Integrating World Natural Heritage Conservation into the General Planning of China’s Scenic and Historic Areas

A new coordination framework successfully bridges the gap between China's Scenic and Historic Areas (SHAs) general planning and World Natural Heritage (WNH) conservation requirements, enhancing the protection of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV). The study identifies structural misalignments in current SHA practices—such as underemphasis on OUV attributes, zoning prioritizing aesthetics over ecological integrity, and marginalization of local communities—and proposes a multi-level resource evaluation system, coordinated zoning approach, and community-inclusive strategies. Applied to Wulingyuan, this framework demonstrated practical effectiveness by clarifying conservation priorities, aligning spatial boundaries with WNH management objectives, and integrating OUV interpretation into sustainable tourism and livelihoods. The findings provide an empirical model for China's protected area reform, advancing a value-based coordination approach that harmonizes international conservation standards with domestic landscape traditions.

HAN, F., & CHENG, A. (2026). Integrating World Natural Heritage Conservation into the General Planning of China’s Scenic and Historic Areas. Landscape Architecture, 33(4), 62–71. https://doi.org/10.3724/j.fjyl.la20250405