Will the Establishment of a National Park Protect More Suitable Habitats for the Qinling Golden Snub‐Nosed Monkey?

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ABSTRACT The Qinling Mountains, recognized as a biodiversity hotspot, are included in the national park construction plan, necessitating clear boundaries and critical habitats for endangered species, which are essential to fulfill the function of the national park. In this study, we used the MaxEnt model to analyze the suitable distribution area of the flagship species, the Qinling golden snub‐nosed monkeys ( Rhinopithecus roxellana qinlingensis ), and to identify conservation gaps for this species in the national park. The annual range area of the Qinling golden snub‐nosed monkey was set as the minimum threshold for high‐suitability habitat patches. We identified 30 high‐suitability habitat patches (8664 km 2 ), with 1350 km 2 located outside the national park. Additionally, we identified 58 ecological corridors, which included 44 ecological pinch‐points and 88 ecological barrier patches. Approximately 16% of the corridors and 29% of the ecological pinch‐points were located outside the national park. The primary barriers to these corridors were roads and buildings, corresponding to the key factors affecting the distribution of the Qinling golden snub‐nosed monkeys in the Qinling Mountains (human footprint). Projections for the year 2030 indicate that 9.89% (857 km 2 ) of high‐suitability habitat patches would be affected under the natural development scenario (2020–2030 trend). However, in the national park scenario, a loss of 159 km 2 of high‐quality habitat—projected under natural development—would be prevented. The national park will overcome the shortcomings of the decentralized protected area system, and future efforts may involve expanding boundaries or creating protection districts, alongside enhancing monitoring surveys and the construction of artificial corridors.

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