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Changes in natural and artificial landscapes due to rapid urbanization in recent decades have greatly altered the supply of net primary productivity (NPP) and its regulation mechanisms at the landscape scale, thus affecting the health of the whole ecosystem. Understanding the capacity and potential of NPP supply at the landscape scale based on landscape integrity is critical for regional ecosystem health and management. In this study, the NPP supply capacity of different types of landscape and the influence of urban built-up areas on it were assessed in Hubei Province, China. The optimal capacity criteria of NPP supply in different types of landscape under current conditions were identified, and the promotion potential of NPP was evaluated based on these criteria. The results show that the landscape with natural elements as the main components has a high NPP supply capacity, but it has been greatly influenced by urban development, and the closer the distance to the city is, the lower the NPP supply capacity will be. The plain landscape with construction land and farmland as the main components has weak NPP supply capacity and low sensitivity to urban development. The trend inflection points for the influence of urban development on the NPP supply capacity of different types of landscape can provide more realistic quantitative targets and spatial distribution of NPP improvement potential for decision making. The findings may help in the management of ecosystem health at the landscape scale.

The Ming Great Wall (M-GW) is the most representative large linear heritage in China, and faces the problem of landscape fragmentation caused by traditional monument-based protection and disorderly tourism development. We propose to utilise character-based approach for managing landscape change and preserving its integrity. This paper presents a hierarchical characterisation method for the M-GW landscape in Ji-Town in two steps: definition and delimitation of landscape area, and zoning of landscape characters. The landscape area was identified based on the landscape relevance of the space from natural, cultural, and visual aspects. The landscape character types and areas were identified by two dominant attributes using a layout method at Level I (general zoning), and by eight specific attributes using a synthetic method that combines digital and manual approaches at Level II (detailed zoning). According to the analysis results, a wide belt landscape area of about 8650.7 km2 was delimited. A total of eight landscape character types, 15 sub-types, 47 landscape character areas and 359 sub-areas were obtained. Additionally, the results highlighted the key landscape characteristics that could be used for the planning and construction of the National Cultural Park. Finally, this research provides further direction for the theoretical and technical basis of future research on landscape characterization and sustainable management of the whole M-GW and other linear heritage landscapes.

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