Designing for Coexistence: Narrative Landscape Strategies for Wetland Education through Species-Centred Design

Zhiyin Li; Yimeng Jin; Dandan Liao

doi:10.70088/d5rsvt94

Authors

Zhiyin Li Xianda College of Economics and Humanities, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai, China Author
Yimeng Jin Xianda College of Economics and Humanities, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai, China Author
Dandan Liao Xianda College of Economics and Humanities, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai, China Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70088/d5rsvt94

Keywords:

species-centred design, wetland landscape, environmental education, human-wildlife coexistence, Yangtze alligator

Abstract

Wetland parks are increasingly called upon to serve both biodiversity conservation and public access and environmental education, yet these functions frequently come into conflict. This study develops a species-centred landscape design framework to address this challenge, using the Yangtze alligator conservation area in Shanghai's Chongming Dongtan Wetland Park as a case study. Adopting a Research through Design approach, it combines landscape narrative, spatial composition, and visitor impact control to translate species sensitivities and habitat requirements into operational spatial and management strategies. The framework is structured around three interrelated dimensions: Protection, Education, and Coexistence. Protection is addressed through functional zoning, controlled circulation, buffer areas, and low-impact observation facilities. Education is embedded in visitor routes, interpretive nodes, and interactive experiences that convey wetland ecology and promote appropriate conduct. Coexistence is supported through spatial separation, temporal access control, and behavioural guidance intended to minimize ecological impact while retaining opportunities for public engagement. The study argues that landscape design can operate not only as an ecological and experiential measure, but also as a form of behavioural governance that makes conservation rules legible and actionable. Although the proposal has not yet been implemented or empirically evaluated, it offers a transferable design logic for linking species requirements, visitor management, and environmental education in wetland parks and other ecologically sensitive landscapes. This framework contributes to the growing discourse on integrating ecological restoration with public pedagogy, providing actionable guidance for landscape practitioners and policymakers working at the intersection of conservation and recreation.

References

K. M. Gaynor, B. Abrahms, K. R. Manlove, W. K. Oestreich, and J. A. Smith, "Anthropogenic impacts at the interface of animal spatial and social behaviour," Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, vol. 379, no. 1912, p. 20220527, 2024.

R. M. Brooker, P. E. Carnell, J. B. Pocklington, M. J. Antos, and M. A. Weston, "A review of the potential effects of recreational wind-powered craft on coastal habitats and wildlife," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, vol. 67, no. 14, pp. 3455–3479, 2024.

G. H. Stankey, D. N. Cole, R. C. Lucas, M. E. Petersen, and S. S. Frissell, The Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC) System for Wilderness Planning, 1985.

A. D'antonio, B. D. Taff, J. Baker, W. L. Rice, J. N. Newton, Z. D. Miller, and S. Freeman, "Integrating aspatial and spatial data to improve visitor management: Pairing visitor questionnaires with multiple spatial methodologies in Grand Teton National Park, WY, USA," Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, vol. 39, no. 1, 2021.

M. Potteiger and J. Purinton, Landscape Narratives: Design Practices for Telling Stories, Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 1998.

K. Lynch, "The Image of the Environment" and "The City Image and Its Elements": From The Image of the City (1960), in The Urban Design Reader, 2nd ed., M. Carmona, Ed. London, U.K.: Routledge, 2013, pp. 125–138.

P. G. Ablett and P. K. Dyer, "Heritage and hermeneutics: towards a broader interpretation of interpretation," Current Issues in Tourism, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 209–233, 2009.

G. Cullen, "Introduction to The Concise Townscape": From The Concise Townscape (1961), in The Urban Design Reader, 2nd ed., M. Carmona, Ed. London, U.K.: Routledge, 2013, pp. 118–124.

J. Belnap, W. A. Freimund, J. Hammett, J. Harris, M. Hof, G. Johnson, and M. Rees, The Visitor Experience and Resource Protection (VERP) Framework: A Handbook for Planners and Managers, Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior and National Park Service, 1997.

J. Cortesão and S. Lenzholzer, "Research through design in urban and landscape design practice," Journal of Urban Design, vol. 27, no. 6, pp. 617–633, 2022.

G. A. Stewart, S. J. Sharp, A. K. Taylor, M. R. Williams, and M. A. Palmer, "High spatial variability in wetland methane fluxes is tied to vegetation patch types," Biogeochemistry, vol. 167, no. 12, pp. 1589–1607, 2024.

Y. Du, S. Qiao, and X. Li, "Linking Residents’ Value Co-creation to Tourists’ Pro-environmental Behavior: Insights for Sustainable Forest-based Tourism," Forest Products Journal, vol. 76, no. 2, pp. 218–229, 2026.

P. Astruch, C. F. Boudouresque, and T. Changeux, A Case Study of the Saltmarshes of Hyères (Provence, France), Naples, Italy: Federico II Open Access University Press, 2019.

B. Hérault and O. Honnay, "Using life‐history traits to achieve a functional classification of habitats," Applied Vegetation Science, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 73–80, 2007.

B. D. Wheeler, R. P. Money, S. C. Shaw, M. R. Perrow, and A. J. Davy, "Freshwater wetlands," in Handbook of Ecological Restoration, vol. 2, Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press, 2002, pp. 325–354.

G. Delacámara, T. G. O’Higgins, M. Lago, and S. Langhans, "Ecosystem-based management: moving from concept to practice," in Ecosystem-Based Management, Ecosystem Services and Aquatic Biodiversity: Theory, Tools and Applications, Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2020, pp. 39–60.