Integrated Impacts of Urban Green Spaces and Landscape Corridors on Urban Heat Islands, Soil Degradation, and Ecosystem Services

ABSTRACT Rapid urbanization significantly alters land surface characteristics and intensifies surface urban heat island (SUHI) effects, particularly in rapidly growing megacities. This study investigated spatiotemporal changes in land cover, vegetation dynamics, land surface temperature (LST), and SUHI intensity in Shenzhen, China, from 2018 to 2024 using multi‐source satellite data. Land use land cover (LULC) maps were used to quantify changes in built‐up and vegetated areas, while vegetation dynamics were assessed using threshold values of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). LST was derived from thermal satellite imagery, and SUHI intensity was estimated using a statistically baseline temperature approach. The results indicated substantial urban expansion accompanied by a decline in tree cover over the study period, reflecting urban‐driven land transformation. Built‐up areas exhibited a significantly higher mean LST (35.8°C) than forested areas (26.3°C), highlighting the strong cooling effect of vegetation. Despite continued urban expansion and declining tree cover, NDVI analysis revealed an overall increase in vegetation greenness from 2018 to 2024, with many neighborhoods and peri‐urban zones shifting from low to higher NDVI classes, suggesting the influence of urban greening and ecological restoration initiatives. The 2024 SUHI classification showed pronounced spatial heterogeneity across Shenzhen. Non‐SUHI areas (LST below the baseline temperature of 29.3°C) covered 741.9 km 2 , whereas weak (0°C–2°C), medium (2.1°C–4°C), and strong (> 4.1°C) SUHI zones occupied 430.4, 417.8, and 406.1 km 2 , respectively. These findings suggest that vegetated and water‐dominated landscapes contribute to localized cooling, whereas densely built‐up areas experience intensified thermal stress. Overall, the results demonstrate the combined effects of rapid urbanization and targeted greening strategies on Shenzhen's thermal environment and provide quantitative evidence to support sustainable urban planning and heat‐mitigation initiatives.