Abstract
Blue–green space (BGS) is an important component of the Earth's environment, and BGS research and practice have become an increasingly important part of climate change adaptation and mitigation. In this review article, we conducted a bibliometric assessment on the science and practice of BGS worldwide. Our results showed that (1) the number of BGS studies has been growing rapidly since 2017, and the intensity of international collaboration has increased markedly; (2) BGS research hot spots were ignited by and focused on environment problems and evolved over time. Examples include, but are not limited to, boosting the composite functions and synergistic effects of BGS in climate change adaptation and mitigation (particularly stormwater management and thermal environment regulation), enhancing ecosystem services (biodiversity and carbon), and promoting human health (physical and mental); (3) the collaborative planning and system construction of BGS will be a major development trend in the future; and (4) research on synergistic mechanisms, collaborative planning, and BGS spatial pattern optimization has largely been theoretical, and there is a shortage of empirical quantitative research and there are few real-world examples of BGS in socio-ecological practice. These set the stage for further advancement of BGS science and practice.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahmed S, Meenar M, Alam A (2019) Designing a blue–green infrastructure (BGI) network: toward water-sensitive urban growth planning in Dhaka. Bangladesh Land 8:138. https://doi.org/10.3390/land8090138
Alves A, Vojinovic Z, Kapelan Z et al (2020) Exploring trade-offs among the multiple benefits of green–blue–grey infrastructure for urban flood mitigation. Sci Total Environ 703:134980. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134980
Amoly E, Dadvand P, Forns J et al (2014) Green and blue spaces and behavioral development in Barcelona schoolchildren: the BREATHE project. Environ Health Perspect 122:1351–1358. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1408215
Andersson E, Tengö M, McPhearson T et al (2015) Cultural ecosystem services as a gateway for improving urban sustainability. Ecosyst Serv 12:165–168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2014.08.002
Borie M, Mahony M, Obermeister N et al (2021) Knowing like a global expert organization: comparative insights from the IPCC and IPBES. Glob Environ Chang 68:102261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2021.102261
Chang NB, Lu JW, Chui TFM et al (2018) Global policy analysis of low impact development for stormwater management in urban regions. Land Use Policy 70:368–383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.11.024
Chen X, Kang B, Li M et al (2023) Identification of priority areas for territorial ecological conservation and restoration based on ecological networks: a case study of Tianjin City. China Ecol Indicators 146:109809. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.109809
Cruz JA, Blanco AC, Garcia JJ et al (2021) Evaluation of the cooling effect of green and blue spaces on urban microclimate through numerical simulation: a case study of Iloilo River Esplanade. Philipp Sustain Cities Soc 74:103184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2021.103184
Dai X, Wang L, Tao M et al (2021) Assessing the ecological balance between supply and demand of blue–green infrastructure. J Environ Manag 288:112454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112454
Donati GFA, Bolliger J, Psomas A et al (2022) Reconciling cities with nature: identifying local blue–green infrastructure interventions for regional biodiversity enhancement. J Environ Manag 316:115254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115254
Donthu N, Kumar S, Mukherjee D et al (2021) How to conduct a bibliometric analysis: an overview and guidelines. J Bus Res 133:285–296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.04.070
Dou Y, Zhen L, Groot RD et al (2017) Assessing the importance of cultural ecosystem services in urban areas of Beijing municipality. Ecosyst Serv 24:79–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2017.02.011
Du Z, Lin B (2023) Green space settlement landscape optimization strategy under the concept of ecological environment restoration. J King Saud Univ Sci 35:102539. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jksus.2023.102539
Du H, Cai Y, Zhou F et al (2019) Urban blue–green space planning based on thermal environment simulation: a case study of Shanghai. China Ecol Indicators 106:105501. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.105501
Duo H, Fangrong Y, Sizhe W et al (2022) Blue–green space pattern and indicator system in territorial planning. City Plan Rev 46:18–31
Dushkova D, Ignatieva M, Hughes M et al (2021) Human dimensions of urban blue and green infrastructure during a pandemic case study of Moscow (Russia) and Perth (Australia). Sustainability 13:4148. https://doi.org/10.3390/su/13084148
Dzhambov AM, Markevych I, Hartig T et al (2018) Multiple pathways link urban green- and blue space to mental health in young adults. Environ Res 166:223–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2018.06.004
Eck NJV, Waltman L (2010) Software survey: VOSviewer, a computer program for bibliometric mapping. Scientometrics 84:523–538. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-009-0146-3
Fan Z, Zhan Q, Liu H et al (2022) Investigating the interactive and heterogeneous effects of green and blue space on urban PM2.5 concentration, a case study of Wuhan. J Clean Prod 378:134389. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.134389
Finlay J, Franke T, McKay H et al (2015) Therapeutic landscapes and wellbeing in later life: impacts of blue and green spaces for older adults. Health Place 34:97–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2015.05.001
Fisher JC, Irvine KN, Bicknell JE et al (2021) Perceived biodiversity, sound, naturalness and safety enhance the restorative quality and wellbeing benefits of green and blue space in a neotropical city. Sci Total Environ 755:143095. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143095
Gao M, Hu Y, Bai Y (2022) Construction of ecological security pattern in national land space from the perspective of the community of life in mountain, water, forest, field, lake and grass: a case study in Guangxi Hechi. China Ecol Indicators 139:108867. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.108867
Gascon M, Triguero-Mas M, Martínez D et al (2015) Mental health benefits of long-term exposure to residential green and blue spaces: a systematic review. Int J Environ Res Public Health 12:4354–4379. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404354
Gu Y, Lin N, Ye X et al (2022) Assessing the impacts of human disturbance on ecosystem services under multiple scenarios in karst areas of China: insight from ecological conservation red lines effectiveness. Ecol Ind 142:109202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.109202
Gunawardena KR, Wells MJ, Kershaw T (2017) Utilising green and bluespace to mitigate urban heat island intensity. Sci Total Environ. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.01.158
Guo H, Yu Q, Pei Y et al (2021) Optimization of landscape spatial structure aiming at achieving carbon neutrality in desert and mining areas. J Clean Prod 322:129156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.129156
Hathway EA, Sharples S (2012) The interaction of rivers and urban form in mitigating the urban heat Island effect: a UK case study. Build Environ 58:14–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2012.06.013
Heezik Y, Freeman C, Falloon A et al (2021) Relationships between childhood experience of nature and green/blue space use, landscape preferences, connection with nature and pro-environmental behavior. Landsc Urban Plan 213:104135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2021.104135
Hong W, Guo R, Li X et al (2022) Measuring urban ecological network resilience: a disturbance scenario simulation method. Cities 131:104057. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2022.104057
Howe PD (2021) Extreme weather experience and climate change opinion. Curr Opin Behav Sci 42:127–131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2021.05.005
Hu L, Li Q (2020) Greenspace, bluespace, and their interactive influence on urban thermal environments. Environ Res Lett 15:034041. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab6c30
Jiang Y, Huang J, Shi T et al (2021) Interaction of urban rivers and green space morphology to mitigate the urban heat Island effect: case-based comparative analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health 18:11404. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111404
Jingshu C (2020) Spatial planning strategies of blue and green river space integration from urban resilience viewpoint. Planners 36:5–10
Joyce J, Chang NB, Harji R et al (2018) Coupling infrastructure resilience and flood risk assessment via copulas analyses for a coastal green–grey–blue drainage system under extreme weather events. Environ Model Softw 100:82–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2017.11.008
Kabisch N, Frantzeskaki N, Pauleit S et al (2016) Nature-based solutions to climate change mitigation and adaptation in urban areas: perspectives on indicators, knowledge gaps, barriers, and opportunities for action. Ecol Soc 21:39. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-08373-210239
Kaur R, Gupta K (2022) Blue–Green Infrastructure (BGI) network in urban areas for sustainable storm water management: a geospatial approach. City Environ Interact 16:100087. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cacint.2022.100087
Kuo PH, Shih SS, Otte ML (2021) Restoration recommendations for mitigating habitat fragmentation of a river corridor. J Environ Manag 296:113197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113197
Labib SM, Lindley S, Huck JJ (2020) Spatial dimensions of the influence of urban green–blue spaces on human health: a systematic review. Environ Res 180:108869. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2019.108869
Labib SM, Browning MHEM, Rigolon A et al (2022) Nature’s contributions in coping with a pandemic in the 21st century: a narrative review of evidence during COVID-19. Sci Total Environ 833:155095. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155095
Lamond J, Everett G (2019) Sustainable blue–green infrastructure: a social practice approach to understanding community preferences and stewardship. Landsc Urb Plan 191:103639
Langemeyer J, Baró F (2021) Nature-based solutions as nodes of green–blue infrastructure networks: a cross-scale, co-creation approach. Nat Solut 1:100006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbsj.2021.100006
Lei Y (2012) Integration of water and green, coincides with water and green: building ecological networks of the combination of "blue and green". In: 2012 International federation of landscape architects (IFLA) Asia pacific conference and China society of landscape architecture, Meng Z (ed.), China building industry press: Shanghai city, China. pp. 303-306
Li F, Liu X, Zhang X et al (2017) Urban ecological infrastructure: an integrated network for ecosystem services and sustainable urban systems. J Clean Prod 163:S12–S18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.02.079
Li X, Chen WY, Hu FZY et al (2021) Homebuyers’ heterogeneous preferences for urban green–blue spaces: a spatial multilevel autoregressive analysis. Landsc Urb Plan 216:104250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2021.104250
Li Y, Li M, Sang P (2022) A bibliometric review of studies on construction and demolition waste management by using cite space. Energy Build 258:111822. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.111822
Lin C, Wu L (2021) Green and blue space availability and self-rated health among seniors in China: evidence from a national survey. Int J Environ Res Public Health 18:545. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph1802045
Liu D, Kwan MP, Kan Z (2021) Analysis of urban green space accessibility and distribution inequity in the City of Chicago. Urb for Urb Green 59:127029. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127029
Liu H, Peng D, Yang HJ, Mu Y, Zhu Y (2023) Exploring the evolution of sustainable fisheries development: focusing on ecological, environmental and management issues. Ecol Inform 75:102004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2023.102004
Lv L, Pol MD, Osmond H et al (2023) Winter mortality of a passerine bird increases following hotter summers and during winters with higher maximum temperatures. Sci Adv. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abm0197
Macedo LSVd, Picavet ME, Oliveira JAD et al (2021) Urban green and blue infrastructure: a critical analysis of research on developing countries. J Clean Prod 313:127898. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127898
Menconi ME, Palazzoni L, Grohmann D (2021) Core themes for an urban green systems thinker: a review of complexity management in provisioning cultural ecosystem services. Urb for Urb Green 65:127355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127355
Ministry of housing and urban–rural development of the people’s republic of China (2022) Notice of the ministry of housing and urban–rural development on printing and distributing administrative measures for the application and selection of national garden cities, Jiancheng [2022], No.2, P.15
Ministry of natural resources of the people’s republic of China (2020) Guidelines for the compilation of the Municipal land space master plan. Natural Resources [2020] No. 46, p. 11 of 44
Namkhan M, Sukumal N, Savini T (2022) Impact of climate change on Southeast Asian natural habitats, with focus on protected areas. Glob Ecol Conserv 39:e02293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02293
Ncube S, Arthur S (2021) Influence of blue–green and grey infrastructure combinations on natural and human-derived capital in urban drainage planning. Sustainability 13:2571. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052571
Nghiem LTP, Zhang Y, Oh RRY et al (2021) Equity in green and blue spaces availability in Singapore. Landsc Urban Plan 210:104083. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2021.104083
Nguyen TT, Meurk C, Benavidez R et al (2021) The effect of blue–green infrastructure on habitat connectivity and biodiversity: a case study in the ¯Ot¯akaro/Avon river catchment in Christchurch. NZ Sustain 13:6732. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126732
Oliveira JAPd, Bellezoni RA, Shih W et al (2022) Innovations in urban green and blue infrastructure: tackling local and global challenges in cities. J Clean Prod 362:132355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132355
Pallathadka A, Sauer J, Chang H et al (2022) Urban flood risk and green infrastructure: Who is exposed to risk and who benefits from investment? A case study of three US cities. Landsc Urb Plan 223:104417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2022.104417
Pouso S, Borja Á, Fleming LE et al (2021) Contact with blue–green spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown beneficial for mental health. Sci Total Environ 756:143984. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143984
Puchol-Salort P, O’Keeffe J, Reeuwijk M et al (2021) An urban planning sustainability framework: systems approach to blue green urban design. Sustain Cities Soc 66:102677. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2020.102677
Rozos E, Makropoulos C, Maksimovic C (2013) Rethinking urban areas: an example of an integrated blue–green approach. Water Sci Technol 13:1534–1542. https://doi.org/10.2166/ws.2013.140
Rygal N, Swami V (2021) Simulated nature and positive body image: a comparison of the impact of exposure to images of blue and green spaces. Body Image 39:151–155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.08.004
Sanchez FG, Govindarajulu D (2023) Integrating blue–green infrastructure in urban planning for climate adaptation: lessons from Chennai and Kochi India. Land Use Policy 124:106455. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2022.106455
Sander HA, Zhao C (2015) Urban green and blue: who values what and where? Land Use Policy 42:194–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2014.07.021
Shen Z, Ji W, Yu S et al (2023) Mapping the knowledge of traffic collision reconstruction: a scientometric analysis in CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and SciMAT. Sci Justice 63:19–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2022.10.005
Shi D, Song J, Huang J et al (2020) Synergistic cooling effects (SCEs) of urban green–blue spaces on local thermal environment: a case study in Chongqing China. Sustain Cities Soc 55:102065. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2020.102065
Sorensen J, Persson AS, Olsson JA (2021) A data management framework for strategic urban planning using blue–green infrastructure. J Environ Manag 299:113658. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113658
Sun Z, Behrens P, Tukker A et al (2022) Shared and environmentally just responsibility for global biodiversity loss. Ecol Econ 194:107339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2022.107339
Tamala JK, Maramag EI, Simeon KA et al (2022) A bibliometric analysis of sustainable oil and gas production research using VOSviewer. Clean Eng Technol 7:100437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clet.2022.100437
Tan CLY, Chang CC, Nghiem LTP et al (2021) The right mix: residential urban green–blue space combinations are correlated with physical exercise in a tropical city-state. Urb for Urb Green 57:126947. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2020.126947
Veerkamp CJ, Schipper AM, Hedlund K et al (2021) A review of studies assessing ecosystem services provided by urban green and blue infrastructure. Ecosyst Serv 52:101367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2021.101367
Voskamp IM, Ven FHMVd (2015) Planning support system for climate adaptation: composing effective sets of blue–green measures to reduce urban vulnerability to extreme weather events. Build Environ 83:159–167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2014.07.018
Wang ZH (2021) Compound environmental impact of urban mitigation strategies: co-benefits, trade-offs, and unintended consequence. Sustain Cities Soc 75:103284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2021.103284
Wang S, Liu L (2021) From corridor to whole region: construction of urban and rural blue–green space network under the guidance of green urban design. Landsc Archit 28:45–50. https://doi.org/10.04185/j.fjyl.2021.08.0045.06
Wei X, Liu Q, Pu A et al (2022) Knowledge mapping of bioeconomy: a bibliometric analysis. J Clean Prod 373:133824. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.133824
White MP, Elliott LR, Grellier J et al (2021) Associations between green/blue spaces and mental health across 18 countries. Sci Rep 11:8903. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-87675-0
Wolch JR, Byrne J, Newell JP (2014) Urban green space, public health, and environmental justice: the challenge of making cities ‘just green enough.’ Landsc Urb Plan 125:234–244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2014.01.017
Wu D, Wang Y, Fan C et al (2018) Thermal environment effects and interactions of reservoirs and forests as urban blue–green infrastructures. Ecol Indicators 91:657–663. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.04.054
Wu M, Liu Y, Xu Z et al (2021) Spatio-temporal dynamics of China’s ecological civilization progress after implementing national conservation strategy. J Clean Prod 285:124886. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124886
Wu YT, Clare L, Jones IR et al (2021b) Perceived and objective availability of green and blue spaces and quality of life in people with dementia: results from the IDEAL programme. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 56:1601–1610. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-021-02030-y
Xiang W-N (2019) Ecopracticology: the study of socio-ecological practice. Socio Ecol Pract Res 1:7–14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42532-019-00006-6
Xue X, He T, Xu L et al (2022) Quantifying the spatial pattern of urban heat islands and the associated cooling effect of blue–green landscapes using multisource remote sensing data. Sci Total Environ 843:156829. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156829
Yang G, Yu Z, Jørgensen G et al (2020) How can urban blue–green space be planned for climate adaption in highlatitude cities? A seasonal perspective. Sustain Cities Soc 53:101932. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2019.101932
Yu Z, Yang G, Zuo S et al (2020) Critical review on the cooling effect of urban blue–green space: a threshold-size perspective. Urb for Urb Green 49:126630. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2020.126630
Yuan L, Liu D, Tian B et al (2022) A solution for restoration of critical wetlands and waterbird habitats in coastal deltaic systems. J Environ Manage 302:113996. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113996
Zhang B, Xie G, Gao J et al (2014) The cooling effect of urban green spaces as a contribution to energy-saving and emission-reduction: a case study in Beijing, China. Build Environ 76:37–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2014.03.003
Zhang X, Wang Y, Qi Y et al (2016) Evaluating the trends of China’s ecological civilization construction using a novel indicator system. J Clean Prod 133:910–923. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.06.202
Zhang L, Wang H, Zhang W et al (2022) Study on the development patterns of ecological civilization construction in China: an empirical analysis of 324 prefectural cities. J Clean Prod 367:132975. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132975
Zhao Y, Li J, Tao C et al (2022) Research hotspots and trends of cardiopulmonary exercise test: visualization analysis based on citespace. Med Nov Technol Devices 16:100191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medntd.2022.100191
Zhou C, Wu Y (2020) A planning support tool for layout integral optimization of urban blue–green infrastructure. Sustainability 12:1613. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041613
Zhou Y, Yang L, Yu J et al (2022) Do seasons matter? Exploring the dynamic link between blue–green space and mental restoration. Urb for Urb Green 73:127612. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127612
Zhou W, Cao W, Wu T et al (2023) The win-win interaction between integrated blue and green space on urban cooling. Sci Total Environ 863:160712. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160712
Acknowledgements
We sincerely thank Editors and the anonymous reviewers for comments which improved our manuscript.
Funding
This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51808198), and the Science and Technology Department of Henan Province (the special project of Key Research and Promotion of Henan Province 222400410323 and the High-level Foreign Expert Import Program of Henan Province HNGD2022042).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
BM was the project and overall research manager and wrote the manuscript; RZ was the data processing analyst and wrote the manuscript; YL was the language editor and wrote the manuscript; EX and YZ was the co-investigator and wrote the manuscript; and HW and GT were the overall research manager and wrote the manuscript.
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Mu, B., Zhao, R., Liu, Y. et al. A bibliometric assessment of the science and practice of blue–green space (BGS): hot spots, lacunae, and opportunities. Socio Ecol Pract Res 6, 5–20 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42532-024-00178-w
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42532-024-00178-w