China forges world‑leading national park system to safeguard critical ecosystems and global biodiversity
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Date: May 2, 2026
Nanping, China: A new commentary published in Biological Diversity details China’s historic push to build a comprehensive, world‑class national park system aimed at protecting the nation’s most vital ecosystems while advancing global biodiversity targets. Led by researchers from Wuyi University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Tennessee State University, the analysis compares China’s model with established systems in the U.S. and other nations, highlighting unique frameworks, conservation priorities, and future pathways.
China’s national park initiative centers on ecological protection first, national representation, and public welfare. In 2021, the country launched its first five national parks spanning 230,000 km², safeguarding nearly 30% of key terrestrial wildlife species and iconic habitats including giant panda forests, tropical rainforests, and alpine meadows. By 2035, plans call for 49 national parks covering about 10.3% of China’s land area, protecting more than 80% of key wild species and forming the world’s largest national park network.
The study identifies sharp contrasts between Chinese and U.S. systems. China’s model emphasizes ecological integrity and restricted human activity to preserve natural processes, while the U.S. system balances conservation with recreation. China’s centralized governance, large‑scale ecological corridors, and focus on community engagement and eco‑compensation further distinguish its approach. Challenges remain in management coordination, funding, and community integration, yet rapid progress supports global frameworks like the Kunming‑Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Researchers recommend strengthened legislation, unified management standards, expanded scientific monitoring, nature education programs, and closer links between national parks and botanical gardens. Integrating in situ and ex situ conservation will boost resilience against climate change and habitat loss.
As China expands its protected areas, its national park strategy emerges as a transformative model for large‑scale ecosystem preservation, offering lessons for global conservation in an era of accelerating environmental change.
Original Source
Zhu, Dehuang, Chengzhen Wu, Hai Ren, and Dafeng Hui. 2024. “Building National Parks to Protect Key Ecosystems in China.” Biological Diversity 1(3–4): 193–198.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bod2.12029
About the Author
Dehuang Zhu (First Author), PhD, graduated from Sun Yat-sen University. He is currently an Associate Professor and Master’s Supervisor at Wuyi University. His research focuses on forest ecosystems, agroecosystems, and carbon sink measurement. He has presided over 6 provincial and ministerial-level research funds and published more than 10 SCI-indexed papers.
Dafeng Hui (Corresponding Author), Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Tennessee State University. His research focuses on plant ecology, ecophysiology, global change ecology, ecosystem ecology, and ecological modeling, with a particular emphasis on the impacts of climate change on carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles in terrestrial ecosystems (e.g., grasslands, forests, and croplands). He has published more than 300 academic papers, with an H-index of 55 and over 16,000 total citations.
About the Journal
Biological Diversity (ISSN: 2994-4139) is a new open-access, high-impact, English-language journal, devoted to advancing biodiversity conservation, enhancing ecosystem services, and promoting the sustainable use of resources under global change. It features innovative research addressing the global biodiversity crisis.