Recreation ecology research in China’s protected areas: progress and prospect

Figures & data

Figure 1. Number of papers on recreation ecology research in China’s protected areas published each year.

Table 1. Research content and representative keywords.

Research content	Representative keywords
The impacts of tourism on the natural environment in PAs	tourism impact; tourism; influential factor; development; forest park; nature reserve; tourism environment capacity; scenic area
Environmental management of tourism in PAs	countermeasure; development; environmental capacity; scenic area; tourism environment capacity; national park; forest park; nature reserve
Different types of sustainable tourism in PAs	countermeasure; ecotourism; sustainable development; national park; forest park; nature reserve; scenic area

Figure 2. Keywords co-occurrence map.

Figure 3. Key events on protected area tourism and recreation ecology in China.

Table 2. Impacts on the natural environment of tourism.

Elements	Impacts	Indicators	Representative literature
Flora	Decrease of community diversity	vegetation type; Simpson index; Shannon index; Pielou index; height of tree; timber volume	Li et al. (2010); Shi, Zhong, and Wang (2004);
Water	Degradation of water quality	organic matter; chemical oxygen demand; total nitrogen; total phosphorus	Ren et al. (2018); Duan and Shi (2015);
Atmosphere	Decline of atmospheric quality	SO2; NOx; total suspended particulate;	Shi, Wu, and He (2002); Qiao et al. (2013);
Soil	Changes of physical and chemical properties; decrease of the amount of soil microorganisms	soil water content; bulk density; soil porosity; integrated soil quality index; soil pH	Li et al. (2009); Liu et al. (2009); Kong et al. (2008); Jiang and Huang (1990); Yang, Yang, and Xiao (2007); Feng and Bao (1999)

Table 3. Impacts of tourism on wildlife in PAs.

Wildlife	Impacts	PA	References
Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)	Avoidance of roads	Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve	Liu et al. 2016
Coot (Fulica atra)	Time contraction of one – time incubation	Anbang River Provincial Nature Reserve	Cheng 2008
Golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellanae)	Avoidance of roads Changes of intestinal parasites	Shennongjia National Nature Reserve	Li et al. 2015; Zhang et al. 2017;
Tibetan macaque (Macaca thibetana)	The number of individuals in the monkey community is smaller.	Emeishan National Scenic Area	Sun et al. 2010
Macaques(Rhesus macaques)	Decrease in the reproduction rate of rhesus monkeys; increase in the mortality rate of newborn monkeys increased.	Nanwan National Nature Reserve.	Jiang, Wang, and Liu 1994;
Giant salamander (Andrias davidianus)	Habitat quality decline	Zhangjiajie National Nature Reserve	Luo et al. 2019
Rat snake (Elaphe carinata)	The quantity decreased by 91% from 1997 to 2009	Hengshan National Scenic Area	Chen, Huang, and Huang 2010

Table 4. Different types of PAs and their zoning in China.

Type	Zoning
Nature reserve	core, buffer, and experimental area
Forest park	Core landscape area, general recreation area, management service area, ecological conservation area
Scenic area	special protected areas, scenic spots, landscape restoration area, development control areas, tourist service areas, etc.
Geopark	first-class protected area, second-class protected area, third-class protected area
Wetland park	conservation area, rehabilitation and reconstruction area, educational exhibition area, reasonable utilization area, management service area, etc.

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Ren, J., P. H. Yang, J. L. Wang, Z. L. Yu, Y. Zhang, Z. J. Zhan, et al. 2018. Influences of Tourism Activities on Evolution of Physicochemical Parameters in Karst Groundwater and Its Conceptual Model: A Case Study of Jinfoshan Shuifang Spring in the World Natural Heritage Site. Resources and Environment in the Yangtze Basin 27 (1): 97–106. doi:10.11870/cjlyzyyhj201801012.

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Shi, Q., Z. W. Wu, and Q. T. He. 2002. “Integrated Evaluation of Recreation Development Effects on Air Quality in Zhangjiajie National Forestry Park, China.” Journal of Beijing Forestry University 24 (4): 25–28. doi:10.3321/j.1000-1522.2002.04.006.

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Qiao, X., W. Y. Xiao, Y. Tang, D. Jaffe, and L. J. Jiang. 2013. “Contributions of Local Tourism and Regional Air Pollution to Atmospheric Aerosols in Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan, China.” China Environmental Science 34 (1): 14–21.

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Li, L., Y. Zhang, H. H. Jiang, Y. Xie, H. Q. Du, Y. Zhou, and H. J. Zhang. 2009. “Effects of Tourist Activities on Soil Quality of Wuyishan Scenery District.” Research of Soil and Water Conservation 16 (6): 56–62.

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Liu, G., M. H. Gong, T. P. Guan, L. M. Chen, H. X. Li, Y. Zhang, and T. Y. Zhou. 2016. “A Framework to Evaluate Impacts of Tourism on Giant Pandas: A Case Study in Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve.” Chinese Journal of Zoology 51 (5): 724–733. doi:10.13859/j.cjz.201605002.

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Cheng, K. 2008. “The Characteristics of Ecotourism in Nature Reserve and the Effect of Tourism Activity on the Breeding Behavior of Common Coot (Fulica Atra) Ph.D. thesis. Harbin, China: Northeast Forestry University.

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Li, J., J. Cong, X. Liu, Y. Y. Zhou, X. L. Wang, G. L. Li, and D. Q. Li. 2015. “Effect of Tourist Roads on Mammal Activity in Shennongjia National Nature Reserve Based on the Trap Technique of Infrared Cameras.” Chinese Journal of Ecology 34 (8): 2195–2200. doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.2015.0183.

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Zhang, B., P. J. Ye, L. Lu, H. Yao, W. J. Yang, J. Y. Qin, and Z. F. Xiang. 2017. “The Influence of Ecotourism on the Gastrointestinal Parasites of Golden Snub-nosed.” Acta Theriologica Sinica 37 (1): 66–77. doi:10.16829/j.slxb.201701005.

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Sun, B. H., J. H. Li, D. P. Xia, and Y. Zhu. 2010. “Comparison the Group Fission of Tibetan Macaque (Macaca Thibetana) between Different Management Tourist Sites.” Journal of Anhui University (Natural Sciences Edition) 34 (5): 104–108.

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Jiang, H. S., J. Wang, and Z. H. Liu. 1994. The Effect of Tourism on the Population Growth of the Macaca Mulatta in the Nanwan National Nature Reserve.“ Acta Theriologica Sinica 3: 166–171. doi:10.16829/j.slxb.1994.03.002.

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Luo, Q. H., F. Tong, S. X. Tao, W. Cao, L. Fu, and S. H. Zhu. 2019. “Effects of Tourism Disturbance on the Habitat and Water Quality for Andrias Davidianus in Zhangjiajie, Hunan, China.” Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology 30 (6): 2101–2108. doi:10.13287/j.1001-9332.201906.039.

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Chen, F., J. S. Huang, and Z. K. Huang. 2010. “Effect of Tourism Development on Quantity of Frog and Snake Species in Heng Mountain.” Guizhou Agricultural Sciences 38 (10): 225–227.

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