Hide-in-Bird Pond: A new pathway to synergize biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in China

Reconciling biodiversity conservation with economic advancement represents a defining challenge of the Anthropocene epoch. Although ecotourism is widely promoted as a strategy capable of delivering both environmental and developmental benefits, empirical evidence regarding its ecological and socioeconomic impacts remains limited. This study critically examined the Hide-in-Bird Pond (HIBP) model, a rapidly expanding, community-based avitourism framework in China that integrates targeted wildlife provisioning with concealed infrastructure for bird observation, simultaneously establishing a novel income source for economically marginalized rural regions through ecotourism. Semi-structured online interviews were conducted with 98 HIBP operators, and thematic analysis was applied to evaluate current developmental patterns, spatial distribution, and conservation outcomes. A total of 251 HIBP sites were identified across China, predominantly located in biodiversity-rich but economically marginalized regions. These sites collectively supported 524 bird species—36% of China’s avifauna—including 148 species classified as nationally protected or threatened (38% of nationally listed bird taxa). These findings suggest that HIBP can serve as an integrative socio-ecological platform that aligns conservation objectives with sustainable rural development. However, the absence of standardized governance frameworks and ecological safeguards poses significant risks to biodiversity and long-term sustainability. Implementation of science-based adaptive management systems, incorporating systematic biodiversity monitoring, inclusive stakeholder coordination, and certified sustainable tourism protocols, is critical to ensure ecological integrity and sectoral resilience. These findings offer novel insights into aligning conservation objectives with economic development across regions characterized by high biodiversity and persistent economic disadvantage.