The influence of urbanization on local perception of the effect of traditional landscapes on human wellbeing: A case study of a pondscape in Chongqing, China

Pondscapes, a type of multifunctional landscape that frequently embodies traditional wisdom, possess a significant potential to inspire ecological design and advance sustainability. Nevertheless, their significance to human well-being was not fully acknowledged during China's urbanization process, leading to the abandonment, filling, or alteration of numerous pondscapes and the loss of the ecosystem services they offered. Public perceptions of these landscapes have yet to be investigated. Taking the case of Liangjiang New Area in Chongqing, China, this study sought to explore public perceptions of pondscapes’ services for ecosystem and human health, pondscapes loss, and preferences for future pondscape applications. Three resident groups, representing diverse experiences with pondscapes - rural residents, urban locals, and urban immigrants - were compared. Second-order clustering, descriptive statistical analysis, non-parametric tests, and correspondence analysis were applied. As anticipated, indivicuals with varying urbanization backgrounds held varying attitudes and preferences towards traditional pondscapes. The perceived importance of pondscapes for ecosystem health was consistent among all groups, but urban residents viewed their impact on human health as more significant than rural residents did. Rural residents tended to be less concerned about pondscape loss, while urban residents preferred to preserve them. In general, all three groups yearned for a landscape combining modernization and tradition: a transitional landscape representing a win–win solution that considers ecological and human health. The findings have both theoretical and practical implications for the transformation of multifunctional landscapes embodying traditional wisdom in modern society.