In the heart of rural revitalization efforts, a new study published in *Scientific Reports* offers a promising framework to evaluate landscape performance in tourism-oriented rural areas, potentially reshaping how we approach sustainable development and agricultural land management. The research, led by Yingnan Li from the Department of Environmental Design at Jiangsu University, introduces an integrated approach that could guide policymakers, planners, and stakeholders in creating more balanced and thriving rural landscapes.
Rural tourism has become a cornerstone for regional revitalization, offering a pathway to sustainable development. However, the challenge lies in measuring and optimizing landscape performance in a way that is both comprehensive and context-sensitive. Li and the research team addressed this gap by developing a landscape performance evaluation (LPE) framework that integrates the analytic hierarchy process with multidimensional indicators. This framework assesses landscape sustainability across four key dimensions: environmental, economic, social, and aesthetic.
Using Jiangxin Island as a case study, the researchers applied their framework to evaluate the island’s landscape performance. The results were revealing. Jiangxin Island scored an overall performance of 3.66, placing it in the “Good” category. However, the scores across the four dimensions told a more nuanced story. Environmental performance, which held the highest weight (0.34), scored 3.80, highlighting effective ecological protection and water quality management. Yet, challenges in flood control and biodiversity conservation were also evident.
Economic performance, weighted at 0.24, achieved the highest score of 4.95, driven by increased employment and tourism revenue. “The economic benefits of rural tourism are clear,” Li noted. “But there’s a need to diversify income sources beyond traditional sectors like agriculture and hospitality to ensure long-term sustainability.”
Social performance, despite its relatively high weight (0.28), scored the lowest at 2.72, indicating deficiencies in infrastructure, accessibility, and cultural experience. Aesthetic performance, with the lowest weight (0.14) and a score of 3.00, showed generally acceptable visual conditions but suggested room for improvement in overall landscape coherence.
The differentiated results not only validate the robustness of the proposed framework but also provide practical guidance for rural tourism development. Li emphasized the importance of targeted strategies, such as enhancing infrastructure, improving biodiversity management, diversifying economic activities, and strengthening local cultural identity. “This framework offers a replicable model that can inform sustainable agricultural land management and multifunctional landscape planning in broader rural development contexts,” Li said.
The implications of this research are far-reaching. For the agriculture sector, the framework provides a tool to evaluate and enhance the multifunctional roles of agricultural landscapes, balancing productivity with ecological and social benefits. It offers a pathway to create rural areas that are not only economically viable but also environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive.
As rural tourism continues to gain traction as a strategy for regional revitalization, the need for comprehensive evaluation tools becomes ever more critical. This study contributes significantly to the theoretical and practical understanding of landscape performance in tourism-oriented rural areas. By offering a replicable framework, it paves the way for more informed decision-making and strategic planning in rural development.
In the words of Li, “The goal is to create rural landscapes that are resilient, sustainable, and capable of supporting diverse economic activities while preserving their natural and cultural heritage.” With this framework, that goal is now more achievable than ever.