Transboundary Ecological Network Communities based on natural protected areas: A case study of the Mekong River Basin, Asia

Natural protected areas (NPAs) around the world play a crucial role in preserving Earth's biodiversity. Ecological networks can be used to identify the close connections between NPAs. The Mekong River, one of the most crucial international rivers in Southeast Asia, boasts a temperate climate and abundant water resources, serving as a hotspot for global biodiversity and a densely populated area with a complex macro-ecosystem. This study, based on the characteristics of cross-border ecosystems in the Mekong River Basin, introduces the concept of “Ecological Network Communities” (ENCs) and demonstrates its foundational construction methodology: firstly, the Minimum Cumulative Resistance (MCR) model is employed to construct ecological networks based on NPAs, followed by applying Clauset-Newman-Moore (CNM) algorithm for community detection within the river basin. The results of the study indicate the presence of deep structures within the ecological networks of the Mekong River Basin and ENCs are observed to exhibit variations over time. The study delves into the complexities of transboundary ecological networks, offering an effective methodology for community detection and uncovering the "Community Merging Effect” observed during the research. It emphasizes the need for constructing ecological networks and community-based management of protected areas, providing new directions for cross-national environmental cooperation and ecosystem management oriented towards complexity.