Objective  Since the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council printed and distributed the Guidance on the Establishment of Natural Protected Area System with National Park as the Main Body in 2019, the construction of China’s natural protected areas system has entered the stage of standardization and refined management. At present, it is urgent to figure out how to develop scientific and reasonable planning, and how to conduct dynamic management by virtue of the adaptive management thinking.

Methods/process  As an adaptive management tool applicable to the field of natural and ecological conservation, the conservation action planning (CAP) provides an effective solution to cope with the complexity and uncertainty of protected area management. Taking the Management Plan for Hewangmiao Yangtze Finless Porpoise Nature Reserve and Jicheng Yangtze Oxbow Finless Porpoise Nature Reserve（2020−2022） as an example, this research summarizes the process and results of applying the CAP method in the preparation of nature reserve management plans.

Results/conclusion  This research proves the feasibility of applying the CAP method in the preparation of management plans for nature reserves in China, and lays the foundation for adaptive management of nature reserves.