Charismatic species draw the most attention toprotected areas, Estifanos et al. (2019) found that 75-85% of ecotourists to Kenya and Tanzaniatraveled to see a species of big cat, such as lions or leopards. Protected areas that allow tourismhave significant positive impacts on the local community, not only protecting natural resources,but also increasing mean family income and child health outcomes (Naidoo, 2019). Nature-basededucation and recreation facilities are usually created to support protected areas, furtherenhancing the locals’ and tourists’ knowledge about the landscape (Shen, 2019). Ecotourism hasseveral profound impacts on communities, stimulating the local economy and encouragingfurther protection of natural landscapes

Citations:An, Li, Frank Lupi,

10,000 butterflies from 500 species across a latitudinal slope. Species richness was higher, onaverage, on the Northern slope as compared to the Southern slope, and the highest density ofbutterflies was concentrated around the middle of the mountain (Ren, 2022). Seasonality andaltitude had an effect on butterfly distribution, as these factors impact food availability andclimate conditions. The researchers conclude that butterfly colonization patterns are significantlyaffected by anthropogenic climate change and human degradation (Ren, 2022). Understandingthe range these butterfly species inhabit will allow for future protected regions to be generated inan optimal economic and biological manner. Studies like this provide significant insight tofurther the research by Zhuang et al (2019) and can expand or amend current protected regions.

While flagship conservation, as it currently stands, does notadequately preserve biodiversity, several novel frameworks have been developed that couldimprove protection standards.

Snub nosed monkeys are a crucial part of the Chinese forest ecosystem, as they act as aflagship species for the region. Unfortunately, the range for this species has decreased over timedue to habitat fragmentation. Li et al (2018) hypothesized that the fundamental niche of theSichuan monkey will decrease by 37% and move to higher altitudes. Previous protectionprotocols have allowed for half of the current suitable regions and half of the future regions to beprotected nature reserves; however, the environments left behind will be degraded and unusablefor many species (Li, 2018). In their research, Zhang et al. (2013) inspect the ecological andgeothermal niche the monkeys currently inhabit in the national parks and other forests in easternChina to build a distribution model for the monkeys. The research team’s proposed refuges willsufficiently provide food and shelter for the snub-nosed monkeys as far as 2050, as long asconservation policies support the cultivation of these protected areas (Zhang, 2012)

In the Qinling Region, many of the flagship species’ niches overlapwith one another and hotspots for ecosystem service

Thegiant pandas, takin, and golden monkeys are typically found in the northern mountain regionswith correlation coefficients between 0.59 and 0.90.

Habitat fragmentation has a detrimental effect on species, especially those who rely onmigration and range shifts to maintain a healthy species distribution. Anthropogenic disturbanceof natural landscapes has led to ever-shrinking niches for wildlife species. Identifying thefundamental niches, any habitat an organism could reasonably occupy, versus the realized niches,the actual regions the species are found, can have significant implications for future ecologicalcommunities (Viña, 2010).Giant Pandas used to roam across eastern Asia, but are now restricted to six Chinesemountain ranges, with under 2000 individuals left in the wild (Viña, 2010). Viña et al. (2010)study Giant Panda distribution across its entire fundamental niche using Range-Wide analysis toidentify the realized habitat of this species across different environments. The Qinling Mountainregion has the highest proportion of suitable habitat, with about 66% of this land protected asnature reserves. Vegetation was a major dictator in panda dispersion, as forests with densebamboo understory are positively correlated with panda colonization. Estimating futuremigration patterns of vegetation and the organisms that depend on them is important asconservation biologists allot conservation areas while considering increasing global pressuresand anthropogenic dependence on the land

The Giant Panda is an essential flagship species for China, specifically theQinling Mountain region. Serving as both a biological and cultural emblem, the panda has hadsignificant effects on conservation policy in China.

This framework, however, can frequently overlook other important factors in an ecosystem, suchas background species and ecosystem services.

Protected areas are essential for protecting biodiversity hotspots and preservingecosystem services

Pandas are credited for beginning “guanxi loans,” in which pandas are loaned tointernational zoos. In exchange, China receives knowledge, staff, and substantial compensation.Guanxi refers to the trust, loyalty, and longevity, of sharing a living organism, their nationaltreasure, with other programs (Jepson, 2015).

Within their study, McGowan et al. (2020) were able to identify the ecosystems thatcontained the highest levels of biodiversity and ecosystem services. One of the regions identifiedwas the Conifer forests in China, specifically the Tibetan Plateau Steppe and Southwesttemperate forests (McGowan, 2020). These forests are home to iconic flagship species, such asthe Golden snub-nosed monkey, Takin, Snow Leopard, and most importantly for this criticalanalysis, the Giant Panda

Jepson et al. focuses on two frameworks under which flagship species are primarilyconsidered: the actor-network theory (ANT) and affordance. ANT rejects a human-nature divide,treating each group as homogenous entities that interact on the global stage. Under this ideology,non-human species are regarded as imperative for social life, as they contribute to cultural andpolitical practices. Affordance describes the transactional process by which humans interact withtheir biotic environment and the benefits or drawbacks that the species offer (Gibson, 1986).

Jepson et al.

here are several criteria by which thespecies are chosen, including geographical distribution, visibility, conservation status, perceived

threatened

boutiquestatus

Stakeholder engagement and public opinion are two driving factors in conservationpolicy, heavily influencing the outcomes of these programs (Cisneros-Montemayor, 2016)

hese programs (

This paper explains the benefits of flagshipconservation, as well as the potential drawbacks of the framework, within the context of Chinesetemperate deciduous forests and the species within them.

e in soil conservation, the