Abstract Community attitudes towards conservation policies and management models are a critical determinant in the successful establishment and development of protected areas. The National Park Policy (NPP), which seeks to balance ecosystem conservation with the rational utilization of natural resources, remains relatively unfamiliar to most people in China and some other developing countries. It is essential for policymakers and park managers to incorporate the community perceptions of the NPP into related planning and management. A questionnaire survey was conducted in Shennongjia National Park (SNP) in China to collect community attitudes towards the NPPs. Results showed that the residents interviewed expressed lower levels of awareness and concern but relatively higher levels of support and cooperation for the NPPs. Better-educated individuals were more aware of the NPP, and those with income increase were more likely to have positive attitudes. Nearly half of the respondents (45.54%) perceived little change in their household income from the SNP establishment, and only 15.18% felt a substantial increase. Residents thought that the top three benefits of the SNP’s establishment were all related to the development of the park, while the first three troubles were all related to the livelihoods of residents. They considered the imbalance between tourism and conservation (50.89%), lack of systemic policies (38.89%), deficiency in refined management (31.25%) and absence of community participation (29.46%) were the dominant constraints of SNP development. Thus, they believed the Park management could be promoted mainly by improving policy transparency (59.82%), intensifying tourism development (50.00%), and enhancing community participation (47.32%). These findings provide valuable guidance for governments and managers to examine the existing NPPs and adjust the original regulations accordingly. Highlights <UnorderedList Mark="Bullet"> <ItemContent> Residents expressed lower awareness and concern but relatively higher support and cooperation for the NPPs. </ItemContent> <ItemContent> They thought Park was the beneficiary, while residents bore the conservation cost. </ItemContent> <ItemContent> Lack of systemic policies, deficiency in refined management and absence of community participation were the main constraints. </ItemContent> <ItemContent> Improving policy transparency, intensifying tourism development and enhancing community participation were the main expectations. </ItemContent> </UnorderedList>

Does conservation policy matter to the local community? An answer from Shennongjia national park in China

期刊论文
发表日期：

2025年6月27日

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Qijiao Xie,
Haoyu Deng,
Shengyong Xiao

摘要

Abstract

Community attitudes towards conservation policies and management models are a critical determinant in the successful establishment and development of protected areas. The National Park Policy (NPP), which seeks to balance ecosystem conservation with the rational utilization of natural resources, remains relatively unfamiliar to most people in China and some other developing countries. It is essential for policymakers and park managers to incorporate the community perceptions of the NPP into related planning and management. A questionnaire survey was conducted in Shennongjia National Park (SNP) in China to collect community attitudes towards the NPPs. Results showed that the residents interviewed expressed lower levels of awareness and concern but relatively higher levels of support and cooperation for the NPPs. Better-educated individuals were more aware of the NPP, and those with income increase were more likely to have positive attitudes. Nearly half of the respondents (45.54%) perceived little change in their household income from the SNP establishment, and only 15.18% felt a substantial increase. Residents thought that the top three benefits of the SNP’s establishment were all related to the development of the park, while the first three troubles were all related to the livelihoods of residents. They considered the imbalance between tourism and conservation (50.89%), lack of systemic policies (38.89%), deficiency in refined management (31.25%) and absence of community participation (29.46%) were the dominant constraints of SNP development. Thus, they believed the Park management could be promoted mainly by improving policy transparency (59.82%), intensifying tourism development (50.00%), and enhancing community participation (47.32%). These findings provide valuable guidance for governments and managers to examine the existing NPPs and adjust the original regulations accordingly.

Highlights

Residents expressed lower awareness and concern but relatively higher support and cooperation for the NPPs.

They thought Park was the beneficiary, while residents bore the conservation cost.

Lack of systemic policies, deficiency in refined management and absence of community participation were the main constraints.

Improving policy transparency, intensifying tourism development and enhancing community participation were the main expectations.