Tourism has intensified habitat loss within and around protected areas: Evidence from China

Abstract Tourism is increasingly recognized as a driver of habitat loss in protected areas ( PAs ); however, quantitative evidence on the spatial and temporal dimensions of its impact remains limited. This study employs linear regression models, propensity score matching, spatial lag models and dynamic panel models to evaluate the effects of tourism development on habitat loss across 765 PAs in China. The results indicate that: (1) habitat loss has occurred in the majority of the PAs studied (75%), and tourism development has significantly exacerbated this loss; (2) such intensification is particularly evident in PAs located in eastern China that are non‐national, recently established, and relatively small, which is attributable to China's institutional context; (3) the exacerbating effects of tourism extend beyond PA boundaries, threatening ecological connectivity; and (4) tourism‐induced habitat loss exhibits delayed effects, with a notable increase in intensity beginning in the second year following the establishment of tourist sites. Synthesis and applications. Based on these results, decision‐makers and implementers of PAs should adopt differentiated tourism impact controls that account for PAs ' management level, establishment time, area and regional development level, while also considering spatial spillovers and dynamic changes in tourism impacts. This study enhances the understanding of the spatial and temporal dynamics of tourism's impact on habitat loss and provides critical insights for optimizing strategies to achieve the 2030 biodiversity conservation targets.