Abstract:

Background & Aims: World Biosphere Reserves are designated demonstration areas that aim to showcase and promote a balanced relationship between humans and the biosphere, while exploring pathways for harmonious coexistence between human societies and natural ecosystems. China currently has 34 World Biosphere Reserves. However, there remains a lack of comprehensive and systematic research at the national level regarding how these reserves can effectively drive the coordinated development of human society and ecological conservation. Additionally, it is unclear whether the logistic support functions of protected areas contribute meaningfully to fostering sustainable human-nature relationships within these reserves. 

Methods: This study integrated comprehensive spatial data from all 34 World Biosphere Reserves in China and their associated protected areas. By combining human footprint indicators, ecological remote sensing datasets to calculate ecosystem quality index, as well as trend detection methods including Theil-Sen Median slope estimation and Mann-Kendall analysis, the study evaluated the relationship between human social development and natural ecological protection at a 1 km × 1 km pixel resolution within these reserves. 

Results: Linear regression results indicated that ecosystem quality across China’s 34 World Biosphere Reserves increased from 2010 to 2020, although the trend was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). In contrast, human footprint exhibited a statistically significant upward trend during the same period (p < 0.05). Within these reserves, 10% of the pixel units demonstrated significant changes in human-nature relationships, with coordination interactions accounting for the largest proportion (7.22%), particularly evident in seven reserves including Jinggangshan and Bogedafeng, etc. Furthermore, a lower coverage ratio of protected areas within a world biosphere reserve, a larger total area of the world biosphere reserve, and a longer duration since its designation as a world biosphere reserve are all associated with enhanced coordination between human development and ecological conservation. 

Conclusion: With the upcoming Fifth World Congress of Biosphere Reserves to be held in Hangzhou, China in September 2025, this study offers robust scientific support for understanding the role of China’s World Biosphere Reserves in advancing harmonious development between human society and nature. Furthermore, it provides valuable insights and references for future global research and sustainable management of World Biosphere Reserves.

Key words: Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB), human footprint, ecosystem quality index, coordinated development of human and nature, protected areas