Rapid assessment of ecological protection effectiveness in Wuyishan National Park based on the dynamic habitat index

National parks constitute the mainstay of Chinese protected area system. To achieve long-term, stable ecological benefits, it is of great necessity to conduct periodic assessment of ecological protection effectiveness in national parks and promptly adjust management strategies. However, the lack of long-term dynamic monitoring data for most species often constrains comprehensive evaluation of conservation outcomes, thereby limiting the ability to accurately track ecological changes and inform evidence-based decision-making. Taking Wuyishan National Park as a representative case, this study developed a rapid assessment methodology based on three components of the Dynamic Habitat Indices (DHI): annual cumulative productivity, annual minimum productivity, and within-year productivity coefficient of variation. As spatially explicit proxies for habitat quality and ecosystem functioning, these indices allow for an efficient and scalable evaluation of biodiversity conservation status in data-limited contexts. The analysis covered the period from 2016 to 2022, during which the core protection zone of Wuyishan National Park exhibited a significant increase in annual minimum productivity (P < 0.05), yet remarkable decline in the productivity variability (P < 0.05). In comparison with black control areas outside national parks, the slope of change in each DHI metric within the national park was significantly higher (P < 0.001) and presented a clear trend toward stabilization. As demonstrated by these findings, the protected ecosystems, particularly within the core protection zones, have maintained robust productivity dynamics and reduced seasonal instability, indicating effective conservation of natural vegetation and biodiversity under the current management regime. In this study, the three DHI indices were integrated into a comprehensive DHI. On this basis, areas with high annual cumulative productivity, high annual minimum productivity, and low within-year variability were identified as the regions of high biodiversity suitability. As revealed by spatial-temporal analysis, the overall habitat suitability across Wuyishan National Park was consistently improved from 2016 to 2022. Notably, there was a statistically significant increase in the proportion of high-suitability areas within the core protection zone (P < 0.05). According to the correlation analyses between the Human Footprint Index (HFI) and the comprehensive DHI, human disturbance levels remained consistently low in high-suitability zones throughout the study period. By contrast, HFI was remarkably increased in medium-suitability zones, particularly in the southeastern part of the national park dominated by scientific, educational, recreational, and community development activities. These results highlight the growing anthropogenic pressure in these areas. Therefore, enhanced regulation and spatial planning are needed to alleviate human impacts and preserve ecological connectivity.