Integrating spatial carbon factors into ecological network construction in an energy-intensive megaregion toward multi-objective synergy in northern China

In terms of achieving the dual goal of nature-positive and climate-neutral, there are more or less weaknesses in linking ecological networks (ENs) and carbon-related factors in both research and practice. Considering the widely recognized multifunctionality of ENs across ecological, economic, social, and aesthetic aspects, we propose to integrate spatial carbon emission as a proxy of human activity intensity into the ecological resistance system, and further to improve the design of the ecological nodes and corridors. Here, the spatial pattern of carbon emissions was studied in the Hohhot–Baotou–Ordos–Yulin (HBOY) city cluster, a large energy-intensive area in northern China. And then, by overlying with the primary landscape patterns, 23 ecological nodes and 67 artificial corridors were added to the primary EN, improving network closure, line point rate, and network connectivity by 92%, 30.48%, and 27.45%, respectively. Importantly, the potential capacity of carbon sink would be increased by 28.61%. It is found, the improved EN may help deal with the challenge of carbon reduction and ecological degradation in a manner of multi-objective synergy.