Do establishment of protected areas and implementation of regional policies both promote the forest NPP? Evidence from Wuyi Mountain in China based on PSM-DID

Protected areas and conservation policies in Wuyi Mountain, China, have shown mixed but promising effects on forest Net Primary Productivity (NPP) between 1985 and 2021. The study found that 62.5% of protected areas positively influenced NPP, with nature reserves demonstrating the highest effectiveness at a 72% conservation rate. However, only 16.67% of policy scenarios showed concurrent positive effects from both protected areas and policies, indicating variability in outcomes depending on the type of protected area. The research used Propensity Score Matching (PSM) and Difference-in-Difference (DID) models to assess these impacts, revealing that while some protected areas maintained stable NPP, others exhibited significant upward trends. These findings provide critical insights for policymakers aiming to enhance forest conservation in mountain regions.

Ye, M., Liao, L., Fu, T., & Lan, S. (2024). Do establishment of protected areas and implementation of regional policies both promote the forest NPP? Evidence from Wuyi Mountain in China based on PSM-DID. Global Ecology and Conservation, 55, e03210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03210