Coupled evaluation of recreational pressure and ecological protection effectiveness in Wuyishan National Park based on recreational trajectory data

The appropriate development of recreational activities by leveraging the appeal of national parks is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and promoting regional sustainable development. However, there is currently no comprehensive method to accurately assess the balance between human recreational activities and ecological protection effectiveness within national parks. This study utilizes recreational trajectory data, POI density in scenic spots, and tourist visitation data to construct a recreational pressure index. With land use data, landscape fragmentation composite index (LFCI) is calculated for the 20-kilometer buffer zone around Wuyishan National Park in 2018 and 2023 to measure ecological protection effectiveness. Finally, a coupling coordination assessment is conducted between recreational pressure and ecological protection effectiveness to clarify the coordination between human recreational activities and ecological protection in Wuyishan National Park. The findings indicate: (1) In both 2018 and 2023, the highest recreational pressure within the study area was concentrated in the Wuyishan Scenic Area. The proportion of areas with moderate and lower-moderate recreational pressure increased in 2023. (2) Compared to 2018, the landscape fragmentation in the study area intensified in 2023, with the proportion of areas exhibiting high LFCI values increasing by 1.55%. (3) There was no significant difference in the area of high-quality coordination zones between 2023 and 2018. High-quality coordination zones were distributed within the Wuyishan Scenic Area of Wuyishan National Park. Good coordination zones were located in Yanshan County, Shangrao City. Mild imbalance zones were distributed around the boundary of Wuyishan National Park. This study provides a theoretical foundation and practical reference for recreational pressure management and spatial planning in national parks.