Using open GPS trajectory data to quantify nature-based recreation at a national scale

Abstract

Understanding the patterns of nature-based recreation (NbR) is crucial for both the sustainability of NbR and nature conservation. Using open GPS trajectory data, this study quantifies the spatial and temporal patterns of NbR in China’s non-urban areas (NUA). Results reveal that when China’s NUA are divided into 1 km grids, NbR trajectories are distributed across 8.67 % of these grids. Spatial autocorrelation analysis reveals the significant clustering pattern of NbR activities. The 1 km-resolution density map of NbR trajectories indicates that the number of NbR activities per unit area follows a power-law distribution. Using the Getis-Ord Gi* method, we identify the hotspots of NbR activities covering 0.21 % of China’s NUA, of which 31.13 % are within protected areas (PAs). The average density of NbR trajectories of NUA within PAs is 1.75 times that of NUA outside PAs. 59.96 % of terrestrial national nature reserves face higher NbR activity density pressure than their buffer zones. Our findings highlight the NbR pressure challenges faced by China’s PAs, contribute to optimizing China’s management of NbR and PAs. This study proposes a framework for using open GPS trajectories to analyze NbR activities in NUA and PAs at a national scale, which can be adapted in other countries.