Smart Protected Areas White Paper

Building an ecological civilization that promotes harmonious development between humans and nature is of great importance to the progress of humanity. To tackle the challenges of global biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation, China is implementing the strategy of ensuring that environmental protection and economic development run in parallel. To achieve this, China has proposed and implemented a range of key measures, such as designating ecological function areas and defining ecological protection red lines, so as to establish a protected area system with national parks as the mainstay. These coordinated efforts aim to improve biodiversity conservation while driving green development and have so far delivered remarkable results.

Protected areas play a central role in China's efforts to build an ecological civilization and safeguard ecological security. The nation’s environmental assets are an invaluable resource that also represent China’s natural beauty. In recent years, China has worked actively to establish a protected area system with national parks as the mainstay, supported by nature reserves and supplemented by natural parks. This has laid a solid foundation for conserving biodiversity, preserving natural and cultural heritage, improving the quality of ecological environments, and safeguarding national ecological security.

Information and digital technologies like 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), big data, cloud computing, and AI are constantly evolving and seeing broader adoption in the monitoring and management systems of protected areas. In addition, the Guidelines on Establishing a Protected Area System with National Parks as the Mainstay and the National Protected Area Development Plan (2021–2035) both set the key task of building smart protected areas and specify the application scenarios and development direction of smart protected areas. Specifically, these two policies state that space-air-ground integrated monitoring and supervision network systems and platforms for protected areas should be established to strengthen the monitoring of natural resources, environments, and biodiversity.

We are pleased to see that many protected areas, especially national parks and pilot national parks, are actively using emerging information and digital technologies to develop smart management models for nature conservation and environment management. Specifically, they are leveraging emerging digital technologies to reshape management approaches and shift to more scientific models driven by big data.

As smart digital technologies are rapidly implemented in protected areas, the Smart Protected Areas White Paper drafted by the Chinese Academy of Forestry, IUCN China, and Huawei has been published at the right time. Drawing on insights into the development needs of protected areas and successful practices in applying next-generation digital technologies, the white paper provides specific actionable suggestions on the architecture of smart solutions for protected areas to address the diverse needs and challenges on the journey to go smart. I sincerely hope that this white paper can form a valuable reference for all stakeholders involved in the construction of smart protected areas, including managers, participants, and users, and provide technical support and the enablement needed to established a protected area system with national parks as the mainstay.

This will greatly help advance China's nature conservation agenda in the new era.

New Environment: A Sound Policy Environment Provides a Clear Direction

In recent years, the State Council has issued a series of policies for national parks to promote the establishment of a protected area system with national parks as the mainstay. These policies have set out requirements for the development of digital and smart protected areas or national parks at different stages and levels, creating a sound policy environment for the development of smart protected areas or national parks.

In 2019, the Guidelines on Establishing a Protected Area System with National Parks as the Mainstay was issued by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council. The Guidelines lists building of smart protected areas as an important task, and specifies the application scenarios and development directions for smart protected areas. Specifically, the document stipulates:

"Use high-tech means and modern equipment to enable digital and intelligent nature conservation, patrolling, and monitoring; build space-air-ground integrated monitoring systems for protected areas at all levels and of all types to conduct ecological environment monitoring, fully utilizing satellite remote sensing and monitoring sites for ground ecosystems, environments, meteorology, hydrology and water resources, soil and water conservation, and oceans; and leverage environmental monitoring platforms, big data, and cutting-edge technologies like cloud computing and IoT to strengthen the integrated analysis and comprehensive application of monitoring data of protected areas."

In 2022, China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA), National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Natural Resources, and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs jointly issued the Development Plan for National Parks and Other Protected Areas and Major Wildlife Conservation Projects (2021–2035).

The plan specifies the objectives of establishing species monitoring and management systems and improving digital management levels for China's protected area development and wildlife protection agendas over the next 15 years. In addition, the Interim Measures on the Management of National Parks issued by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration states the need for national park administrations to make full use of modern technical means to improve the management and service efficacy, and enable smart management and services of national parks. China's Law on National Parks (Draft for Soliciting Comments) also published in 2022 states that:

"The State Council department in charge of forestry and grasslands should work with other relevant State Council departments to establish space-air-ground integrated monitoring systems, apply advanced technical means, reasonably distribute monitoring sites, and carry out comprehensive monitoring and assessments to achieve dynamic monitoring and smart management of national parks nationwide. National park administrations should monitor the natural resources, natural ecosystems, and specific protected species in national parks; conduct ecological risk assessments, provide early warnings, and analyze the impact of human activities; share monitoring data with relevant departments; and regularly issue monitoring and assessment reports."

New Requirements: A Scientific Approach to Designing and Managing Smart Protected Areas

A scientific approach to designing and managing protected areas is necessary to achieve the objectives defined for them. Designing a scientifically protected area includes identifying the right locations, and setting and managing different zones such as corridors and buffer zones. Scientific protected area management aims to maximize social and economic benefits while also maximizing ecological benefits. In particular, this includes the management of ecological goals (protecting species, communities, and ecosystem structures and functions), scientific research, administration, external publicity, and tourism.

To ensure the scientific design and management of protected areas, administrators should consider the following:

1. Whether resources and protected species in the areas are comprehensively monitored and whether the threats they face are effectively mitigated;
2. Whether diverse types of natural and cultural resources are effectively managed;
3. Whether engagement with local communities is effective and whether co-management with local communities can achieve the goal of prioritizing dispute resolution; and
4. Whether the impacts on local communities and local socio-economic development have been comprehensively assessed. Internally, administrators should evaluate whether the personnel, funds, equipment, and facilities required by protected areas and management organizations are all in place. Administrators must also regularly review completed management activities to monitor the achievement of objectives and the implementation of work plans and arrangements, and thus ensure management activities progress as planned.

To sum up, the need for scientific design and management have presented a clear direction for smart protected areas: development based on the comprehensive acquisition of data. To create a virtuous circle of conservation management, administrators should, first, support scientific research and management with emerging technologies to implement conservation measures, create more value with conservation efforts, and mitigate threats to protected areas; second, seek necessary investments by assisting in the development of customized management plans; and third, achieve management goals through scientific management and set new objectives and activities to maximize the value of conservation efforts. This virtuous circle is a process of obtaining data while controlling and preventing threats through smart solutions in order to create more value with conservation efforts in protected areas.

New Driver: Rapid Technological Advances and Multi-level Stakeholder Requirements Make Going Smart Inevitable

Emerging technologies, such as cloud computing, IoT, big data, AI, and 5G, are developing rapidly worldwide and driving the rapid development and extensive application of smart devices, new sensors, and drones. Many cutting-edge technologies have been tested, and are being quickly applied to different fields, industries, and daily life. This has led to the digital transformation of many fields and numerous innovative management models and application scenarios. As solutions for smart parks, smart campuses, smart transportation, and smart cities become increasingly mature, and conditions for applying these technologies become more complete, emerging technologies will provide new solutions to help resolve the challenges in constructing and managing national parks and other protected areas.

According to the Overall Plan for Establishing a National Park System issued by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council in 2017, national parks should follow the principle of state-led multi-party management. A long-term whole-of-society approach for national park conservation and management involving the government, enterprises, social organizations, and the general public should be established, and new models need to be explored to enable social entities to participate in natural resource management and ecological protection. As the national park system pilot projects are gradually completed and the national park system is continuously improved, relevant stakeholders will assume more responsibilities in the development and management of a protected area system with national parks as the mainstay, and more stakeholders will be involved in the process. This will create new real-world needs and multi-level requirements. The quickly increasing needs of stakeholders are also accelerating the construction of smart protected areas, which will be a key area of focus for future development.

According to the Guidelines on Establishing a Protected Area System with National Parks as the Mainstay, we should establish an ecological environment monitoring system for protected areas such as national parks. We should formulate related technical standards, build space-air-ground integrated monitoring network systems for protected areas at all levels, and deploy digital technologies such as cloud computing and IoT. These technologies will help strengthen the integrated analysis and comprehensive application of protected area monitoring data; understand the composition, distribution, and dynamic changes to ecosystems in protected areas; proactively evaluate and give ecological risk warnings; and regularly release ecological environment monitoring and evaluation reports. We should also monitor human activities, such as infrastructure construction and mineral resource extraction, in protected areas.

The Development of Smart Protected Areas

The development of smart protected areas can be traced back to the development of nature reserves. The construction of smart protected areas has intensified over time, from initially promoting the digitalization and informatization of protected areas, to more recently developing a smart protected area system with national parks as the mainstay. Generally, the development of smart protected areas can be divided into three main phases.

The first phase is to build databases. Digitally manage basic geographic information, basic biological resources and materials, and key management archives of protected areas; mark the boundaries, functional zones, main protected species, vegetation, hydrographic features, major threats, and protection activities on a map; and use geographic information system (GIS) software to establish geospatial information systems. For example, the above materials have become mandatory attachments to national nature reserve plans (Technical Guidelines for the Overall Planning of Nature Reserves, 2011; and Construction Standards for Nature Reserves, 2018). Some of China's earlier nature reserve protection management projects, which were supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), also considered the digitalization of natural reserve materials and development of underlying ecological data maps as two of their key tasks.

For example, nature reserve management projects have been carried out to promote sustainable forestry development in nature reserves such as the Hubei Shennongjia National Nature Reserve and Sichuan Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve. The Guangxi nature reserve management project has developed underlying ecological data maps for nature reserves. Specific digitalization requirements have also been proposed for national scenic spots.

The second phase is to build information systems. As part of national informatization planning, the former National Forestry Administration strengthened the regulations on forestry informatization in the 11th, 12th, and 13th Five-Year Plans, as well as the policies issued in 2011, 2012, and 2013 , to gradually establish an efficient, convenient, stable, secure, connected, and comprehensive forestry informatization system. The aim is to promote informatization of the forestry system by promoting scientific forestry management, standardizing work processes, promoting transparent supervision, and providing convenient services. Nature reserves have also made efforts to promote informatization and build information systems and information management platforms based on monitoring data from different sources. For example, the Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve has cooperated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences to establish a monitoring and scientific research data system. Nature reserves, such as the Changqing National Nature Reserve, Daqing Mountain National Nature Reserve, Changbai Mountain National Nature Reserve, and Wolong National Nature Reserve have also established information systems and platforms.

The third phase is to promote pilot projects of smart management. The 13th Five-Year Plan published in 2015 outlined the "Internet+" forestry development model. This smart development model focuses on the integration of new digital technologies, such as cloud computing, IoT, mobile Internet, and big data, into various forestry services to build new and innovative forestry development models. The wildlife conservation and nature reserve construction project plan published in 2021 specifies that one of the key objectives is to build space-air-ground integrated monitoring networks for national parks and nature reserves. Many nature reserves, such as the Wolong National Nature Reserve, Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve, and Houhe National Nature Reserve, have piloted smart management techniques. The focus on the application of smart management techniques in pilot national parks has greatly promoted the development of smart national parks. Five national parks (Sanjiangyuan National Park, Giant Panda National Park, Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, and Wuyi Mountain National Park) have set informatization and smart management as priorities.

The Status Quo of Smart Protected Areas

In recent years, China has used smart methods to refine the management of protected areas. National parks have actively promoted digitalization and explored the application of smart methods. In particular, they have used innovative monitoring technologies and networks to enhance data collection. Big data and AI have also been used to monitor natural resources and supervise their use. In the future, protected area management institutions will use smart methods to keep track of the real-time status of protected areas and formulate more scientific and refined management plans to improve management efficiency, protection effectiveness and value, and the reliability and accuracy of scientific research. This will not only help the institutions tasked with managing protected areas enhance data insights, but it will also allow them to connect, analyze, and manage protected areas more effectively.

Key Challenges for the Development of Smart Protected Areas

Intelligent equipment, facilities, and digital technologies have been actively deployed in the management and governance work of protected areas. However, unlike the smart development of mature settlements, the smart development of protected areas has encountered various challenges in basic data acquisition, standard system construction, network transmission, AI application analysis, and other aspects. In addition, each protected area has different geographical environments, resources, and protected species. As a result, the technologies and methods required also vary. All of these factors have made it more challenging to pilot and implement smart technologies, methods, and facilities for the development and management of protected areas.

According to the Guidelines on Establishing a Protected Area System with National Parks as the Mainstay, cloud computing, IoT, and other digital means will be important tools for strengthening the integrated analysis and comprehensive application of monitoring data in protected areas, developing a strong understanding of the composition, distribution, and dynamic changes to ecosystems in protected areas, and assessing and warning of ecological risks.

The National Protected Area Development Plan (2021–2035) proposes to build a protected area supervision and management platform. Based on the level of protected areas, we will build space-air-ground integrated monitoring and supervision platforms at the national, provincial, and protected-area levels by using technologies such as 3S3 and digital technologies, networks, AI, visualization, cloud computing, IoT, and big data, as well as emergency rescue, command, and dispatch systems. The real-time monitoring data and images related to wild animals, plants, and their habitats, as well as other information obtained by ecological monitoring stations in protected areas, will be transmitted to national and provincial supervision platforms and reviewed in real time, ensuring that there is a consistent set of data for protected areas across different supervision platforms. The aim is to gradually develop a digital, intelligent, and Internet-based protection model for protected areas that allows wild animals and plants to be effectively monitored and human activities to be managed.

The primary purpose of national parks is to protect the authenticity and integrity of important natural ecological systems. National parks also play other roles, such as facilitating scientific research and providing education and recreation services. The Technical Specifications for the National Park Master Plan (LY/T 3188-2020) puts forward management plans and specific development goals in terms of ecological protection and restoration, resource management, scientific research monitoring, science education, recreation, community development, and national park management and operations. Technologies such as cloud computing, IoT, mobile Internet, big data, and AI can be applied during the creation and management of national parks. The application of various smart technologies, support systems, and standards will promote the intelligent and refined construction and management of national parks, and this will help us achieve conservation objectives in national parks.

The development of smart protected areas should be closely aligned with related plans and objectives, and provide managers and other related parties with the best solutions. We have identified and outlined the scenarios in which digital and smart technologies can be applied in protected areas now and in the future based on the application of information-based and digital technologies in protected areas, the available functions of terminal devices, digital formats, intelligent management and control, and general services of smart technologies and terminal functions in the construction, management, and operations of future protected areas.

Smart protected areas are positioned to preserve the authenticity and integrity of key natural ecosystems in protected areas based upon technology and actual needs. Digital technology solutions are introduced in response to key challenges, stakeholder needs, and the application potential of digital technologies. The key characteristics of future smart protected areas are as follows:

Future smart protected areas will use integrated digital technologies, comprehensive sensing, and ubiquitous connectivity to connect people, nature, and devices, and implement end-to-end computing. Digital platforms will eliminate physical and logical data silos, streamline cross-scenario collaboration, and enable all-scenario intelligence in protected areas. Integrated platforms for top-level design will give both application systems in different scenarios and devices stronger analysis and interaction capabilities, allowing them to assist in the smart management of protected areas.

In conclusion, the application scenarios of emerging technologies in protected areas are both complex and diverse, while the key needs of stakeholders are diversified and differentiated. A blueprint framework for smart protected areas can comprehensively show the needs and development directions of smart protected areas. Such a blueprint can also inspire the creation of smart protected areas that all of society cares about and supports.

Smart protected areas cannot be created overnight and the industry has yet to develop unified evaluation standards for them. We have developed a smart protected area maturity model based on the smart protected area blueprint and the required capabilities for creating smart protected areas. This maturity model can be used to evaluate and compare smart protected area maturity at different stages and set goals for each stage.

The smart protected areas solution leverages information and communications technologies (ICT) such as 4G/5G, ad hoc networking, cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT), mobile Internet, and big data. The solution supports applications like ecological protection and restoration, resource management, scientific research monitoring, science education, recreation, community development, and integrated management.

The solution architecture consists of seven layers and two systems. The seven layers are the sensing, network, edge computing, infrastructure, data, platform, and application layers. The two systems are the policy, regulation, and standards system and the security and O&M assurance system. The layers and systems are closely linked and support each other, ensuring the information system is trustworthy, controllable, and manageable.

Sensing Layer

Various devices are used to collect wildlife information, obtain data about various ecological factors like climate and hydrology, issue early disaster warnings, and accurately monitor human activities in real time in protected areas. These include smart monitoring devices; patrol equipment; sensors, such as video monitoring, acoustic monitoring, meteorological and water quality monitoring; satellites; unmanned/manned aerial vehicles; patrol terminals; and mobile monitoring vehicles, Alongside the use of smart terminals for display, these technologies enable comprehensive, in-depth sensing in protected areas.

• Forest fire monitoring with satellite remote sensing: The remote-sensing forest fire monitoring service is based on theories from across a number of fields like geography, atmospheric science, forestry, and fire science, as well as technologies like satellite remote sensing (geostationary satellites and polar orbiting satellites), geographic information systems, digital elevation models, global positioning systems, spatial decision support systems, and computer networks. This service goes beyond the traditional forest fire monitoring and response model, providing support for forest fire prevention information management, forest fire monitoring, fire risk forecasts, auxiliary management of fire-response solutions, and forest fire loss assessments.
• Biodiversity monitoring: To meet scientific distribution and monitoring requirements, monitoring spots can be established in wildlife habitats and areas with regular wildlife activity. For example, by installing infrared cameras, triggered, or ultrashort wave transmission ecological monitoring cameras, and HD dual-spectral zoom cameras with laser night vision functions, species' movements can be clearly tracked day and night. Additionally, instruments like all-weather wildlife acoustic monitors are employed to record animal sounds and then remotely transmit them for acoustic spectrum analysis. Furthermore, drone cameras are used to monitor moving targets in specific areas in real time to collect attribute data such as wildlife populations, wildlife habitats, types of wild plant species, and wildlife distribution, ensuring the dynamics of species distribution can be effectively tracked.

• Ecological-element and ecosystem monitoring: Environmental, biological, and ecosystem analysis models can be generated through the collection of data related to biological elements and growth, as well as data collected at meteorological, air, hydrological, and soil monitoring stations. With the use of environmental monitoring technology based on satellites and drones, and the application of biodiversity and ecosystem monitoring technologies in protected areas, it is possible to conduct resource and environmental monitoring and surveys, the monitoring of typical species and ecosystems, and the collection and digitalization of basic data on biodiversity, ecosystems, and environments. This makes it easier to keep track of current resource conditions and understand the development direction and constraints of protected areas, while also offering a basis for evaluating ecological benefits and the effectiveness of conservation efforts.

  Today, China uses TanSat, a scientific experiment satellite dedicated to monitoring the amount of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere alongside other remote sensing data from multiple sources. The satellite monitors and analyzes the spatial and temporal distribution of carbon sources and sinks worldwide and in key regions, providing useful scientific data for evaluating the carbon sequestration capacity of ecosystems.

Network Layer

Network transmissions are like the pulse of smart protected areas. Depending on an area’s terrain, forest coverage, and existing public network coverage, it is advisable to flexibly adopt combinations of communications solutions, for example, wireless public networks, private transmission networks, optical fiber networks, narrowband communication networks, IoT, and Wi-Fi. This aims to enable networks as a whole to overcome the limitations of obstacles and rugged terrain, and achieve efficient communications at minimal cost.

Integrated Network Solutions

Unlike in urban areas, full network coverage is often impossible to achieve in protected areas due to limitations created by geography, climate, equipment power supply conditions, laws and regulations on ecological protection in some core protected areas, and budgets. Therefore, it is necessary to strike a balance between various communications technologies, while existing network resources must be employed to adapt network deployment plans to the conditions of protected areas.

Edge Computing

Edge computing integrates network, computing, and storage capabilities at the edge of a network. Edge computing is located close to objects or data sources and provides intelligent interconnection services nearby. Edge computing also acts as a supplement to and optimization of cloud computing. The combination of edge computing and cloud computing platforms is an ideal computing solution for the protection of natural resources.

Infrastructure

Basic cloud services are used to deliver big data hosting services over networks based on cloud computing technologies. The cloud computing platform features both on-demand use and dynamic scaling. Virtual resources can be employed to provide computing, storage, and information resource services. Such resources are supported by the virtual cloud infrastructure platform.

Data Layer

Based on unified data standards, all multi-source information (e.g., information of space, time, audio, video, and other forms of multi-media) related to factors and activities that affect the protection of forests, such as wildlife, wildfires, pests, and patrols, is integrated into a comprehensive map. This facilitates the creation of a geographical spatiotemporal database of protected areas based on related data. Based on this map, data cleaning, processing, aggregation, governance, and application services are implemented, realizing information sharing, agile service development, and strategic innovation on a unified service platform.

Platform Layer

This layer includes AI, big data, GIS, integrated communications, IoT, satellite remote sensing, and integrated services. It provides an intelligent, collaborative, inclusive, and open foundation for the cloud platform that powers the application systems. This layer handles information processing, massive data processing, business process specifications, data table model analysis, intelligent management, and predictive analysis for the entire system. It also provides platform-based support services and agile development plug-ins for natural-resource monitoring, emergency command, and intelligent diagnosis.

Application Layer

Enabling seven scenarios:

Based on the data at the platform layer, various smart applications should be developed to support the seven scenarios of protected areas. These are ecological protection and restoration, resource management, scientific research monitoring, science education, recreation, community development, and management and operations. In addition, to achieve the objectives of each scenario, stakeholders in the protected area, including scientific researchers, conservationists, educators, community residents, and tourists, can connect to the resources of the protected area through smart applications to help optimize the experience in each scenario.

Intelligent management methods:

Rebuild management methods, optimize management processes, and enable management innovation by employing the smart applications provided by the underlying big data system, combined with the visualized data screens of the protected area management office, and the medium and small screens of managers. This will help create better protected areas.

As technologies and infrastructure become increasingly mature, intelligent applications can be gradually implemented across various segmented scenarios of protected areas. At the same time, applications will become increasingly abundant, gradually covering all aspects of protected areas. This section uses the examples of the main application scenarios relating to wildfire warnings, species monitoring, patrol management, and smart science education to analyze the implementation of smart protected areas.

Within protected areas, national parks, nature reserves, and natural parks all have different positioning, and they also differ in terms of the core application scenarios for their intelligent construction. National parks focus on the systematic and comprehensive conservation of ecosystem integrity and authenticity to protect flagship species and provide ecosystem services. Nature reserves aim to protect key items, which serve as the basis for scientific research, publicity and education, and community co-management. Natural parks focus on sustainable utilization, with core application scenarios that differ from the first two.

Wildfire Monitoring and Warning System

Feasible wildfire prevention systems should be built according to actual forest coverage in protected areas. Through interconnected and interoperable data, it is possible to realize integrated scheduling, interconnected coordination, and unified command that covers the entire process, from collection at the front end to remote monitoring at the back end.

Comprehensive Sensing

Front-end monitoring devices and collection points are used to collect multi-dimensional data onsite in real time. Surveillance site data is obtained through bispectral, fireproof cameras and low-illumination fog penetration cameras. Front-end cameras and pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) devices are operated and controlled to obtain real-time angle data. The collected data and the GIS system are used together to precisely locate the origins of fires. Meteorological sensors are deployed at the front end to obtain wind speed, wind direction, temperature, and humidity data from the monitoring point in real time.

Data Aggregation

Front-end surveillance devices transmit collected images to the cloud or surveillance center through wired or wireless transmission systems. Cameras with edge computing capabilities perform initial identification. Then, images and videos are transmitted to the cloud for secondary identification, improving the accuracy of fire identification. The construction of private communications networks typically means high operating costs from base stations and optical fibers. Therefore, microwave transmission is recommended. Prefecture-level forest and grassland systems face key challenges such as a lack of unified and standardized data formats. This means data cannot be aggregated to the provincial-level system. To solve this problem, a data platform should be constructed to centrally manage both applications and data. Forest and grassland data can be managed through data warehouses and data lakes on this platform, allowing the data to be mined, which unlocks greater value.

Intelligent Analysis

Real-time multi-shot images are obtained through the transmission system, after which related data is summarized on the cloud platform. The wildfire identification algorithm, which is based on computer vision technology, ensures fires are accurately identified. Furthermore, continuous training is performed on the intelligent platform to constantly improve algorithm accuracy. Big data and cloud computing should be used to analyze and develop reasonable handling and scheduling policies to provide support for management.

Auxiliary Management

Through front-end collection, transmission, and intelligent AI recognition, high-accuracy images and videos are sent to the surveillance center in real time to more effectively monitor fires, allowing for remote commanding and dispatching of the command center. At the same time, the fire monitoring and warning system can be efficiently linked with the field patrol system. This allows the monitoring center to determine the appropriate response, and then send the decision to rangers to go where needed.

Intelligent Patrol System

Field patrols are the most important method for managing and protecting national parks and nature reserves. The patrol work carried out in natural parks primarily focuses on the management of ecotourism areas. Field patrols are typically characterized by mobility, as well as a sense of emergency and danger. It is necessary to build a patrol management system to handle personnel management and natural resource monitoring and facilitate the closed-loop management of personnel, route setting, task management, data collection, and on-site dispatch.

Comprehensive Sensing

Smart terminals that possess positioning and communication functions, such as intelligent patrol terminals equipped with the BeiDou navigation system, can accurately track and locate patrol personnel in real time to better understand their operations. By incorporating positioning and voice entry technologies, the entire resource investigation process is digitalized, including field observations, questionnaires, entity drawing, topographic profile drawing, photo taking, and investigation route collection. Such information provides field resource investigation workers with fast, accurate, and convenient data support. At the same time, the three links – investigation data preparation, field data collection, and internal data collation – are seamlessly connected.

Data Aggregation

A cloud-based patrol management system is provided to transform existing patrol work from single-format data management to unified-format digital management. Data, such as personnel routes, collected data/images, and personnel records is aggregated, and cloud big data analysis and processing capabilities, are employed to explore in-depth data value. In addition, high-speed networks are employed to improve the management process, and related results are reported to the management department in a timely manner, thus improving incident resolution efficiency.

Intelligent Analysis and Auxiliary Management

The command center accurately locates patrol locations and patrol routes within its managed areas through terminals, and implements the real-time monitoring and management of patrol personnel. Furthermore, the command center can monitor onsite images and HD videos in real time through a network to realize remote monitoring and management. This supports the quick and effective prevention of all kinds of actions that may threaten environments and species.

Species Monitoring System

Species conservation in national parks and nature reserves is crucial. National parks and nature reserves with wildlife and healthy ecosystems are rich in biodiversity, and often contain a large number of rare species and require a high level of conservation. It is necessary to fully utilize intelligent technologies to track individual and group activities, continuously monitor habitat changes, analyze population distribution and other changes related to key species, and remotely monitor illegal activities that disturb animals. This will ensure powerful technical support for the protection and management of wildlife and habitats.

Comprehensive Sensing

Sensing is performed using GPS, GIS, and modern communications technologies. Infrared-triggered cameras or infrared cameras using ultra-short-wave transmission are set up at key locations to automatically take photos of different species. HD PTZ cameras and video recorders are used for remote observation and to automatically record animals and plants. In areas with frequent wildlife activity, cameras with zoom lenses and laser night vision can support intelligent movement tracking, enabling clear tracking of wildlife day and night. Drone-based cameras are used to monitor moving targets in real time to collect data such as wildlife populations, habitats, species, and distribution, allowing observers to obtain a thorough understanding of the distribution dynamics of wildlife. All-weather animal acoustic monitors and other instruments are used to record the sounds of different animals at specific locations to realize long-distance transmission and remote acoustic spectrum analysis of wildlife sounds.

Data Integration

Data collected by devices such as infrared-triggered cameras is transmitted to the nearest edge computing node through wireless public networks, microwave communications private networks, optical fiber networks, and narrowband communications networks. AI algorithms are used for online real-time data analysis to quickly and intelligently identify and classify species. The data is automatically processed, classified, and stored in a database. In addition, the data is shared across departments through the cloud, which optimizes the use and management of the species data.

Smart Analysis and Management Support

GIS information and species information enable species data visualization, the dynamic updating of attribute data, positioning queries, management support, and data sharing and application. The protection system for key protected species supports big data analysis of the biological, ecological, and behavioral characteristics of key protected species or specific populations. The system helps predict the evolutionary and development trends of populations, and monitor and prevent interference. It facilitates planning adjustments, public awareness of science, scientific research, and biological corridor development. It also provides a management reference in the form of intelligent comprehensive analysis reports.

Ecological Law Enforcement Management System

Ecological law enforcement is key to the management of national parks, nature reserves, and natural parks. Inspecting ecosystems and understanding how to manage natural environments are prerequisites to forming a protection and law enforcement platform featuring smooth communication, rapid response to received information, and efficient operations. This system for maintaining the ecological security of protected areas is critical to preventing illegal activities such as natural resource theft and environmental destruction. It detects behaviors such as illegal harvesting, mining, herding, over-grazing, and poaching.

Comprehensive Sensing

Front-end monitoring devices support the monitoring of protected grasslands, forests, wetlands, water sources, glaciers, and wildlife. Satellite images are used to monitor ecological red lines, illegal construction, and resource changes. In addition, based on historical data such as case investigations, the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System and intelligent law enforcement patrol terminals are used for vertical inspection in areas with many previous cases. In this way, we can accurately track the locations and actions of law enforcers. This also enables the digital management of photos, routes, and other information during patrols.

Data Integration

Wireless public networks, microwave communications networks, and Wi-Fi networks are used to transmit data. AI algorithms are used to perform online real-time analysis to identify illegal activities such as logging and poaching in the core protected areas of national parks. The data is automatically processed, classified, and stored in a database. Moreover, the data can be shared through the cloud among different departments, such as those for environmental protection, natural resources, forests and grasslands, water conservation, and agriculture and rural areas.

Smart Analysis and Management Support

Managers can use the ecological law enforcement platform for command and dispatch, and to view on-site images and HD videos in real time when networks allow. This helps them perform remote monitoring and management, support patrols, and quickly and effectively stop violations related to environmental destruction.

Smart Education System to Improve Public Awareness of Science

National parks, nature reserves, and natural parks play a key role in raising public awareness of science. The smart education system creates an immersive experience and supports scientific research and education activities. Including both the fruits of scientific research and a wide array of resources, the system enables both ecological protection and social development.

HD cameras and other devices are used to collect images for the system, which connects with other scenario-based platforms for consistent data sharing and presentation. Scientific research institutions, tourists, and other relevant parties can log in to the scenario-based platforms through websites and IP addresses, or learn about plant diversity and wildlife activities in protected areas through mobile apps, WeChat Official Accounts, and new media platforms.

Protected areas can adopt the intelligent sign system, and scenic spot description boards can intelligently identify the passing of tourists through sites. Tourists can use headsets or their mobile phones to listen to the descriptions of scenic spots. Educational exhibition halls offer new ways for people to experience and interact with virtual protected areas. They combine sound, light, images, animations, digital audio and video, holographic projection, and VR with physical scenarios, pictures, and scene simulations. Visitors can receive an immersive educational experience of nature through VR glasses or AR terminals.

Case Studies: Construction of Smart National Parks and Former Pilot National Parks

In 2021, 10 pilot projects in national parks in China reached basic completion. The first batch of national parks were established, including Sanjiangyuan National Park, Giant Panda National Park, Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, and Wuyi Mountain National Park. All national parks and the former pilot national parks prioritized ecological protection. They integrated different types and levels of projected areas, and implemented unified management, overall protection, and systematic restoration based on their unique natural resources and other practical factors. They also developed measures for ecological protection and restoration, resource management, scientific research monitoring, science education, recreation, community development, and management and operations. They defined key development directions and achieved remarkable results.

By June 2021, these national parks had all started digital and smart construction and management based on their unique high-value resources, key protection domains, and digital foundation. The 10 national parks have made remarkable progress and showcased their innovations in a few major application scenarios.

Ecological protection and restoration

In recent years, all national parks and former pilot national parks have started building digital platforms for space governance. For example, they have used infrared cameras for species identification and set up electronic fences and real-time monitoring equipment at the boundaries of core protected areas, realizing conservation, control, and transformation in ecological civilization construction. For example, the Qianjiangyuan Pilot National Forest Park conducted big data analysis on the main areas, activity times, and activity frequency of rare wildlife, generating an activity heat map. In addition, the area has established an automated service system for survey voucher management, appraisal, and information on natural resources.

Resource management

National parks and former pilot national parks have gradually built space-air-ground integrated monitoring and management networks, furthered biodiversity background surveys, strengthened special surveys and the assessment of rare and endangered species, and built a multi-dimensional information system for diversity data to gradually achieve digital management. The smart management platform of Wuyi Mountain National Park is one such example. By using a wide range of intelligent technologies, as well as drones, infrared cameras, patrol recorders, and other equipment, they have carried out grid-based patrols, realized comprehensive, all-weather, space-air-ground monitoring and management, and enhanced the protection and management of ecological resources. The Qilian Mountain Pilot National Park in Qinghai has built an intelligent management and protection system. The system can be accessed through desktop and mobile apps, and is constructed at the device, edge, and cloud level. Authority is delegated to management and protection stations to achieve rapid service provision. The project uses the positioning service of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System for survey and patrols of natural resources such as forests, wetlands, grasslands, animals and plants, realizing comprehensive monitoring of rangers during patrol. This allows the park to track the real-time status of resource patrols, the work of rangers, and events occurring during patrols so that incidents can be promptly handled. The system provides support for the safety, task dispatch, and online monitoring of rangers, ensures resource safety, and improves patrol monitoring.

Scientific research monitoring

To better protect biodiversity, modern scientific and technological monitoring systems have been constructed for national parks, former pilot national parks, and nature reserves. These systems consist of digital cameras, drones, infrared cameras, and other modern equipment, enabling more timely and advanced scientific research monitoring. For example, in Wuyi Mountain National Park, the comprehensive monitoring system for biological resources and habitat elements can display information such as resource monitoring, patrols and law enforcement, and forest coverage on one map.

Education and recreation

National parks and former national park system pilots are using diverse means to provide the public service of nature education and recreation. They are providing the general public with new recreational opportunities to get close to, experience, and understand nature. In Potatso Pilot National Park, for example, a holographic museum will offer visitors an immersive experience.

Community development

Local communities are incorporated in the overall planning to actively explore sustainable community development mechanisms through diverse means. For example, the Potatso Pilot National Park has developed a community development model of co-construction, co-management, and sharing: First, they have preliminarily established a long-term support mechanism for community-based industry development. Second, they are constantly improving the mechanism of using tourism revenues for community development. Third, they have continued the development of a prioritized employment support mechanism for local communities.

Management and operations

The natural resource monitoring and management system should gradually cover all national parks and former pilot national parks. A digital and intelligent "Internet + Ecosystem" management model for natural resources in national parks should be established. For example, the Qilian Mountain Pilot National Park launched the Smart Qilian Mountain Platform to realize the comprehensive sensing of forest ecosystems, risk controllability and warning, dynamic monitoring of forests, and real-time wildlife protection.

Based on the characteristics of protected resources and of different national parks, former pilot national parks, and their smart construction progress, this whitepaper has selected Giant Panda National Park (in Wolong) and Qilian Mountain Pilot National Park (in Qinghai) as case studies of smart construction. The above-mentioned national park and former pilot national park have conducted a series of smart construction measures based on their informatization and digitalization foundation. It is hoped that their innovative practices can serve as references for the smart construction of other national parks.

Case Studies on Management of Smart Nature Reserves

Nature reserves serve a different purpose than national parks, which means that the ways they are managed are also different. Nature reserves mainly focus on monitoring dynamic changes of protected species, and designing and carrying out related protection activities. Building smart nature reserves is about infusing intelligence into protection activities, research, awareness programs, and nature experiences for protected species.

Digitalization has already begun in many protected areas. However, the progression of these efforts and the value of the resources and wild environments they protect vary from location to location. This means the solutions needed to go smart also differ from location to location. First, smart protected areas are more than just a combination of different smart scenarios. They require top-level designs and a unified solution architecture, under which the characteristics, operation management status, and objectives of the protected areas are considered. This is crucial for preventing repeated investment and information silos. Protected areas do not become smart overnight. Instead, their construction is an iterative process. The standardized digital architecture serves as an underlying platform to support iterative updates of technologies and planning for smart protected areas and gradually streamline vertical application scenarios. This better supports the construction and management of smart protected areas.

1. Promoting Unified Data Standards to Create One Map for Natural Resources

To help protected areas go smart, we need to establish more unified data standards to facilitate data aggregation and integration and eliminate data silos. This is a key step that will allow protected areas to map out their natural resources in a unified manner. By aggregating data from different systems, protected areas can build their own converged and shared information platforms that offer the data needed to create maps of their natural resources. There are six areas in a natural resource investigation and monitoring system that need to be unified: overall design and work planning; system and mechanism construction; setting standards and indicators; organization, implementation and quality control; unified data result management and application; and information release and shared services. Against this background, protected areas must consider a number of factors when planning data foundation consolidation and data result management to match their unique needs:

Sensing system standardization:

On the business side, protected areas can quantitatively assess ecosystem types and their value, and guide efforts to set unified technological standards for ecological factor selection, sample data selection, sample plot selection, and ecological factor collection. This will ensure standards reflect actual ecological characteristics and make different types of monitoring data comparable.

Unified data standards:

On the data side, protected areas can establish a unified standard information system based on the monitoring indicators that come from the business side. The system can then standardize data formats, address problems with data integration, and maximize the value of every piece of data.

Unified data interfaces:

During the information platform planning phase, protected areas should define data interface standards and access modes, such as API protocols, IoT, and virtual private networks (VPNs), to promote data interconnection between different systems.

2. Enhancing Device and Technological Capabilities to Better Sense Ecosystems

Protected areas require enhanced ecosystem sensing to go smart. That in turn requires increasing investment in the research and development of devices and technologies, and greater efforts in deploying and maintaining these devices to ensure they better adapt to wild environments. This will lay the foundation for space-air-ground integrated monitoring networks.

Improving the performance of sensing devices:

Sensing devices, such as acoustic sensors, photosensitive sensors, and temperature sensors, need to improve data collection scope, precision, and efficiency at lower cost compared with single-function devices. In addition, efforts should be made to reduce the impact of climate, geographical environment, and time on sensors to make sensing devices more adaptable.

Making sensing devices more adaptable to the wild:

Ultra-low power designs can enable long-term standby functions and improve the battery life of devices. Waterproofing, moisture-proofing, and the ability to withstand extreme temperatures to prevent aging are also important features that will make sensing devices more reliable. Built-in wireless communications modules will also allow both primary and secondary sensing devices to support self-networking and real-time data backhaul, and adapt to wild environments that lack reliable power, O&M resources, signal, or light (or only have weak signal or light).

3. Selecting Optimal Transmission Solutions that Balance Transmission Requirements and Costs

Given the complexity and diversity of the environments technologies have to operate in, a number of factors must be considered for protected areas (e.g., cost, reliability, and security) when choosing communications technologies. Most protected areas need transmission solutions that integrate multiple technologies so that they can achieve reliable and secure data transmission in different scenarios. In addition, these solutions will need to help facilitate network maintenance and reduce limitations and interference that natural conditions and meteorological factors often place on private communications networks.

Transmission in forests and across areas with varied elevation is challenging due to high levels of interference, long distance requirements, and low levels of efficiency. Therefore, R&D investment needs to be ramped up for protected areas to break through transmission bottlenecks and achieve secure and reliable real-time data for more informed management.

4. Developing More Applications for Ecosystem Scenarios to Support More Intelligent Management

Big data can be used to improve the management of protected areas. If data assets for protected areas are shared and developed with other stakeholders, large amounts of data can be leveraged to develop a system for performance evaluation, protection and service efficacy evaluation indicators, and reporting. This data can inform decision making during operations management. To make that happen, more investment is required to develop applications for main scenarios such as ecological conservation and restoration, scientific research monitoring, and resource management.

Improving the ability to analyze existing smart scenarios:

Currently, protected areas are mainly focused on developing applications for main scenarios such as scientific research monitoring and resource management. In the future, they will need to collect even more data and promote machine learning and model training using a large number of basic data samples, so as to improve AI identification, computing power, sensitivity, and accuracy. Ultimately, this will allow the management platforms of smart protected areas to support more intelligent management.

Developing other important smart scenarios:

Protected areas should also develop diverse smart application scenarios step by step and create a unified management platform by streamlining existing scenarios. This platform may include an ecological law enforcement management system, smart recreation system, and smart community governance system, which can make the management of protected areas more efficient.

5. Making Full Use of Data to Create Shared Platforms

More value can be extracted from data generated by protected areas by strengthening ties with ecosystem partners, further exploring potential market demands, and developing diversified digital products. For example, monitoring information that has been collected and analyzed can be used to develop interactive applications for scenarios like ecological education and nature experiences. This can help create an ecological industry model that supports and draws from both traditional culture and green lifestyles. With data from protected area smart platforms, private enterprises with advantages in remote sensing technologies can develop applications to prevent poaching, manage human-animal conflicts, and support cultural and ecological education in local communities. These new applications would in turn attract more users from government and the general public, creating even more economic value from the data.

6. Improving Public Sharing Mechanisms to Benefit Everyone

The construction of a smart protected area requires the participation of the general public and must also consider the needs of different stakeholders, including the media, community residents, and the general public. Protected areas going smart need to deliver better experiences to stakeholders in multiple scenarios, provide more non-profit public services to the general public, and make full use of ecological experience resources. This will make protected areas places where communities can build, govern, and share value together. By building and improving information dissemination and exchange mechanisms, protected areas can vividly showcase the value of protecting nature to the public, so that the public can get closer to, experience, and understand nature better.

Protected areas must go smart to ensure effective protection, to share achievements with the public, and to be sustainable for generations to come. Going smart involves many application scenarios, which require buy-in from protected area administrators and the engagement of experts in biodiversity, species conservation and restoration, ecological conservation, and more. These experts can help clarify where protected areas need to go smart, and provide specialist guidance on the sources for data collection and data analysis methods.

In addition, these scenarios require R&D investment to integrate multiple types of infrastructure and technologies. Different stakeholders need to make full use of their resources and professional advantages to create an ecosystem for smart protected areas. While pursuing ongoing innovation and hands-on practice, protected areas must also work to interconnect and integrate different types of data, give different professional operation service ecosystems access to such data, and develop a shared and symbiotic ecological cooperation system. For example, protected areas can visualize information about natural spaces, including information about ecosystem types, ecological value, ecological restoration efforts, and ecological disasters, and create a mechanism for sharing scientific research data after enough background data is gathered and integrated. Research teams could combine informatization and research efforts by sharing basic monitoring data for similar regions, and streamline and share their findings horizontally. At the management and operations level, protected areas need management mechanisms that can be clearly displayed with digital technologies, which can inform the management of the protected area management bureau. As for franchised business operations, protected areas can provide ecological information services to the public, employ intelligent means to expand industrialization scenarios and business models using an Internet mindset, and introduce social capital to promote mechanisms for cooperation with local communities.