章节大纲


    • Communities and Protected Areas: Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park

      Abstract:
      The main aim of protected areas is biodiversity conservation, yet those areas are getting increasingly popular among tourists. Previous research indicates that creating protected areas strengthens management initiatives, which in turn causes park-people conflicts around the resources. This study explores community development within China's newly established Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, focusing on the relationship between residents' individual development and attitudes towards park construction. Utilizing a qualitative multi-method approach, including participant observation, field notes, 16 interviews, and three Ketso workshops with ten residents, we identified three themes: tourism development, social welfare, and heritage policies. These themes underscore economic tensions between the national park and the community. The findings contribute insights into factors influencing park-people conflicts and offer policy recommendations. While the study suggests using quantitative methods for further empirical support in future research, it highlights the growing challenge of balancing biodiversity conservation with the increasing popularity of protected areas among tourists.