A New Framework for Coordinated Community Development in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, China

Sustainable community development is a prerequisite for national parks’ coordinated ecological and socio-economic development. This study analyzes the sustainable development challenges communities face in national parks, including the marginalization of indigenous peoples, the passive role of stakeholders, and insufficient protection of community interests. Using a grounded theory approach and a mixed research method (semi-structured interviews and questionnaires), the development constraints of community residents in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park in China were systematically studied. The research framework identified five core dimensions (economic, social, ecological, institutional, and cultural) and eight major categories that characterize the community’s development dilemma. The analysis revealed systemic problems, including differences in income distribution, limited access to resources, gaps in policy implementation, and ambiguous stakeholder roles. A new framework for coordinated development of national park communities was constructed through multidimensional analysis, and coordinated development strategies were proposed from the five dimensions of economy, society, ecology, institution, and culture. These findings contribute to the theoretical underpinnings of national park governance in China and offer a transferable methodological system for managing nature reserves and national parks worldwide, particularly in achieving a balance between ecological protection and community development needs.