Abstract

Urban green space systems play important roles in improving the ecological environment and diversity of the urban landscape. Additionally, they can also aid in disaster prevention and reduction. In the present study, the composition and patterns of the green space of Jiaozuo city and its suitability for use as disaster shelter were studied using landscape indices of ecological analysis. The results of our study revealed that large proportions of parks, productive green spaces, and small proportions of protective green spaces, attached green spaces and other green spaces, as well as high fragmentation index, low evenness index make a significant portion of the urban green space unsuitable for use as disaster shelters. The per capita green space for use as long-term shelters in Jiaozuo city increased from 5.60 m² in 1999 to 11.34 m² in 2007 far exceeding the minimum requirement for long-term shelters. The per capita green space for use as temporary shelters shows rise-decline trend to 2.80 m² per capita in 2007 after it increased from 1.84 m² per capita in 1999 to 3.55 m² per capita in 2005. This meets the per capita requirement for temporary shelter area for the city. Per capita green space for use as emergency shelter declined gradually from 2.61 m² in 1999 to 0.98 m² in 2007 which is below the minimum requirement for emergency shelter area per capita (1.2 m²). Our findings indicate that increasing the area of protective and attached green space, and striving to achieve the right proportion of various types of green spaces should be considered in projects involving city reconstruction and construction of large residential areas.

Key words: Jiaozuo city, safety management, emergency shelter, urban disaster reduction, green space system.