Evaluation of the suitability of national key protected areas in the periphery of the metropolis - Take Wuling Mountain as an example

With the acceleration of urbanization, ecological environment protection and sustainable development have increasingly become the focus of social attention. In this context, ecotourism, as a low impact, high experience tourism model, has gradually become an important way to promote regional economic development. Wuling Mountain Nature Reserve, as an important ecological barrier area on the outskirts of Beijing's metropolis, has abundant resources and good potential for ecological tourism development. This study is based on the climate conditions, water resources status, vegetation coverage, and other factors of Wuling Mountain Nature Reserve. Using the "dual evaluation" theory and method of national spatial planning, the importance of the ecological environment of Wuling Mountain National Nature Reserve was evaluated, and its tourism resource development advantages and characteristics were analyzed. The suitability of ecological tourism in Wuling Mountain Nature Reserve was comprehensively evaluated. The results show that: (1) As a national nature reserve, Wuling Mountain has significant ecological protection importance, with extremely important, particularly important, and important areas accounting for 44.26%, 36.64%, and 18.00%, respectively, and relatively few natural disasters. (2) Wuling Mountain has a high advantage in resource development, with more than 60 scenic spots included in its four main scenic areas. It has rich natural landscapes, biodiversity, and is also an excellent astronomical observation site, with certain development advantages. The importance of regional ecological protection is high, and it brings high-quality resources and challenges to tourism development. (3) Wuling Mountain has great importance and potential for tourism development, with 60% of areas having high suitability for tourism development. Due to the limitations of ecological red lines and protected core areas, it is necessary to reduce the perceived damage to the ecological environment. These studies can provide important scientific basis for tourism planning of national nature reserves in the outskirts of metropolises.