Progress and prospect of research on protected area management systems

Abstract

A sound management system is an important guarantee for realizing the goal of effective management and conservation in protected areas. Mainly based on the ScienceDirect and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases, this study carried out a systematic analysis, synthesizing and reviewing Chinese and international research on protected area management systems with regard to system reform, institutional setting, operation mechanism, and management effectiveness evaluation. Also, the research hotspots, methods, and theoretical basis were analyzed systematically, through which the article provided ideas for further examination of the management systems and their optimization. We suggest that the hotspots of relevant research were mainly participative management, problems and models of management systems, evaluation of management effectiveness, power allocation of institutions and experiences on the establishment of national park system. With regard to the research methods, the literature primarily used qualitative analysis and case study methods, while quantitative analysis was only supplementary. The theoretical basis of relevant research involved different theories of multiple disciplines, containing theories of institutional change, polycentric governance, stakeholder analysis, ecological integrity, and so on. Based on the current research progress, this article proposed some directions of further study on protected area management systems, including strengthening the theoretical development of relevant studies, evaluating the effectiveness of management operation under diverse modes of power allocation, studying coordination mechanisms of the operation of power, and mechanisms for the realization of participative management, perfecting the theoritical basis on the establishment of laws and regulations, and paying attention to the potential impacts of climate change.