Mechanism and significance of scientific tourism in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau National Park Cluster from an earth system perspective

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau encompasses the complete six spheres of the earth system and a comprehensive range of landscapes including mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands, deserts, and glaciers. These landscapes harbor rich geoscientific connotations and reveal the relationships involved in human-environment coupling development. The construction of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau National Park Cluster serves as a critical link between natural and artificial environments. Therefore, this paper delves into the importance and uniqueness of constructing the national park group on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau from an earth system perspective. By analyzing the current layout and individual characteristics of the national parks, a new concept and model of "scientific tourism", is proposed centered on scientific observation and cognition, scientific analysis and presentation, and scientific conservation and development practices. This model aims to establish a comprehensive scientific tourism system that supports the establishment of a protected area system dominated by national parks on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, enhances the internationalization of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau as a world-class tourist destination supported by earth system science elements, and accelerates the construction of an ecological civilization highland on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Ultimately, it serves the strategy of high-level regional protection and high-quality development.