Rapid global urbanization has inevitably led to habitat fragmentation, and much research has focused on responding by building ecological networks and improving connectivity. The construction of such post-event ecological networks is sometimes not effective, and the identification and protection of important patches in the early urbanization period is more significant. Based on the redundancy theory, this paper explores the method of identifying potential critical habitat patches after future urban development. The paper takes the Longxing area of Chongqing city as an example and uses the cumulative current value results of circuit theory model simulations and patch characteristic attribute information as sample data, introduces a combination of the minimal-redundancy-maximal-relevance criterion and a support vector machine (mRMR + SVM) to discriminate the redundancy of patches in ecological networks, and ranks the importance of source patches. The results show that the mRMR criterion can exhibit a more realistic ranking of patch importance, allowing patches with better quality to achieve a higher ranking. Compared to the patch importance determined based on the magnitude of the cumulative current value, 66.34% of the patch importance order changed in the mRMR criterion ranking results. The mRMR + SVM method was effective in identifying individuals with redundancy from the set of source-site patches. The test found that ecological corridors still passed through or occurred near these redundant patches after their removal, demonstrating the substitutability of patches identified as redundant. The results of the study can help improve the knowledge of ecological networks and provide quantitative methodological support and decision-making reference for urban development and ecological conservation.

The conservation and transmission of cultural heritage are enduring drivers of sustainable development. As a significant form of cultural heritage, temples play a vital role in maintaining urban historical continuity and embodying local culture. This study investigated the landscape roles of temples within the ancient city of Chongqing. Drawing primarily on sources such as the “Chongqing Fuzhi Quantu” (Complete Map of Chongqing Prefecture) from the Qing Dynasty, it identifies 79 temples in historical Chongqing. Employing Historical Geographic Information Systems (HGIS), the study reveals the multi-scale distribution characteristics of these temples and their interaction mechanisms with the urban spatial structure. The findings indicate that: (1) The development of Chongqing’s temples is closely linked to the stratification process of urban historical landscapes, serving as historical markers reflecting urban culture; (2) The distribution of temples in Qing-dynasty Chongqing exhibited significant correlations with the mountain-river environment and topography, forming clusters at key urban nodes while demonstrating spatial differentiation based on their attributes; (3) the landscape roles of temples in the ancient Chongqing city by guiding the urban landscape order, shaping city landmarks, and anchoring collective memories. Through the interrelated interactions across multiscale spaces, they collectively shaped the urban imagery. The study aims to provide practical recommendations for urban heritage conservation, cultural tourism, and sustainable development.