Abstract:

The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is an important dataset for assessing progress toward the conservation targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.Its records directly influence the international comparability of conservation achievements,the visibility of national contributions,and countries’ influence in global environmental governance.To assess the insufficient representation and potential biases of China's protected area data in the WDPA and its underlying causes,while also exploring the strategic value and feasible pathways for incorporating these data into the database,a quantitative and qualitative evaluation was conducted based on WDPA and domestic datasets from the perspectives of global ranking,data sources,and spatial discrepancies.The findings are intended to support the alignment of China's protected area data with international standards and to strengthen China's discourse power in global biodiversity governance.Only 122 Chinese protected areas are currently included in the WDPA,ranking 88^th worldwide and accounting for 0.04% of the global total.The current data mainly originate from international convention reporting channels and are characterized by outdated records and limited category diversity.Spatial analysis of 12 marine protected areas exposes notable anomalies such as boundary misalignment,data format downgrading and geographical location errors.Systematic incorporation of China’s protected area data into the WDPA can enhance China’s visibility and influence in global conservation assessments,and support scientific research and ecological diplomacy,while also involving challenges related to international scrutiny and data security.Strategic pathways are proposed,including establishing a full-chain data management system,implementing differentiated submission strategies,and participating in the formulation of relevant international standards.Integrating China’s protected area data with the WDPA is an important pathway for China’s deeper participation in global biodiversity governance.Phased implementation is recommended to gradually improve data alignment with international standards.

Key words: World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA), China’s protected areas, biodiversity conservation, global environmental governance, Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework