Research on the benefits of Cultural Keystone Species conservation on enhancing local communities sense of place: the case of Guangzhou, China

This study investigates the potential for Cultural Keystone Species (CKS) historically nurtured by Guangzhou Traditional Central Axis to enhance Sense of Place in contemporary communities within its boundaries, addressing the ruptures caused by the city in the Lived and Materialized Layers of the people-place relationship. It is therefore hypothesized that reintroducing these species can enhance visitors' Sense of Place. The study focuses on three thematic CKS: Daily Life, Biodiversity Resources, and the Exchange of Goods and Knowledge. The social benefits of CKS implantation are examined in the form of structured interviews based on three Sense of Place sub-dimensions: Place Dependence, Emotional Attachment, and Place Identity. The results show that all three CKS categories significantly improve the overall Sense of Place, and different CKS types have different abilities in placemaking: culturally oriented species strengthen intangible connections through shared memories and practices, while biodiversity-focused species emphasize specific ecological functions. This study introduces a correlation analysis framework between CKS and Sense of Place, providing theoretical and practical support for the realization of ecological and cultural synergistic regeneration in the renewal of contemporary urban historical environments.