Tourism Threatens China’s Protected Habitats

Protected areas are meant to save nature, but even they are under pressure.

A research across 765 protected areas in China shows that tourism development has accelerated

habitat loss in 75% of them. Roads, hotels, and visitor infrastructure

quietly fragment ecosystems when habitats shrink or break apart, species lose food,

shelter, and migration routes, threatening biodiversity and ecological balance. The impacts aren't

instant, although. Habitats lost intensifies years after tourism begins,

spreads beyond parks and waters, and is worst in smaller, newer,

and poorly managed protected areas. We can reduce habitat loss by limiting tourist infrastructure,