Construction and practical application of social impact assessment system for national park establishment

The construction of national parks is a natural protection public welfare construction project, involving typical multi-participant and incentive compatibility. The key is coordinating all relevant interest groups to reach a complete consensus. This study is based on the characteristics of China′s national park system construction, from the perspective of social impact assessment, taking the cross-regional construction of Gaoligong Mountain National Park jointly built by Yunnan and Xizang. This study aims to evaluate the social benefits and impacts of constructing of national parks in advance, including the potential positive and negative effects, stakeholder attitudes, social impact, and the identification of possible social risks. Also, this study discusses the content and index system of social impact assessment in line with the establishment of cross-regional national parks to provide scientific theoretical methods and case references for the subsequent construction of cross-regional national parks from the perspective of social impact. The analysis and evaluation of the establishment of the Gaoligong Mountain National Park was conducted from aspects such as social impact, societal adaptability, social risk, and sustainability of the establishment of Gaoligong Mountain National Park. The results are as follows: (1) It promotes synergistic interactions with stakeholders at a moderate level. (2) It is conducive to the comprehensive coordination and sustainable development of regional ecology, economy and society. (3) It demonstrates strong adaptability with the local social environment. (4) The overall risk level is not high, with general or minor social risk factors present, which can be effectively mitigated through targeted preventive measures. (5) A scientifically sound social management plan can enhance the sustainability of national park construction and its social effects. Therefore, the establishment of Gaoligong Mountain National Park has larger positive social impacts, including controllable social risks, and stakeholder support, facilitating smooth implementation of the project. The social impact assessment system of national park establishment proposed in this paper aligns with actual construction of national parks in China, and offers strong theoretical guidance and practical promotion. During implementation, it is important to pay attention to the diversity and multi-level nature of assessment objectives, as well as differences in social factors. Emphasizing stakeholder analysis and social risk evaluation is vital. Additionally, it is recommended that adjustments and optimizations of protection management policies are made based on established social impact assessments.