Adaptation needs and adaptation options vary among different stakeholders in high-latitude protected areas: A case study of the Qiangtang Protected Area in China

It is essential to understand how adaptation needs and options differ among stakeholders in protected areas (PAs) to effectively implement climate change (CC) adaptation strategies. Using the Qiangtang PA in Xizang as a case study, this research examines CC adaptation needs and options from the perspectives of stakeholders across multiple administrative levels, including provincial, prefectural, county authorities, 73 protection stations, and 13 364 pastoralists residing within the PA. The findings show that stakeholders at the provincial level, as well as those from the Ali and Naqu prefectures and six counties, place greater emphasis on institutional and resource-related needs than on other categories (attention score: 7.0–9.3 vs. 5.0–7.0). In contrast, stakeholders from the 73 protection stations prioritize technological and capacity-building needs more strongly than other types (attention score: 8.0–9.0 vs. 4.0–8.0). The 13 364 pastoralists assign the highest importance to social needs relative to other categories (attention score: 9.0–9.5 vs. 3.0–8.0). Most of the eight existing protection measures were found to indirectly support broader climate adaptation efforts. In particular, protective actions addressing fire, pests, and weather-related disasters can be classified as autonomous adaptation, while other measures generate outcomes that enhance adaptation capacity under specific conditions. Adaptation options, grouped into three main types and 13 subcategories, differ across stakeholder groups, although substantial overlap exists between these options and current protective actions, including ecosystem-based adaptation strategies, adaptation-related practices, autonomous adaptation measures, and emergency interventions. Overall, these findings highlight the critical role of all stakeholders—especially staff from the 73 protection stations and the 13 364 pastoralists—in the effective implementation of adaptation actions within the PA.