be optimized by taking into account the spatial characteristics of demand in Nanjing.