Multi-Dimensional Evaluation Framework for the Sustainable Development of Forest Health Bases and Site Selection for Application in China

ABSTRACT

In the context of global aging, people’s awareness of health is deepening, and the rapid economic development has drawn widespread attention to the health tourism industry. As a way of experiencing health, forest health tourism is becoming increasingly favored, and the site selection and construction of forest health bases (FHBs) have also developed accordingly. To ensure sustainability in the process of the site selection and construction of FHBs, the suitability of regional development and the relative coordination of the market, environment, and resource levels should be considered. Although there have been numerous studies on sustainable forestry management, a comprehensive sustainability assessment framework based on development suitability and coordination in three dimensions is needed to guide the site selection and the construction of FHBs. The following tasks were carried out in this study (1) based on market sustainability goals, environmental optimization goals, and ecological resource sustainability goals, a comprehensive sustainability evaluation framework for development suitability indicators and coordination indicators in three dimensions was established;(2) via the use of this framework, the construction potential of FHBs in 41,636 towns in China was evaluated;the evaluation results show that the towns in Anhui, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Zhejiang, Hunan, Hubei, Guizhou, and other provinces of China generally have superior conditions for the development of FHBs;(3) a multi-dimensional comprehensive analysis of FHB site selection sustainability based on development suitability and coordination was carried out for four batches of approved pilots. The comprehensive analysis results demonstrate the worsening evaluation results of the four batches. The proposed framework can provide a reference for FHB development policies for countries worldwide.