Communities can enforce China’s national parks | Science

China’s National Parks Law (1), which will take effect on 1 January 2026, provides the legal foundation for a national park system planned to encompass about 50 sites that cover an area of about one-tenth of China’s total territory (including land and water) (1, 2). Effective governance and enforcement of the vast park system will be a challenge (3) that requires technological instruments and strengthened institutional capacity, including interagency coordination and landscape monitoring (4, 5). To ensure effective protection and enforcement, China should engage the communities that live within the borders of the proposed parks.