Abstract:
National parks play a vital role in the construction of ecological civilization, thus receiving widespread attention. This paper uses BERTopic modeling technology for topic identification and text analysis, and conducts in-depth exploration of the research results on public participation in national parks from 2000 to 2024 in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Web of Science databases. Through analysis methods such as high-frequency words, centrality of topic words, thematic features, and topic clustering, as well as the 'subject-factor-path' analysis framework, the participating subjects, influencing factors, and participation paths in national parks were systematically sorted out. The research indicates that since 2000, public participation in China′s national parks has undergone three stages: the exploratory construction stage (2000—2012), the pilot construction stage (2013-2020), and the promotion and development stage (2021—2024), with an overall trend of rapid growth. The community and its residents have gradually transformed from passive roles to active core participants. Socioeconomic conditions, local culture, and values significantly affect the participation willingness and behavior patterns of community residents, with influencing factors evolving from singular to diversified trends. Ecotourism as the main practical way for community engagement, which not only promotes local economic development but also enhances the ecological value of national parks. Moreover, with the extensive application of Internet and social media technologies, in national park participation, online and offline forms of participation are increasingly integrated, forming an emerging development trend. A comparison of research findings in Chinese and English literature reveals that Chinese literature primarily focuses on community governance and policy practice, concentrating on four directions. Among these, 'synergistic development of ecotourism and cultural heritage under community and multi-stakeholder participation′ is the dominant direction, accounting for 70.35% of the focus. In contrast, English literature emphasizes participation and interaction mechanisms, among multiple stakeholders, identifying seven key research areas. The most prominent of these is 'collaborative governance and conflict mediation driven by ecological conservation and community empowerment′, which accounts for 16.00%. Both Chinese and English literature underline the importance of community involvement, ecotourism, adaptive management, and legislative protection. Public participation is characterized by its diversity, synergy, and sustainability. The main innovations of this study include three key aspects. Firstly, it constructs the 'subject-factor-path' analytical framework based on Xi Jinping′s Thought on Ecological Civilization. This framework allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the systemic and complex nature of public participation in national parks. Secondly, BERTopic modeling and text content analysis methods are employed, providing more precise scientific evidence to support national park managers and policymakers. Finally, the research explores the trend of integrating online and offline participation, and offers new ideas and technological approaches for public engagement. This study provides valuable insights into the construction of China′s national parks, as well as relevant international exchanges and cooperation.