Abstract:
Natural protected areas are the core carrier of ecological construction, a precious wealth source, and an important symbol of China. The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposed to “build a land and space development and protection system, improve the supporting policies of the main functional areas, and establish a system of natural protected areas system with national parks as the main body.” Considering the opportunities and challenges faced by the construction of natural protected areas system, 12 experts in natural protected areas experts discussed the legislation, management system, regional planning, and public participation in natural protected areas in China. The experts agree that it is important to improve the management system of natural protected areas with national parks as the main body. The main problems must be identified, the rare development opportunities should be seized, and the current challenges must be met. The management framework, management contents and objectives, and management methods and approaches through legislation should be continuously improved, the corresponding protection and management mechanism and methods according to the functions of natural protected areas and the characteristics of the main protected objects should be determined, the value orientation and dimension research of the relationship between human and nature should be addressed, and the mechanism of the system should be improved. Additionally, we must build a broad, reasonable, and efficient public participation system, and promote its sustainable development and effective management of environmental, economic, and social benefits of natural protected areas through franchising. We should strengthen monitoring and basic research, innovate basic theories, make breakthroughs in key technologies, improve ecological functions, create an integrated demonstration of achievements, and set up examples of best practices. The basic role of natural protected areas planning should be highlighted and relevant principles from the concept, objectives, levels, contents, and methods should be followed. Finally, it is necessary to systematically evaluate and distinguish the functional orientation of various types of protected areas and integrate them into a holistic system.