urban vertical greening system; adaptive practices; multi-dimensional benefits; sustainable development

This study focuses on the rural areas of Central Hunan, employing GIS spatial analysis to comprehensively evaluate the Human Settlement Environment Suitability Index (HEI) based on four natural factors: Relief Degree of Land Surface (RDLS), Temperature-Humidity Index (THI), Water Resource Index (WRI), and Land Cover Index (LCI). The results show that RDLS is the most significant limiting factor affecting HEI in rural areas of Central Hunan. Considerable spatial disparities exist among Anhua, Loudi, and Shaoyang: Anhua exhibits a generally low level of suitability, Loudi ranks the highest overall, while Shaoyang displays a “core–periphery” differentiation pattern. Spatially, HEI demonstrates a clear east–west gradient: higher in the east and lower in the west. The Highly Suitable Zone and the Moderately Suitable Zone together account for more than half of the total area for more than half of the total area and accommodating nearly 90% of the population. Furthermore, HEI shows a positive interactive relationship with regional economic development. These findings provide important references for optimizing rural spatial planning, improving settlement environment quality, and supporting the implementation of the rural revitalization strategy.