Comprehensive evaluation of the functions of Wolong Nature Reserve
卧龙自然保护区综合功能评价

Protected areas (PAs) represent a special kind of land use type with the protect ion of wildlife species, ecosystems or natural relics as the main objectives. Bu t the success or failure of protection depends on the effectiveness and sustaina bility of PA management, which is the fundamental guarantee of the healthy devel opment of PAs. Evaluation in functionality is an important instrument to drive P As towards effective and sustainable management. Based on the theory of fuzzy logic and questionnaire surveys, we gave a comprehe nsive evaluation of Wolong Nature Reserve in functionality in this paper. In the process of evaluation, we defined the functions of Wolong Nature Reserve as nat ure conservation, environmental education, scientific research, social developme nt and economic development. Each of the five major functions was further repres ented by three to five sub-criteria (sub-functions), respectively. Accordingly , a hierarchical criteria system with three layers was established for the evalu ation. Totally, there were five criteria in the second layer and twenty criteria in the third layer. The results showed that the function of nature conservation was in good situatio n, while, the other four major functions were in a situation not so good as expe cted. Therefore, the overall function, the uniform representation of the five ma jor functions, was just so-so. Of the five major functions, Wolong Nature Reser ve functioned best at nature conservation, followed by the functions of scientif ic research, social development, environmental education, and economic developme nt. These indicated that the functions of Wolong Nature Reserve were closely rel ated to each other. No matter where the dysfunctions occurred, the overall funct ion and the healthy development of Wolong Nature Reserve would be affected. To i mprove the overall function of Wolong Nature Reserve, the characteristics of the functions that are complementary and mutually reinforcing need to be taken into consideration. Only this way, can the various conflicts be resolved successfull y. The unilateralism and low efficiency in the management and decision making pr ocess can be overcome, subsequently. To keep the functions in harmony is favorab le to the sustainable development of Wolong Nature Reserve. The analysis of the sub-functions is helpful in the search of an entire improvement of the reserve functions.were f