Evaluation of the capabilities of national park management personnel in China: progress and recommendations

Given that the management ability and professional skills of national park management personnel directly impact the construction and administration of national parks, enhancing their capacities is considered a crucial pathway for effectively improving the level of national park management and the efficacy of conservation efforts. This issue is one of the most urgent challenges currently facing the construction and management of national parks. Therefore, it is essential to systematically outline the necessary competencies required by national park management personnel, establish capacity evaluation standards, and conduct regular assessments. This approach not only helps managers in objectively determining whether employees are suitable for their positions but also motivates employees to enhance their personal knowledge and skills, ultimately boosting the effectiveness of national park protection and management. This paper systematically reviews the progress made in evaluating the capabilities of national park management personnel in China from various perspectives such as the structure of national park management institutions, personnel conditions, evaluation subjects and objectives, criteria and indicators, and related research and practices. Based on relevant experience from both domestic and international sources, this paper proposes the necessary competencies in administrative management and technical operations for national park management personnel in China. Furthermore, it provides recommendations for refining and enhancing the capacity standard system for national park management personnel, establishing evaluation mechanism, and strengthening capacity building. The goal is to offer a reference for promoting the training of professional talents and the development of related curriculum systems necessary for the construction and management of national parks in China.