National Park Management Research Articles

Surface Water Monitoring Using GIS and Remote Sensing applications: Case study in Bau Sau, Cat Tien National Park

This study was conducted at Bau Sau, Cat Tien National Park, in Vietnam. Bau Sau is Vietnam's second wetland site out of a total of 9 Ramsar sites that have been recognized by the Ramsar Convention Secretariat in Vietnam. The extraction of surface water is carried out in three methods, including object-based classification and the calculation of NDWI and MNDWI indices. After calculating the overall accuracy of all three methods, the method with the highest percentage will be chosen for extracting the surface water boundary for the study area. With an overall accuracy of 90%, the NDWI index was used for extracting the water surface map in the period 2015–2024. The results also showed that the surface water area in Bau Sau was 42.15 hectares in 2015, 41.89 hectares in 2020, and 41.51 hectares in 2024. The fluctuation in the surface water area during 2015-2024 is clearly visible, showing a decrease of 0.64 hectares. The fluctuation is attributed to the vegetation communities, with the proliferation of Cyperus cephalotes being the most notable. Cat Tien National Park managers need to pay attention and take early measures in the near future to avoid impacting the habitat of some animal species in this area.

A Study on Estimating Theme Park Attendance Using the AdaBoost Algorithm Based on Weather Information from the Korea Meteorological Administration Web

The purpose of this study is to propose an efficient machine learning model based on five years of data for Seoul Grand Park in Republic of Korea, depending on the weather and day characteristics, and to increase its effectiveness as a strategic foundation for national theme park management and marketing. To this end, the AdaBoost model, which reflects the characteristics of the weather and the day of the week, was recently compared with the actual number of visitors and the predicted number of visitors to analyze the accuracy. The analysis showed 30 days of abnormal cases, and the overall annual distribution was found to show similar patterns. Abnormal cases required details of wind speed, average relative humidity, and fine dust concentration for weather information, and it was derived that more accurate predictions would be possible considering variables such as group visitors, new events, and unofficial holidays.

Integrity-centered framework for determining protected areas boundary: An application in the China's national park

National parks are critical components of protected areas and are drawing increased global attention. Clear and rational boundaries may provide a scientific foundation for the sustainable protection and management of these areas. However, criteria for feasible national park delimitation and techniques for resolving conflicts between socioeconomic development and environmental protection are still poorly defined, particularly regarding integrity during park establishment. Consequently, a systematic analytical framework is essential for advancing research and practice. This study developed a systematic framework to determine the spatial boundaries, using the Kunlun Mountain region in China as a case for empirical analysis. Key issues in national park development—ecology and management—were systematically integrated into this framework. Most importantly, spatial connectivity, a critical concern in national park planning, was thoroughly considered for improving integrity optimization, an aspect often overlooked in previous delimitation studies. The results demonstrated that our framework effectively identified potential national park boundaries, achieving a balance between development and conservation. Furthermore, core protected and general control areas were delineated to support differentiated management approaches. This framework offers a scientific foundation for policymakers and managers to pursue sustainable protection and management of national parks.

Global Gain, but Local Loss—National Park and Municipal Revenues in Poland

The paper analyzes the problem of stagnation in the creation of new national parks in Poland, identifying key barriers and proposing solutions. The background to the study refers to the role of national parks in nature conservation, but at the same time highlights the problem of the limited development of the park network in Poland, which remains at 1.05% of the country’s area—well below the EU average. The main obstacles identified by the author are the resistance of local governments due to the reduction in forest tax revenues and the differences in salaries between employees of national parks and state forests. Research methods included legal and economic analysis and a review of the literature on national park management. The results indicate that the problem can be solved by adequate financial compensation to local communities and the introduction of a co-management model that integrates the interests of local governments and parks. The article suggests that a change in the approach of the government administration and a more participatory management model can help to break the stagnation and increase the number of national parks, which is relevant not only for Poland but also for other countries struggling with similar challenges.

Multi-stakeholder identification and prioritization of human–tiger conflict reduction measures in Chitwan National Park, Nepal

Abstract The identification and implementation of conflict reduction measures are necessary to reduce predator attacks on people and livestock and to minimize human encroachment into predator habitats. We identified potential human–tiger conflict reduction measures and prioritized these measures for Chitwan National Park, Nepal. We identified these measures through a literature review, key informant interviews and a local stakeholder workshop. We prioritized the identified measures using a questionnaire survey of victims of tiger attacks (farmers, forest users and fishers), beneficiaries of tiger conservation (tourist guides, Jeep and elephant safari operators, tour and hotel operators and business operators) and National Park managers. We identified 22 measures (12 preventative, five reactive and five mitigative) as having potential for reducing negative interactions between people and tigers. Amongst these, we identified compensation payments, tiger-proof fences and habitat and prey management as high-priority measures. Conflict reduction priorities also varied amongst stakeholder groups. The victims assigned the highest priority to the construction of tiger-proof fences, whereas beneficiaries identified the management of habitat and prey as their highest priority. Compensation payments were the first preference of National Park managers and were amongst the top two priorities of all stakeholder groups. We recommend the adoption of the identified stakeholder priorities for reducing human–tiger conflict around Chitwan National Park and encourage consideration of the variations in priorities between stakeholder groups during policy development and decision-making.

Synergistic Development Pathways for National Parks and Local Regions: Shared Socioeconomic Pathway Scenario Forecasting and Optimization

National parks play a crucial role in protecting ecosystems and biodiversity while facing challenges in balancing nature conservation and economic development. However, because of the difficulty in the unified simulation of natural protection functions and regional socioeconomic development, there is a lack of integrated prediction research on the comprehensive development pathways of national parks and their surrounding areas. This study adopts the Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) framework that links climate change research with socioeconomic development paths, taking China’s first national park—Sanjiangyuan National Park—region as an example, to conduct research on the synergistic development path of regional socioeconomic development and national parks. The model design includes five typical paths to cover a wide range of socioeconomic development possibilities. These paths are based on different assumptions, including factors such as population growth, economic development, energy use, technological progress, and policy choices. By applying scenario planning methods, optimal development pathways are identified based on environmental, economic, and social priorities. The results show that GDP growth is fastest under the sustainable development and fossil fuel development pathways. By 2050, the population difference under different pathways will approach 100,000, and the GDP gap will be close to CNY 200 billion. This study provides valuable insights for the planning, decision-making, and management of Sanjiangyuan and similar national parks and their surrounding areas, contributing to the promotion of sustainable ecological and economic development of national parks and their regions.

Ecological space management and control zoning of Giant Panda National Park from the perspective of ecosystem services and land use

Since China proposed building a national park system in 2017, the establishment of a planning system for nature reserves, with national parks as the main body, is being actively promoted around the country. Among them, scientific ecological space management and control zoning (ESMCZ) is an important link in maintaining the ecological stability of national parks. How to zone national parks and how to improve the precision of zoning has become a new task for national parks. Therefore, this study takes the Giant Panda National Park as the study area, takes ecosystem services and land use/cover change as the research perspective, integrates the InVEST model, PLUS model and bayes belief network (BBN) model, and builds a set of ecological space management and control zoning (ESMCZ) spatial zoning framework based on raster scale, dividing the study area into strictly protected zone, ecological buffer zone, ecological control zone and controlled development zone. The results showed that: (1) The study area showed an increasing trend in water conservation, soil conservation and carbon storage from 2005 to 2020, and the habitat quality index was generally high. The spatial heterogeneity of ecosystem services in the study area was significant, and the effect of a single factor on ecosystem services was most pronounced. (2) Large variation in area for different land uses under natural development scenarios and ecological protection scenarios. In both scenarios, the area of cultivated land, the area of grassland and the area of unused land decrease relative to 2020, and the area of forested land, the area of water and the area of constructed land increase relative to 2020. (3) The Giant Panda National Park is divided into strictly protected zone, ecological buffer zone, ecological control zone and control development zone, of which the strictly protected zone have the largest area and the best ecosystem background condition, and the control development zone have the smallest area and the worst ecosystem background condition. (4) The ecological space management and control zoning (ESMCZ) framework provides a more refined method for the secondary zoning of nature reserves such as the Giant Panda National Park, which is valuable for the implementation of zoning and categorization management for ecological conservation in the Giant Panda National Park.

Tourists’ preferences for managing invasive species in national parks: a choice experiment study in Taiwan

ABSTRACT This research study utilises the choice experiment methodology to examine tourists’ preferences regarding the adverse effects of managing invasive species in national parks. The study estimates the willingness of tourists to pay for mitigating various negative externalities associated with invasive species management. By understanding these willingness to pay estimates, national park management authorities can develop invasive species management strategies that have minimal impact on tourists. The study focuses on tourists visiting Yushan National Park and Taroko National Park in Taiwan. The findings indicate that tourists recognise the significant impact of negative externalities resulting from invasive species management, yet they still exhibit a preference for management over non-management. Among the negative externalities, tourists prioritise avoiding ecological disturbances and health risks over reducing recreational areas. National parks that are more easily accessible tend to have lower travel costs, making them more attractive to tourists visiting other destinations, particularly those on group tours. However, these characteristics result in stronger reactions from tourists towards management measures or lesser impacts from not managing invasive species, leading to reduced support for management initiatives. Furthermore, the study’s questionnaire format and sampling method are deemed consistent and reliable, effectively addressing potential biases associated with on-site visitor sampling.

The Evolution of Behavioral Strategies in the Game Theory Context of National Park Management: A Comparison of Central and Local Government Objectives

The Evolution of Behavioral Strategies in the Game Theory Context of National Park Management: A Comparison of Central and Local Government Objectives

Regeneration of ecotourism in Cameroon: geopolitical conflict, crisis, and conservation

ABSTRACT This paper examines the effects of crises of climate change and geopolitical civil conflict in Cameroon, on the development of the ecotourism sector. Additionally, the hurdles to the regeneration of the sector post- the COVID-19 pandemic are considered. A qualitative research design was used. In-depth interviews were conducted with key informants involved in the ecotourism sector, including government officials, local community representatives, conservationists, non-governmental organizations and management of national parks. The data collected were thematically analysed, with key themes pointing towards the dire impacts of COVID-19, geopolitical and climate crises on the sector, with one of the primary consequences being inhibited movement of people, extreme weather events and changes to flora and fauna, ultimately leading to shrinkage of the sector. The central nature of conservation, linked to ecotourism, was also highlighted. The importance of collaborative management, development of dedicated policy and strategic plans for the successful regeneration of ecotourism also emerged. The paper provides contemporary insights and recommendations into the sustainable regeneration of ecotourism in the face of extreme geopolitical and socio-economic crises.

Optimizing Tourist Satisfaction at Mount Bromo: A Sentiment Analysis Approach

In the era of ever-growing globalization, information technology is the main driver of transformation in various sectors of life. Information technology plays an important role in the progress of the tourism sector by offering easy access to information. The Mount Bromo tourist attraction is one of the popular destinations in Indonesia which attracts many visitors every year. The large number of comments from visitors to the Mount Bromo tourist attraction on the Trip Advisor site means that there is no filtering of information or reviews so that the Mount Bromo National Park management does not know whether there are many positive or negative reviews. The method used in the research is the Naive Bayes method it produces an accuracy value of 0.85%. This accuracy value can be used to classify visitor review data at the Mount Bromo tourist attraction. The conclusion is that there are many positive reviews.

Assessing the Trade-off between Ecological Conservation and Local Development in Wuyishan National Park: A Production–Living–Ecological Space Perspective

China’s national park establishment aims to achieve a balance between ecological conservation and regional development. This study adopts a production–living–ecological (PLE) space perspective to evaluate the park’s impact. By quantifying changes and employing a combination of geographic detector and coupling coordination degree analyses, this research explores the dynamics of habitat quality and PLE space within the Wuyishan region, alongside their interrelationships. The national park’s influence on the surrounding area exhibits spatial heterogeneity, evident both within and beyond park boundaries, as well as across different counties. Despite the concentration of PLE changes in the park’s vicinity, particularly in densely populated urban areas, the influence of the national park on the local area is random and primarily at a low level. Importantly, the ecological space exhibits substantial changes, mirroring improvements in habitat quality. Furthermore, the coupling coordination between habitat quality changes and PLE space changes exhibits remarkable spatial variations. The complex interrelationships among PLE space necessitate a coordinated approach to their development for effective national park management. Ultimately, this investigation provides a novel perspective for the assessment of Wuyishan National Park’s conservation effectiveness, contributing practical value for future endeavors.

Remote Coastal Weed Infestation Management Using Bayesian Networks

The increasing prevalence of species that are detrimental to biodiversity is a major concern, particularly for managers of national parks. To develop effective programmes for controlling weeds, it is essential to have a thorough understanding of the extent and severity of infestations, as well as the contributing factors such as temperature, rainfall, and disturbance. Predicting these factors on a regional scale requires models that can incorporate a wide range of variables in a quantifiable manner, while also assisting with on-ground operations. In this study, we present two Bayesian Network models specifically designed for six significant weed species found along the southern coast of Australia. Our models are based on empirical data collected during a coastal weed survey conducted in 2015 and repeated in 2016. We applied these models to the coastal national parks in the isolated and pristine East Gippsland region. Importantly, the prediction models were developed at two different spatial scales that directly corresponded to the scale of the observations. Our findings indicate that coastal habitats, with their vulnerable environments and prevalence of open dune systems, are particularly susceptible to weed infestations. Moreover, adjacent regions also have the potential for colonization if these infestations are not effectively controlled. Climate-related factors play a role in moderating the potential for colonization, which is a significant concern for weed control efforts in the context of global climate change.

Contractual Mechanisms in National Park Management: A Multi-Task Principal–Agent Model

In the management of national parks, the principal–agent relationship is key to efficient and effective management. Based on multi-task principal–agent theory, this study examines the dual functions of central government incentives and guidance and the objectives of local National Park Administration offices in environmental conservation and reasonable resource utilization. First, this study constructs a multi-task principal–agent model for central and local governments within the national park management system and identifies effective contractual mechanisms. Second, this study examines the relationship between the intensity of central government incentives and the ecological conservation atmosphere coefficient. Third, by integrating the three stages of national park management system advancement, this study explores the central government’s incentive strategies at different stages. The findings indicate that local governments receive limited ecological conservation support, underscoring the need for long-term central government incentives. The findings also confirm that the effective management of national parks by local governments can only be achieved by eliminating external uncertainties, reducing the variable costs of innovative advancements, and controlling risk aversion in local National Park Administration processes. In addition, this study includes empirical data for sensitivity analyses to understand the robustness of the model under different scenarios. This study offers valuable insights and practical suggestions for enhancing national park management.

Sustainability strategy for turtle conservation in Kelapa Dua Island, Kepulauan Seribu District, Jakarta, Indonesia

Abstract. Gulo GS, Tumuyu SS, Patria MP. 2024. Sustainability strategy for turtle conservation in Kelapa Dua Island, Kepulauan Seribu District, Jakarta, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 2307-2314. The background of this research stems from the excessive exploitation and shift from subsistence to commercial use that has caused a decline in turtle populations. Therefore, it is necessary to safeguard turtle populations within Indonesia's distinct marine habitats, particularly at SPTN (National Park Management) I, Kelapa Dua Island, Kepulauan Seribu, Jakarta, Indonesia. Addressing the challenges in turtle conservation, this study systematically collected data through expert interviews, providing in-depth insights into the conservation landscape. The research methodology includes data collection via expert interviews and subsequent analysis using the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) method, providing a strategic framework to enhance conservation outcomes. The results highlight the critical need for habitat protection, stakeholder involvement, and rigorous law enforcement. Based on the four alternative strategies that have been prepared, the S-T strategy approach has the highest score, namely 4, making it a priority strategy for sustainable turtle conservation on Kelapa Dua Island. The following strategic priorities are W-O strategy, S-O strategy and W-T strategy. This study's conclusion shows suitable strategies for research problems, such as advocation for habitat protection, active stakeholder involvement, and strict law enforcement to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of conservation initiatives.

Investigating Community Problems Inside Indonesian National Parks: From Overview to Case Study at Sukamade Geoforest Coastal Area

This study explores the challenges encountered by residents within Indonesian national parks, focusing specifically on the local communities in the Sukamade Geoforest Coastal area of Meru Betiri National Park. Despite the recognized need for regional government and community involvement in park management, this research identifies a significant gap in effective community empowerment and management practices. Employing qualitative descriptive methods, including observations, interviews, and literature reviews, the study analyzes data using the Miles, Huberman, and Saldana interactive method, which includes data condensation, display, and verification. The findings reveal multifaceted issues faced by the Sukamade community, ranging from administrative and legal challenges to socio-cultural and environmental awareness problems. These results underline the necessity of integrating local communities into national park management to enhance environmental conservation efforts and community welfare, suggesting a reevaluation of current governance frameworks to address these complexities. Highlights: Lack of community empowerment hampers park management. Challenges include administrative, legal, socio-cultural, and environmental issues. Integrated management involving local communities is vital. Keywords: Indonesian National Parks, Community Involvement, Challenges, Multifaceted Issues

Ứng dụng GIS và tư liệu viễn thám đánh giá biến động lớp phủ rừng tại vùng đệm Vườn Quốc gia Cát Tiên thuộc địa phận huyện Tân Phú, tỉnh Đồng Nai.

The Cat Tien National Park in the South of Vietnam represents a protected ecological area, it is located in tropical rainforest zone. For assessment of forest cover change in three buffer zones of Cat Tien National Park, namely Nam Cat Tien, Nui Tuong and Phu An at Tan Phu district, satellite images (Landsat 5 TM and Landsat 8 OLI) take in 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2020 were used. Land use/land cover were classified by 5 categories using maximum likelihood classifier (MLC) method, result of constructing a key for image classification showed that images without reference data for classification have over 83.50% of map accuracies. After classification, differentiation of forest land use/landcover was analysied in each year. Deforestation and agricultural area reduction took place in 1990 - 2020 period. Besides, study has quantified changes in forest cover during periods: 1990 - 2000, 2000 - 2010 and 2010 - 2020. As a result, findings show that the extents of forest cover have decreased from 5522.22 ha to 2620.98 ha during the period of 1990 - 2020. Maps of forest status as well as changes in forests can be used for forest resource management activities under the Cat Tien National Park management.

Development of Web Based Integrated Conservation Forest Partnership for National Park Management

Development of Web Based Integrated Conservation Forest Partnership for National Park Management

US National Park Service and concession staff perceptions regarding waste management in Yosemite, Grand Teton, and Denali National Parks

Each year, over 45,000 metric tons of waste are generated in US national parks through a variety of means, including park operations, visitation, and other sources. In an effort to address these impacts, the National Park Service (NPS) has partnered with commercial and non-profit organizations to implement the Zero Landfill Initiative (ZLI). The goal of the ZLI is to realize a steady decrease in waste generated in parks, and an increase in materials being sent for recycling. Through this initiative and aligning research, efforts to mitigate waste and recycling issues with visitors is underway; however, to date there have been no attempts to understand the perspectives of those individuals who manage these parks on a daily basis. This study explored Theory of Planned Behavior-based constructs regarding disposal of waste and recycling using surveys with NPS employees and park concession staff in Yosemite, Grand Teton, and Denali National Parks. Results indicate that perceived difficulty and moral norms related to disposal of waste and recycling are significant drivers of self-reported behavior and intent with NPS and concession staff. Generally, concession staff perceptions align with the goals of ZLI more than those of NPS staff. This research adds to the limited understanding of land mana­ger perceptions, and results provide justification for future messaging and trainings that could improve sustainable management of these and other NPS units in the future. Keywords: Park Management; Visitor Use; Recycling; Waste Management; Communication; Human Behavior; Leave No Trace

Penilaian Potensi Wisata Alam di Taman Nasional Kerinci Seblat Wilayah IV Sangir

National park areas in Indonesia have biodiversity which can be a special attraction for tourists. The aim of this research is to determine the attractiveness, access to tourist attraction locations, and classification of the feasibility of potential natural tourist attractions in South Solok Regency. The research method uses the Analysis Guidelines for Assessment of Operational Areas-Objects and Natural Tourism Attractions. There are six natural tourism potentials, namely, Ulu Tulisi Waterfall, Andalas Waterfall, Pincuran Tujuh, Bukit Bontak Lake, Mount Kerinci Climbing Route via South Solok, and Sungai Dalam Lake Bukit Bontak Waterfall and the Mount Kerinci Climbing Route via South Solok have high scores. highest in the attraction aspect and accessibility aspect. Based on the assessment of both aspects, Bukit Bontak Lake and the Mount Kerinci Climbing Route via South Solok are the main priorities because they received the very worthy category. The results of this analysis can determine the direction of development of natural tourist attractions in the Sangir Region IV National Park Management Section.