%A Yuke Zhang, Qiongyue Zhang, Yue Zhang, Weiyang Xiao, Jie Du, Chao Xie, Shangjuan Zhao, Shuiying Yu, Zongyu Zhai, Yi Guo, Weiya Yang, Dingyao Wang, Jinxiu Yang, Ying Li, Yan Wang, Hongou Sun, Xinan Guo, Liang Zhou %T Environmental interpretation resources for protected areas: Using the Reed Lake interpretation trail in the Jiuzhaigou as a case study %0 Journal Article %D 2022 %J Biodiv Sci %R 10.17520/biods.2021235 %P 21235- %V 30 %N 2 %U {https://www.biodiversity-science.net/CN/abstract/article_81979.shtml} %8 2022-02-20 %X

Aims: Environmental interpretation is an important method for achieving the goal of nature conservation and environmental education in protected areas. Presently, the development of interpretation systems is limited due to a lack of research of the spatiotemporal patterns of interpretation resources in China’s protected areas, and the lack of corresponding field investigation methods. As a result, the interpretation system does not meet the needs of the public’s understanding of nature and fails in fulfilling environmental education objectives. Therefore, we aimed to study the spatiotemporal patterns of interpretation resources of Reed Lake in the Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve.

Methods: We summarized six selection criteria of interpretation resources, as well as investigated and monitored the regional interpretation resources in the Reed Lake interpretation trail in Jiuzhaigou. Based on the attributes, meanings, and distribution characteristics of interpretation resources, interpretation themes were designed using the thematic interpretation method.

Results: We found 195 interpretation resource types, including: 100 types of plants and fungi, 62 types of animals, 5 ecosystem types, 7 types of geology and hydrology, 2 types of astronomical phenomena and climate, and 19 types of cultural resources. Spatially, plant, fungus, animal, and ecosystem resources were mainly distributed in the inner part of the trail. The cultural interpretation resources were more distributed in the outer part of the trail. In time, the number of interpretation resources was highest in summer and autumn, and less in winter and spring. Furthermore, the number of animal, plant, and fungus interpretation resources had obvious seasonality. Eight interpretation themes were designed to provide references of interpretation content for the organization.

Conclusion: Exploring meanings inherent in interpretation resources and understanding their distributions are critical for delivering the uniqueness and importance of the resources to the public, and thus should be incorporated into the planning of interpretation systems. This study provides a methodological reference for the investigation of interpretation resources and system construction of environmental interpretation in China’s nature reserve system.