Landscape characteristics and regional differences of the green space within the rural settlements in Shaanxi Province of China

The green spaces within rural settlements, referred to as Rural Settlement Green Space (RSGS), are ecologically significant areas closely related to the lives of rural residents. Clarifying the landscape characteristics and regional differences of RSGS is crucial for constructing ecologically livable rural areas and promoting harmonious development in the relationship between people and the rural environment. In order to promote the sustainable utilization of land resources within rural settlements and enhance the quality of life for rural residents, this study selected Shaanxi Province, which exhibits significant regional differences in the morphological characteristics of rural settlements, as a typical case. Using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) and rural settlement point data, RSGS in Shaanxi Province were identified and extracted. Subsequently, landscape indices, spatial autocorrelation, and other quantitative methods were employed to analyze the landscape characteristics and regional differences of RSGS, with the aim of providing insights into the development of ecologically livable rural areas. The research findings revealed the following: 1) The overall accuracy of RSGS identification in Shaanxi Province was 79.0%, with the highest accuracy in the northern plateau of Shaanxi and the second highest in the Qinling-Bashan mountainous region. 2) RSGS accounted for 43.0% of the total village area in the entire province, exhibiting spatial positive correlation. The RSGS proportion was lowest in the Guanzhong Plain and highest in the Qinling-Bashan mountainous region. The RSGS proportion gradually increased with gradients in elevation, slope, precipitation, and urban-rural connectivity distance, while it decreased with temperature gradients, with the most distinct differences observed in slope gradients. 3) The average RSGS fragmentation density in the province was approximately 106.6 patches per square kilometer, which to some extent reflected the level of human interference in RSGS. The highest RSGS fragmentation density was observed in the densely populated Guanzhong Plain, followed by the Qinling-Bashan mountainous region. The differentiation patterns of RSGS fragmentation density were opposite to those of RSGS proportion. 4) The connectivity of RSGS in the entire province was generally low, averaging about 12.9%. On gradients of precipitation and urban-rural connectivity distance, RSGS connectivity exhibited an overall increasing trend, while it gradually decreased with temperature gradients. Research Conclusion: Based on the current findings, it is evident that RSGS in Shaanxi Province is closely associated with its natural environment, and the connectivity of RSGS across the province is generally low, with most RSGS being privately owned. Rural settlements located near urban built-up areas should pay more attention to the planning and management of RSGS. Future RSGS planning should emphasize the incorporation of public green spaces, preservation of private green spaces, and the utilization of natural green areas. The results of this study can provide valuable support for rural ecological planning and the development of beautiful rural areas.