Assessment of the conservation effectiveness of nature reserves on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau using human activity and habitat quality indicators

The establishment of nature reserves (NRs) is widely acknowledged as one of the most effective measures to mitigate the threats on habitat quality (HB) posed by human activities (HAs). Precise and scientific assessment of the effectiveness of NRs holds crucial significance in improving management and promoting conservation. In this study, key indicators were creatively selected and applied to the propensity score matching (PSM) model to comprehensively assess the variations in HAs and HB within national NRs on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The results indicated that between 2000 and 2020, 67.4 % of the NR area experienced a decline in HA-related impacts, while 53.8 % of the area saw improvements in HB. Additionally, with the exclusion of external environmental factors, in 2020, the difference in HAs and HB between NRs and non-protected areas was −0.131 and 0.179, respectively. Finally, based on an assessment of the overall conservation effectiveness, seven NRs were classified as “Class I", 18 as “Class II", and another seven as “Class III". These results not only confirmed the effectiveness of national NRs in alleviating anthropogenic pressure and enhancing HB but also served as an important basis for accurately assessing the conservation effectiveness of other NRs and formulating more scientifically sound and appropriate management policies.