Mspa-Based Collaborative Evaluation and Planning Governance of Territory and Natural Environment in Metropolitan Agglomerations—A Case Study of EGIDDZ in Yangtze River Delta

The intersection of environmental conservation and urban development has garnered global attention. This study aims to contribute to the theoretical foundation and policy recommendations for the collaborative governance of territory and the natural environment in metropolitan agglomerations. Employing a comprehensive Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA) approach, this research analyses and overlays various indicators, constructing an integrated evaluation system based on “natural resource management and conservation, land use, and ecological network assessment”. Our findings reveal that: (1) The overall collaborative degree between the spatial configuration and natural environment in the Ecological Green Integration Development Demonstration Zone (EGIDDZ) is relatively high and still needs improvement at the micro level. Notably, regions characterised by elevated synergy levels exhibit considerable spatial overlap with ecological green cores outlined in territorial planning. (2) The selection and distribution of land use patterns are pivotal factors influencing collaborative levels, with multiple land use types favouring enhanced collaboration. By exploring the interplay between metropolitan territory and the natural environment using MSPA, this study seeks to provide holistic evaluation methodologies and governance insights for advancing sustainable urban planning and development.