Evaluating China’s National Park Pilots: Constructing an Indicator System for Performance Assessment

Jiao Li, Gaoyuan Hu and Fei Wang ()
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Jiao Li: School of Business, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
Gaoyuan Hu: School of Business, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
Fei Wang: School of Business, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-49

Abstract: With the designation of the first cohort of national parks and the continued operation of remaining pilots, China’s national park reform has entered a critical stage requiring consolidation and adaptive improvement. A key challenge lies in the ambiguous status of five pilot zones, which lack a standardized evaluation mechanism to guide decisions on future inclusion or exit. This study develops a comprehensive indicator system specifically tailored to assess the construction and development of national park pilots, thereby supporting evidence-based governance beyond initial entry criteria. Drawing on relevant theories and China’s institutional context, the framework employs Analytic Hierarchy Process, expert consultation, and fuzzy scoring to determine indicator weights and evaluation standards. The resulting system integrates three dimensions—ecological protection system, management system, and public service system. Nanshan National Park was selected as a case study, scoring 87.77 in 2024 (Class II, “Proficient”), with strong overall performance but notable weaknesses in landscape connectivity, recreational product diversity, and regional integration. These findings suggest the need for targeted improvements in ecological corridors, service enrichment, and community benefit-sharing. Overall, the proposed framework provides a replicable tool for evaluating pilot zones, offering practical insights for refining China’s national park development and enhancing governance effectiveness.

Keywords: Delphi approach; AHP-EIM; evaluation; Nanshan; protection and development; management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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