2026-02-03 中国科学院（CAS）
＜関連情報＞
- https://english.cas.cn/newsroom/research_news/life/202602/t20260203_1149679.shtml
- https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-sustainability/fulltext/S2949-7906(25)00308-8
中国のスポンジシティ計画は都市の植物多様性の可能性を解き放つ China’s Sponge City Program unlocks potential for urban plant diversity
Jingjun Su ∙ Faith Ka Shun Chan ∙ Siyuan Peng ∙ … ∙ Hua Chai ∙ Deping Yang ∙ Yong-Guan Zhu
Cell Reports Sustainability Published:January 27, 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsus.2025.100612
Graphical abstract
Science for society
China’s Sponge City Program (SCP) is crucial for flood control, but its potential to nurture urban nature was previously unknown. Our study reveals that diversifying plants in features like rain gardens and bioswales can also boost urban biodiversity, increasing plant richness by over 50%. This shows that SCP can be a powerful tool for urban nature—not just for flood control. To maximize this benefit, we urge transdisciplinary collaboration to (1) integrate SCP green spaces into city-wide green networks, (2) design them for multiple functions, and (3) use linear green spaces (e.g., along roads and rivers) as potential ecological corridors. This helps China fulfill its commitment to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). By addressing key prerequisites in governance, validation, and adaptation, these insights offer Asian cities with actionable pathways to simultaneously build flood resilience and enhance urban biodiversity.
Highlights
- The Sponge City Program significantly enhances urban plant diversity across scales
- Biodiverse designs and linear projects are key potential drivers
- We propose a networking strategy to synergize stormwater and biodiversity goals
Summary
China’s Sponge City Program (SCP), the world’s largest urban green spaces (UGSs) retrofitting initiative for mitigating waterlogging and pollution, holds underappreciated potential for reconstructing plant communities. Here, we demonstrate that across 1,973 sponge city green infrastructures (SCGIs) in Wuxi, the SCP significantly enhances plant diversity (increased plant coverage, species richness, evenness, and reduced dominance), synchronizing its distribution at a high level across the catchment. We find that biodiverse designs (e.g., rain gardens [RGs], bioswales [BSs]) alongside linear project implementation are key drivers and propose a strategic network approach to maximize gains by embedding SCGIs in UGS planning, leveraging linear projects as potential corridors and employing multifunctional designs. This work reconciles stormwater management with biodiversity conservation, supporting China’s commitment to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) Target 12 through improved UGS area, quality, and connectivity. These insights offer actionable pathways for subtropical/tropical Asian cities to enhance ecological resilience amidst rapid urbanization.
