Navigating the Balance: The Role of National Parks in Ecological Conservation and Socioeconomic Development

Dear Colleagues,

The diverse climatic, locational, and historical contexts of national parks necessitate a nuanced understanding of their conservation challenges and priorities. Since the 1980s, the trade-offs between ecological preservation and regional economic development have sparked extensive debate, underlining the complex interplay between environmental conservation and human well-being. This Special Issue seeks to highlight the importance of identifying key factors in the diverse natural environments of national parks and understand the socioeconomic impacts of conservation policies on local communities. National parks have historically faced challenges in balancing ecological protection with the socioeconomic needs of adjacent communities, often leading to conflicts that affect both the parks' conservation goals and the quality of life for local residents.

The goal of this Special Issue is to explore the intricate balance between preserving natural environments and fostering socioeconomic welfare within and around national parks.

Considering the complexity and diversity of National Parks, this issue covers various topics. We are looking for contributions that look into how to assess and improve National Park protection, both broadly and in detail. Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• The socioeconomic impacts of national parks on local communities;
• Strategies for balancing conservation efforts with regional economic development;
• The influence of political, economic, and cultural traditions on national park policies and practices;
• Predictive models and scenario simulations for sustainable development within national parks;
• Historical, current, and future perspectives on the role of national parks in societal and economic systems.

We encourage contributions in the form of original research articles, reviews, case studies, and perspective pieces that shed light on the multifaceted role of national parks in ecological and socioeconomic systems.

Dr. Fanglei Zhong
Prof. Dr. Lihua Zhou
Guest Editors

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