The study looked at how cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt are affecting the environment. They used satellite data to see how urban areas and nature are changing and working together in three big city groups. The research found that pollution levels initially dropped but later went up slightly. All the cities studied showed more urban development over time, with the Yangtze River Delta having the most. It was also discovered that the Yangtze River Delta area works better between cities and nature compared to other city groups like Chengdu-Chongqing and the middle Yangtze River area.