Assessment of human-nature relationship in China’s World Biosphere Reserves

doi:10.17520/biods.2025248

Abstract

Abstract:

Background & Aims World Biosphere Reserves are designated demonstration areas to promote a balanced relationship between humans and the biosphere, 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, we 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 (72.2%), particularly evident in seven reserves including Jinggangshan and Bogda, 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, human footprint, ecosystem quality index, coordinated development of human and nature, protected areas

Chunting Feng, Chen Wu, Xiqing Sun, Wei Wang. Assessment of human-nature relationship in China’s World Biosphere Reserves[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2025, 33(9): 25248.

Add to citation manager EndNote|Ris|BibTeX

URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2025248

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2025/V33/I9/25248

Figures/Tables 4

References 25

[1]	Barraclough AD, Schultz L, Måren IE (2021) Voices of young biosphere stewards on the strengths, weaknesses, and ways forward for 74 UNESCO Biosphere Reserves across 83 countries. Global Environmental Change, 68, 102273.
[2]	Cao KJ, Yang LJ (2020) The interaction between residents’ participation, tourism perception and their environmental protection awareness—Xinjiang Bogda Nature Heritage Site as an example. Journal of Xinjiang University (Philosophy, Humanities & Social Sciences), 48(6), 23-32. (in Chinese with English abstract)
	[曹开军, 杨良健 (2020) 社区旅游参与能力、旅游感知与自然保护意识间的互动关系研究——以新疆博格达自然遗产地为例. 新疆大学学报(哲学·人文社会科学版), 48(6), 23-32.]
[3]	Cuong CV, Dart P, Hockings M (2017) Biosphere reserves: Attributes for success. Journal of Environmental Management, 188, 9-17. DOI PMID
[4]	Du JH, Liu N, Xian YJ, Wang D, Wang W (2022) Enlightenment of biosphere reserve to establishment and management of national park in China. Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 37, 1602-1613. (in Chinese with English abstract)
	[杜金鸿, 刘宁, 先义杰, 王丁, 王伟 (2022) 世界生物圈保护区对我国国家公园建设与管理的启示. 中国科学院院刊, 37, 1602-1613.]
[5]	Fan RX, Zhu XJ, Chen Z, Yu GR, Zhang WK, Han L, Wang QF, Chen SP, Liu M, Wang HM, Yan H, Tan JL, Zhang W, Zhao FH, Li YN, Zhang YP, Shi L, Zhu JJ, Wu JB, Zhao H, Hao YB, Sha LQ, Zhang YC, Jiang C, Gu FX, Wu ZX, Zhang J, Zhou L, Tang YK, Jia BR, Li Q, Song QH, Dong G, Gao H, Jiang ZD, Sun D, Wang JL, He H, Li XH, Wang F, Wei X, Deng ZM, Hao XX, Li Y, Liu L, Zhang XF, Zhu ZL (2023) A dataset of annual gross primary productivity over Chinese terrestrial ecosystems during 2000-2020. Science Data Bank, doi: 10.57760/sciencedb.o00119.00077; cstr:15732.11.sciencedb.00077. (in Chinese with English abstract)
	[范仁雪, 朱先进, 陈智, 于贵瑞, 张维康, 韩朗, 王秋凤, 陈世苹, 刘民, 王辉民, 闫华, 谭俊磊, 张伟, 赵风华, 李英年, 张一平, 石礼, 朱教君, 吴家兵, 赵辉, 郝彦宾, 沙丽清, 张玉翠, 姜成, 顾峰雪, 吴志祥, 张建, 周莉, 唐亚坤, 贾丙瑞, 李强, 宋清海, 董刚, 高红, 蒋正德, 孙聃, 王建林, 何华, 李新虎, 王飞, 魏学, 邓正苗, 郝翔翔, 李彦, 刘利, 章熙锋, 朱治林 (2023) 2000-2020年中国陆地生态系统年总初级生产力数据集. 科学数据银行, doi: 10.57760/sciencedb.o00119.00077; cstr: 15732. 11.sciencedb.00077.]
[6]	Feng CT, Luo JW, Liu FZ, Zhou Y, Zhang LB, Du JH, Wang W (2020) Evaluation of management status of national nature reserves in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Research of Environmental Sciences, 33, 709-717. (in Chinese with English abstract)
	[冯春婷, 罗建武, 刘方正, 周越, 张立博, 杜金鸿, 王伟 (2020) 长江经济带国家级自然保护区管理状况评价. 环境科学研究, 33, 709-717.]
[7]	Ferreira AF, Zimmermann H, Santos R, von Wehrden H (2020) Biosphere reserves’ management effectiveness—A systematic literature review and a research agenda. Sustainability, 12, 5497. DOI URL
[8]	Gao JX, Shi YL, Zhang HW, Chen XH, Zhang WG, Shen WM, Xiao T, Zhang YH (2022) China regional 250 m fractional vegetation cover data set (2000-2023). National Tibetan Plateau/Third Pole Environment Data Center, doi: 10.11888/Terre.tpdc.300330; cstr: 18406.11.Terre.tpdc.300330. (in Chinese with English abstract)
	[高吉喜, 史园莉, 张宏伟, 陈绪慧, 张文国, 申文明, 肖桐, 张玉环 (2022) 中国区域250米植被覆盖度数据集(2000-2023). 国家青藏高原科学数据中心, doi: 10.11888/Terre.tpdc.300330; cstr:18406.11.Terre.tpdc.300330.]
[9]	Gohr C, von Wehrden H, Saatchi S, Pettorelli N, Ibisch PL (2025) Effectiveness of the world network of biosphere reserves in maintaining forest ecosystem functions. Communications Earth & Environment, 6, 83.
[10]	Knaus F, Bonnelame LK, Siegrist D (2017) The economic impact of labeled regional products: The experience of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Entlebuch. Mountain Research and Development, 37, 121-130. DOI URL
[11]	Kratzer A (2018) Biosphere reserves as model regions for sustainability transitions? Insights into the peripheral mountain area Grosses Walsertal (Austria). Applied Geography, 90, 321-330. DOI URL
[12]	Liu HM, Lu JY, Li XC, Wang YC, Xu D, Yin JF, Xu G (2025) Evaluating human-nature relationships at a grid scale in China, 2000-2020. Habitat International, 156, 103282. DOI URL
[13]	Lowell K (2017) A socio-environmental monitoring system for a UNESCO biosphere reserve. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 189, 601. DOI PMID
[14]	Mu HW, Li XC, Wen YN, Huang JX, Du PJ, Su W, Miao SX, Geng MQ (2022) A global record of annual terrestrial Human Footprint dataset from 2000 to 2018. Scientific Data, 9, 176. DOI PMID
[15]	Reed MG (2019) The contributions of UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme and biosphere reserves to the practice of sustainability science. Sustainability Science, 14, 809-821. DOI
[16]	Sinco-Ramos P, García-Frapolli E, Porter-Bolland L, Durand L (2025) Biospheres reserves and social-ecological well-being: The case of Tehuacán-Cuicatlán, Mexico. Environment, Development and Sustainability, doi: 10.1007/s10668-10025-06119-10661.
[17]	Thao NP, Eales J, Lam DM, Hien VT, Garside R (2023) What are the impacts of activities undertaken in UNESCO biosphere reserves on socio-economic wellbeing in Southeast Asia? A systematic review. Environmental Evidence, 12, 30. DOI PMID
[18]	UNESCO (2021) Technical Guidelines for Biosphere Reserves. Secretariat of the Man and Biosphere Programme, UNESCO, Paris, France.
[19]	Wang D, Liu N, Chen XJ, Xian YJ (2021) To harmonize relationship between human and nature and achieve sustainable development: UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme in China. Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 36, 448-455. (in Chinese with English abstract)
	[王丁, 刘宁, 陈向军, 先义杰 (2021) 推动人与自然和谐共处和可持续发展: 人与生物圈计划在中国. 中国科学院院刊, 36, 448-455.]
[20]	Wang W (2025a) Study on the construction and management of World Biosphere Reserves and natural protected areas in China. Environmental Protection, 53(15), 14-18. (in Chinese with English abstract)
	[王伟 (2025a) 我国世界生物圈保护区与自然保护地的建设管理研究. 环境保护, 53(15), 14-18.]
[21]	Wang W (2025b) Integrating protection and development issues through expansion: A case study of Tianmushan- Qingliangfeng World Biosphere Reserve. Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 40, 1596-1605. (in Chinese with English abstract) DOI URL
	[王伟 (2025b) 通过扩区统筹保护与发展议题——以天目山-清凉峰世界生物圈保护区为例. 中国科学院院刊, 40, 1596-1605.]
[22]	Wu JY, Geng S, Feng CT, Shen LQ, Liu R, Wang G, Qi J, Lu XP, Zhou X, Samdurptashi, Meng XX (2024) Management effectiveness assessment of Gansu Xinglongshan National Nature Reserve based on Man and the Biosphere conservation concepts. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 44, 10258-10270. (in Chinese with English abstract)
	[吴佳忆, 耿硕, 冯春婷, 申立泉, 刘瑞, 王功, 祁军, 路晓平, 周鑫, 桑珠扎西, 孟秀祥 (2024) 基于“人与生物圈”保护理念的甘肃兴隆山保护区管理有效性评估. 生态学报, 44, 10258-10270.]
[23]	Xian YJ, Fang Q, Liu N, Chen XJ, Zhuang Y, Wang D, Han QL (2025) Towards 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves:Opportunities and recommended actions for China. Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 40, 1113-1123. (in Chinese with English abstract)
	[先义杰, 房强, 刘宁, 陈向军, 庄岩, 王丁, 韩群力 (2025) 面向第五届世界生物圈保护区大会:中国的机遇及行动建议. 中国科学院院刊, 40, 1113-1123.]
[24]	Xian YJ, Liu N, Qiao N, Fang Q, Han QL, Wang D (2023) Analysis of Germany’s experience on development of biosphere reserves and suggestions to China. Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 38, 477-483. (in Chinese with English abstract)
	[先义杰, 刘宁, 乔娜, 房强, 韩群力, 王丁 (2023) 德国生物圈保护区发展经验及对中国的建议. 中国科学院院刊, 38, 477-483.]
[25]	Xu WH, Zang ZH, Zhao L, Wang SH, Cheng XG (2024) The current situation, problems and countermeasures of National Park zoning and differentiated management. National Park, 2, 708-714. (in Chinese with English abstract)
	[徐卫华, 臧振华, 赵磊, 王盛弘, 程星光 (2024) 国家公园分区与差异化管控的现状、问题与对策. 国家公园(中英文), 2, 708-714.]

序号 ID	保护区名称 Reserve name	所在省份 Province	加入时间 Join date	面积 Area (ha)	人与自然关系类型的面积占比 Proportion of area for each of the four types of human-nature relationships
序号 ID	保护区名称 Reserve name	所在省份 Province	加入时间 Join date	面积 Area (ha)	协调 Coordination (%)	对自然有益 Good for nature (%)	共同退化 Co-degradation (%)	冲突 Conflict (%)
1	长白山 Changbaishan	吉林 Jilin	1979	196,465	6.75	1.25	0.33	0.16
2	鼎湖山 Dinghushan	广东 Guangdong	1979	1,133.4	0.00	9.09	0.00	0.00
3	卧龙 Wolong	四川 Sichuan	1979	200,000	4.99	0.94	0.11	0.22
4	梵净山 Fanjingshan	贵州 Guizhou	1986	38,300	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
5	武夷山 Wuyishan	福建 Fujian	1987	56,527	5.27	0.21	0.21	0.00
6	锡林郭勒 Xilinguole	内蒙古 Nei Mongol	1987	1,077,450	1.16	0.16	0.00	0.16
7	博格达 Bogda	新疆 Xinjiang	1990	128,690	17.04	0.48	0.06	1.15
8	神农架 Shennongjia	湖北 Hubei	1990	70,467	1.11	2.55	0.32	0.00
9	盐城 Yancheng	江苏 Jiangsu	1992	280,000	8.35	3.80	1.77	1.77
10	西双版纳 Xishuangbanna	云南 Yunnan	1993	241,700	1.05	0.10	0.14	4.83
11	茂兰 Maolan	贵州 Guizhou	1996	21,330	0.62	1.23	1.23	1.23
12	天目山 Tianmushan	浙江 Zhejiang	1996	54,700	8.82	0.00	0.00	0.00
13	丰林 Fenglin	黑龙江 Heilongjiang	1997	28,353	8.57	28.57	0.00	0.00
14	九寨沟 Jiuzhaigou	四川 Sichuan	1997	106,090	3.09	0.28	0.66	5.06
15	南麂列岛 Nanjiliedao	浙江 Zhejiang	1998	20,629	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
16	白水江 Baishuijiang	甘肃 Gansu	2000	213,750	5.36	3.13	0.12	0.06
17	高黎贡山 Gaoligongshan	云南 Yunnan	2000	293,564	10.45	1.13	0.08	0.50
18	黄龙 Huanglong	四川 Sichuan	2000	138,000	1.96	1.38	0.39	0.39
19	山口 Shankou	广西 Guangxi	2000	8,000	10.71	3.57	0.00	0.00
20	宝天曼 Baotianman	河南 Henan	2001	90,950	6.44	1.31	0.12	0.72
21	赛罕乌拉 Saihanwula	内蒙古 Nei Mongol	2001	100,506	17.89	1.93	0.10	0.41
22	达赉湖 Dalaihu	内蒙古 Nei Mongol	2002	740,000	0.36	0.17	0.21	0.30
23	五大连池 Wudalianchi	黑龙江 Heilongjiang	2003	106,000	3.10	4.10	0.00	0.20
24	亚丁 Yading	四川 Sichuan	2003	381,506	3.19	0.00	0.16	8.69
25	佛坪 Foping	陕西 Shaanxi	2004	10,326	3.98	4.38	0.00	0.00
26	珠穆朗玛峰 Mount Qomolangma	西藏 Xizang	2004	1,823,591	11.49	0.61	0.19	2.54
27	车八岭 Chebaling	广东 Guangdong	2007	7,545	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
28	兴凯湖 Xingkaihu	黑龙江 Heilongjiang	2007	222,488	0.59	2.27	4.04	0.79
29	猫儿山 Maoershan	广西 Guangxi	2011	23,609	1.79	0.71	0.00	0.00
30	井冈山 Jinggangshan	江西 Jiangxi	2012	29,053	20.88	2.20	0.00	0.37
31	牛背梁 Niubeiliang	陕西 Shaanxi	2012	50,500	10.96	0.00	0.00	0.70
32	蛇岛-老铁山 Shedao-laotieshan	辽宁 Liaoning	2013	9,072	3.08	0.00	0.00	3.08
33	汗马 Hanma	内蒙古 Nei Mongol	2015	148,948	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
34	黄山 Huangshan	安徽 Anhui	2018	42,558.48	7.16	1.59	0.27	0.80

序号 ID	保护区名称 Reserve name	所在省份 Province	加入时间 Join date	面积 Area (ha)	人与自然关系类型的面积占比 Proportion of area for each of the four types of human-nature relationships
序号 ID	保护区名称 Reserve name	所在省份 Province	加入时间 Join date	面积 Area (ha)	协调 Coordination (%)	对自然有益 Good for nature (%)	共同退化 Co-degradation (%)	冲突 Conflict (%)
1	长白山 Changbaishan	吉林 Jilin	1979	196,465	6.75	1.25	0.33	0.16
2	鼎湖山 Dinghushan	广东 Guangdong	1979	1,133.4	0.00	9.09	0.00	0.00
3	卧龙 Wolong	四川 Sichuan	1979	200,000	4.99	0.94	0.11	0.22
4	梵净山 Fanjingshan	贵州 Guizhou	1986	38,300	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
5	武夷山 Wuyishan	福建 Fujian	1987	56,527	5.27	0.21	0.21	0.00
6	锡林郭勒 Xilinguole	内蒙古 Nei Mongol	1987	1,077,450	1.16	0.16	0.00	0.16
7	博格达 Bogda	新疆 Xinjiang	1990	128,690	17.04	0.48	0.06	1.15
8	神农架 Shennongjia	湖北 Hubei	1990	70,467	1.11	2.55	0.32	0.00
9	盐城 Yancheng	江苏 Jiangsu	1992	280,000	8.35	3.80	1.77	1.77
10	西双版纳 Xishuangbanna	云南 Yunnan	1993	241,700	1.05	0.10	0.14	4.83
11	茂兰 Maolan	贵州 Guizhou	1996	21,330	0.62	1.23	1.23	1.23
12	天目山 Tianmushan	浙江 Zhejiang	1996	54,700	8.82	0.00	0.00	0.00
13	丰林 Fenglin	黑龙江 Heilongjiang	1997	28,353	8.57	28.57	0.00	0.00
14	九寨沟 Jiuzhaigou	四川 Sichuan	1997	106,090	3.09	0.28	0.66	5.06
15	南麂列岛 Nanjiliedao	浙江 Zhejiang	1998	20,629	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
16	白水江 Baishuijiang	甘肃 Gansu	2000	213,750	5.36	3.13	0.12	0.06
17	高黎贡山 Gaoligongshan	云南 Yunnan	2000	293,564	10.45	1.13	0.08	0.50
18	黄龙 Huanglong	四川 Sichuan	2000	138,000	1.96	1.38	0.39	0.39
19	山口 Shankou	广西 Guangxi	2000	8,000	10.71	3.57	0.00	0.00
20	宝天曼 Baotianman	河南 Henan	2001	90,950	6.44	1.31	0.12	0.72
21	赛罕乌拉 Saihanwula	内蒙古 Nei Mongol	2001	100,506	17.89	1.93	0.10	0.41
22	达赉湖 Dalaihu	内蒙古 Nei Mongol	2002	740,000	0.36	0.17	0.21	0.30
23	五大连池 Wudalianchi	黑龙江 Heilongjiang	2003	106,000	3.10	4.10	0.00	0.20
24	亚丁 Yading	四川 Sichuan	2003	381,506	3.19	0.00	0.16	8.69
25	佛坪 Foping	陕西 Shaanxi	2004	10,326	3.98	4.38	0.00	0.00
26	珠穆朗玛峰 Mount Qomolangma	西藏 Xizang	2004	1,823,591	11.49	0.61	0.19	2.54
27	车八岭 Chebaling	广东 Guangdong	2007	7,545	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
28	兴凯湖 Xingkaihu	黑龙江 Heilongjiang	2007	222,488	0.59	2.27	4.04	0.79
29	猫儿山 Maoershan	广西 Guangxi	2011	23,609	1.79	0.71	0.00	0.00
30	井冈山 Jinggangshan	江西 Jiangxi	2012	29,053	20.88	2.20	0.00	0.37
31	牛背梁 Niubeiliang	陕西 Shaanxi	2012	50,500	10.96	0.00	0.00	0.70
32	蛇岛-老铁山 Shedao-laotieshan	辽宁 Liaoning	2013	9,072	3.08	0.00	0.00	3.08
33	汗马 Hanma	内蒙古 Nei Mongol	2015	148,948	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
34	黄山 Huangshan	安徽 Anhui	2018	42,558.48	7.16	1.59	0.27	0.80