# Will the Establishment of a National Park Protect More Suitable Habitats for the Qinling Golden Snub‐Nosed Monkey?

## TL;DR

This study evaluates how a new national park in the Qinling Mountains will protect the habitat of the endangered Qinling golden snub-nosed monkey.

## Contribution

The study identifies conservation gaps and ecological corridors for the Qinling golden snub-nosed monkey within the proposed national park.

## Key findings

- 30 high-suitability habitat patches totaling 8664 km² were identified, with 1350 km² outside the national park.
- 16% of ecological corridors and 29% of pinch-points are outside the national park, mainly due to roads and buildings.
- The national park scenario could prevent 159 km² of habitat loss by 2030 compared to natural development.

## Abstract

The Qinling Mountains, recognized as a biodiversity hotspot, are included in the national park construction plan, necessitating clear boundaries and critical habitats for endangered species, which are essential to fulfill the function of the national park. In this study, we used the MaxEnt model to analyze the suitable distribution area of the flagship species, the Qinling golden snub‐nosed monkeys (
Rhinopithecus roxellana qinlingensis
), and to identify conservation gaps for this species in the national park. The annual range area of the Qinling golden snub‐nosed monkey was set as the minimum threshold for high‐suitability habitat patches. We identified 30 high‐suitability habitat patches (8664 km2), with 1350 km2 located outside the national park. Additionally, we identified 58 ecological corridors, which included 44 ecological pinch‐points and 88 ecological barrier patches. Approximately 16% of the corridors and 29% of the ecological pinch‐points were located outside the national park. The primary barriers to these corridors were roads and buildings, corresponding to the key factors affecting the distribution of the Qinling golden snub‐nosed monkeys in the Qinling Mountains (human footprint). Projections for the year 2030 indicate that 9.89% (857 km2) of high‐suitability habitat patches would be affected under the natural development scenario (2020–2030 trend). However, in the national park scenario, a loss of 159 km2 of high‐quality habitat—projected under natural development—would be prevented. The national park will overcome the shortcomings of the decentralized protected area system, and future efforts may involve expanding boundaries or creating protection districts, alongside enhancing monitoring surveys and the construction of artificial corridors.

The protection gap of high‐suitability habitat patches in national parks has decreased by 36.94%, compared with nature reserves. The loss of high‐suitability habitat patches in natural development scenario, with decreased 181 km2 in national park scenario by 2030.