The Network–Place Effect of Urban Greenways on Residents’ Pro-Nature Behaviors: A Systematic Review

Urban greenways are essential ecological infrastructure connecting residents to nature and enhancing well-being. However, previous research has largely focused on the health benefits and related spatial patterns of greenways, while their roles and mechanisms in promoting pro-nature behaviors remain underexplored. Pro-nature behaviors are external manifestations of connectedness with nature, forming a gradient from visitation to usage habits and alignment with nature, thereby fostering sustainable human–nature relationships and enhancing urban well-being. At the deepest level, alignment with nature refers to residents’ deep engagement with natural environments, characterized by immersive perception and environmentally responsible behaviors that reflect an awareness of human–nature interdependence. This study systematically reviews existing literature to explore how urban greenways promote residents’ pro-nature behaviors. Grounded in the theory of connectedness with nature, this study develops a hierarchical framework linking network–place attributes to multilevel pro-nature behaviors (visitation, usage habits, and alignment with nature) to guide a systematic review of 88 articles retrieved from Web of Science and Scopus. Results show that visitation and usage habits are shaped mainly by greenway connectivity of built environment elements and internal features such as facilities, maintenance, and social factors, whereas alignment with nature is driven by ecological connectivity and habitat quality. The study argues that enduring pro-nature behaviors emerge when greenways integrate two complementary attributes: network coupling that links urban systems and ecological corridors, and composite place-based qualities that sustain human–nature interactions. These findings offer theoretical and practical insights for designing and managing urban greenways that combine ecological functionality with social well-being and promote sustainable urban development.