China is rapidly advancing its national park system as part of an ambitious strategy to protect biodiversity and restore degraded ecosystems. Since launching the system in 2021, the country has established 10 national parks covering over 230,000 square kilometers—an area larger than the United Kingdom. These parks safeguard nearly 30% of China’s key terrestrial wildlife species, including the giant panda, Siberian tiger, Asian elephant, and Tibetan antelope. The National Forestry and Grassland Administration reports that forest coverage in China has reached 24.9%, up from just 12% in the 1980s, reflecting decades of reforestation and eco-restoration policies.
The initiative is a cornerstone of China’s pledge to build an “ecological civilization” and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. New projects are underway to expand protection to 50 national parks by 2035, linking ecological corridors that span from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to the coastal wetlands of Fujian. These efforts not only preserve habitats but also sustain local livelihoods through eco-tourism and green jobs, generating billions in regional income annually. However, experts stress that balancing conservation with tourism growth and rural development remains a challenge. Still, China’s national park model—combining strict protection zones with community participation—is being hailed by the UN Environment Programme as a potential blueprint for large-scale ecosystem recovery worldwide. More