Spatial Layout and Driving Factors of Forest Therapy Bases in Fujian Province, Southern China

In recent years, as civilization and human society have progressed, the potential and innovative capacity of various sectors of forest therapy have increasingly been recognized. However, the landscape of forest therapy is characterized by significant disparities in its distribution and uneven development patterns. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis of the factors influencing the distribution of forest therapy bases is crucial for optimizing the organization and allocation of resources within this industry, thereby promoting the growth of the forest therapy bases. This research delves into the spatial arrangement of forest therapy bases within Fujian Province, southern China. This study employs the nearest neighbor index, geographic concentration index, kernel density index, scale index, spatial autocorrelation analysis, and redundancy analysis to identify the primary factors influencing the geographical distribution of the bases. The study reveals three key findings about the spatial distribution of forest therapy bases in Fujian Province: (1) Centers are predominantly located in Nanping and Sanming, with a development pattern moving eastward and southward from Jianning and Taining in Sanming. (2) An imbalance is evident in the distribution, where areas with higher center concentrations exhibit a stronger spatial autocorrelation, characterized by high-density clusters. (3) Economic and environmental variables substantially affect center placement. At the municipal level, GDP, number of tourists, and forest coverage are significant. Conversely, at the district or county level, determinants include forest coverage, number of primary and secondary school students, forest land area, and GDP. Thus, it is suggested that the selection of bases for future forest therapy and the development of related industries should take into account local economic, environmental, and social factors. It aims to offer a scientific basis for planning forest therapy, potentially spreading its benefits to more areas.