Abstract:

Aims: Enhancing the development and effectiveness of natural protected areas (PAs) constitutes a pivotal component of China’s ecological civilization strategy. By systematically integrating multi-faceted conservation features—including ecosystem types, species, ecosystem services, and natural relics—into conservation planning, PA systems can more effectively maintain ecosystem integrity and enhance conservation effectiveness. However, current research on systematic conservation planning that integrates these multi-faceted conservation features remains relatively limited. Therefore, this study aims to implement a comprehensive conservation planning approach by integrating these multi-faceted conservation features. 

Methods: Taking Dali Prefecture as the study area, this study selected six categories of conservation features at multiple facets: Richness of plant and animal conservation species, natural vegetation coverage, coverage of priority conservation vegetation types, key ecosystem services, and natural relics. The entropy method was employed to determine the weights of each category of conservation features. By locking in existing PAs, the systematic conservation planning model Zonation was applied to identify the spatial distribution of potential PAs. 

Results: The results indicate that, based on the 30% area-based conservation target, existing PAs currently covered 8.0% of the total study area, while potential PAs accounted for 22.0%. These potential PAs offered more comprehensive coverage of multi-faceted conservation features, including species, ecosystems, ecosystem services, and natural relics, thereby significantly enhancing the ecological representativeness of existing PAs. Potential PAs were primarily distributed in Yunlong County, the north of Jianchuan County, and Yongping County. Conservation effectiveness could be strengthened through the establishment of new PAs or the expansion of existing ones. 

Conclusion: The potential PAs identified in this study offer more comprehensive coverage of multi-faceted conservation features, thereby enhancing the ecological representativeness of the existing PA network. The planning approach implemented here provides actionable scientific support for optimizing PA systems in Dali Prefecture and other regions.

Key words: natural protected areas, systematic conservation planning, biodiversity, ecosystem services, natural relics