Connecting urban area with rural hinterland: A stepwise ecological security network construction approach in the urban–rural fringe

•Basic and connecting ESN are integrated to create an optimized ESN.•The scarcity of transitional patches contributes most to the ecological disconnection in the URF.•Optimal buffer width of rural structural, urban–rural connecting, and urban structural corridors was identified.•This approach is effective in promoting urban–rural ecological connections.