Cost-Benefit Analysis for the Qinling Mountain Nature Reserve Group: Evaluation of Comprehensive Benefits
秦岭自然保护区群成本效益研究(Ⅲ)——综合效益评价

Comprehensive benefit evaluation is the basis for nature reserve resource management and planning, and important in territorial planning. We evaluated nature reserve comprehensive benefits (1) to understand the operation and management of a nature reserve system, especially the harmonious development of the nature reserve with surrounding areas, and (2) provide a basis for the optimization of protection policy. Cost benefit evaluation takes the measurement as the foundation, and considers the whole reserve operation status, and the influence of the cost and benefit on regional development. We used the method of horizontal comparative analysis, involving the transverse comparison of nature reserves within the study area. Through the same time evaluation of the comprehensive benefit between them, we determined the optimal scheme and solved deficiencies in nature reserve development. We selected a fuzzy mathematics method and combined this with a measurement index system and measurement results for three major benefits across the Qinling Mountains nature reserve group. We chose 17 leading comprehensive benefit evaluation indexes and estimated the section data of seven large reserves according to the evaluation index system. We found that that comprehensive benefits of Zhouzhi Nature Reserve and Taibai Nature Reserve were best; the benefits of Foping, Changqing, Niuliangbei and Crested Ibis Nature Reserve were second; and the benefits of Tianhua Mountain Nature Reserve were lowest. This study summarized a suitable comprehensive benefit evaluation index system and evaluation method for forests of different types, which, when lacking time series data, can use section data to evaluate the comprehensive benefits of nature reserves and support nature reserve optimization.