A LANDSCAPE EVALUATION METHOD FOR WETLAND PARK BASED ON GIS WITH ANALYTIC HIERARCHY PROCESS: THE STUDY OF TIANHE WETLAND PARK IN CHINA

Wetlands play a crucial role in sustaining the health of Earth's ecosystems, and wetland parks represent vital manifestations of wetlands, serving various functions in both urban and suburban areas. These parks not only provide essential ecological security, promote regional biodiversity, but also offer opportunities for leisure activities. Evaluating the landscape of wetland parks is invaluable in guiding their future development and supporting related eco-tourism initiatives. However, the rapid urbanization in the Pearl River Delta of southern China presents both challenges and opportunities for wetland parks in this area. Evaluation of wetland in this area has not received sufficient attention in academia. Therefore, this study aims to review landscape assessment techniques and explore the possibility of combining them with spatial technologies in this field. This paper introduced Geographic Information System (GIS) and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) as tools for analyzing wetland data. Landscape indices were selected based on previous research. A comprehensive wetland evaluation system was developed for the Tianhe Wetland Park in China, encompassing geographic, environmental, and social dimensions, which were investigated through fieldwork, experiment, and questionnaires to support the assessment process. Expert opinions were gathered to determine the significance of each metric in the system. Through data digitalization, rasterization, reclassification, and index calculation, the resulting values were reflected on an overall map. These findings allow for the analysis of relationships among landscape indices, thereby providing valuable insights for policymakers, managers, and stakeholders involved in the future development of wetland parks in this region.