Optimization strategies for the management mechanisms of conservation and utilization in traditional Chinese villages based on relevance analyses of performance evaluation

Abstract

ABSTRACT Most historic villages in China are currently emphasizing conservation over utilization, paying close attention to planning above management. Management is often deficient or poorly implemented. After conducting questionnaires and interviews with relevant experts in village management, the analytic hierarchy process was used to determine factor priority, and a system for evaluating the management mechanisms of traditional Chinese villages was established. This system includes four first-level factors: management guidance, guarantee policy, publicity and education and public participation. Twenty-seven typical traditional villages in China’s Fujian, Guangdong and Jiangxi Provinces were included in the analysis of conservation and utilization factors and the management mechanisms of traditional villages. Through field research, data on the quantitative evaluation of the management mechanisms and the performance of conservation and utilization were obtained. Two sets of data were used for correlation analysis. A strong correlation was confirmed between the conservation and utilization performance and the management mechanism of traditional Chinese villages. The corresponding factors were also revealed. A summary is provided of the problems and their causes related to conservation and utilization as implemented in the traditional Chinese villages studied herein, and optimization strategies are proposed.