The National Park-Based System of Protected Areas
Protected areas are the land and sea regions designated in accordance with relevant laws to enjoy long-term protection, which may host important natural ecosystems, natural heritage and natural landscapes, to preserve their natural resources, ecological functions or cultural values.
Protected areas are core spaces for building an eco-civilization and a beautiful China. They are of top importance to safeguarding China's ecological security. National parks, nature reserves and various nature parks are all protected areas in China.
The report to the CPC's 19th National Congress in 2017 announced the decision to develop a system of protected areas composed mainly of national parks and launch major reforms regarding the protected areas.
In June 2019, the central authorities published a document on developing the system, based on rational classification and layout and effective protection and management, so that important natural ecosystems, natural heritage, natural landscapes, and biodiversity will all benefit from systematic protection.
Building this system fulfills the reform task set at the CPC's 19th National Congress and applies Xi Jinping thought on eco-civilization. The goal for 2025 is to establish a sound national park system and put in place an initial system of protected areas composed mainly of national parks; the goal for 2035 is to have China lead the world in terms of scale and management of protected areas and build a Chinese-style system of protected areas.
以国家公园为主体的自然保护地体系
自然保护地是各级政府依法划定或确认，对重要的自然生态系统、自然遗迹、自然景观及其所承载的自然资源、生态功能和文化价值，实施长期保护的陆域和海域。自然保护地是生态建设的核心载体、中华民族的宝贵财富、美丽中国的重要象征，在维护国家生态安全中居于首要地位。自然保护地包括国家公园、自然保护区、各类自然公园等类型。
2017年，中共十九大提出，建立以国家公园为主体的自然保护地体系，启动了自然保护地领域的重大改革。2019年6月，中共中央办公厅、国务院办公厅印发《关于建立以国家公园为主体的自然保护地体系的指导意见》，提出要建立分类科学、布局合理、保护有力、管理有效的以国家公园为主体的自然保护地体系，确保重要自然生态系统、自然遗迹、自然景观和生物多样性得到系统性保护。
建立以国家公园为主体的自然保护地体系，是贯彻落实习近平生态文明思想的重大举措，是中共十九大提出的重大改革任务。中国建立以国家公园为主体的自然保护地体系的阶段性目标是：到2025年，健全国家公园体制，初步建成以国家公园为主体的自然保护地体系；到2035年，自然保护地规模和管理达到世界先进水平，全面建成中国特色自然保护地体系。