Objective The zoning system for national parks is a comprehensive technical measure that reflects the interaction among resource characteristics and values, human activities, management objectives, and control measures. Zoning is a crucial system for national park management and represents a significant scientific topic in national park management. From the pilot stage to a new development stage, how to scientifically and rationally conduct zoning in national parks, based on the “Chinese model”, still remains a scientific issue to be addressed. This research clarifies the evolution and overall characteristics of each development stage of the zoning system for national parks in the United States, analyzes the formal and substantive composition of the zoning system, and explains the logical system of “goal − rule − zoning”, and finally provides effective inspiration for the theory and method of the zoning system for China’s national parks.

Methods This research uses the chronicle method and literature research method to analyze the 12 documents on national parks and the zoning of 63 national parks in the United States. The research summarizes five historical stages of the evolution of national park zoning. Additionally, the research uses the comparative method, institutional analysis method, and logical analysis method to analyze the features and characteristics of each historical stage.

Results The management zoning for national parks in the United States can be divided into five historical stages: Two-zone model, six-zone model, four-zone model, autonomous model, and no-zoning model. The development of the zoning system for national park management in the United States has a history of more than 80 years, which has experienced the goal shifting from “utilization − function” to “protection − control”, the concept shifting from “zoning by potentially conflicting human activities” to “multi-level zoning system based on management objectives”, and the form evolution from “unified formulation” to “decentralized autonomous formulation”. The zoning model of national park management in the United States tends to be localized, flexible, and dynamic. In addition, this research analyzes the nine characteristics of the management zoning for national parks in the United States: 1) Functional attribute of zoning — transform from functional zoning to comprehensive control zoning; 2) functional characteristics of zoning — most zones are similar to China’s main functional zone, rather than the restricted red line zone; 3) functional goal of zoning — strive to achieve the dual balance of “protection − utilization”; 4) zoning policies are of flexibility and complete; 5) zoning is based on the dynamic adaptive management theory; 6) zoning should be supported by a more comprehensive and systematic policy system; 7) zoning must be based on a scientific and rigorous policy system; 8) different designation areas and autonomous zoning composed its rigid and flexible frame; 9) zoning may be deduced through the comparison of multiple scenaro.

Conclusion China’s national park zoning should be regarded as a technical method relying on management rules, for which the system development should be strengthened. To this end, this research puts forward the following suggestions: 1) In terms of overall thinking and pathway, zoning should reflect flexibility and dynamism in laws and regulations. China’s national parks should adopt the zoning model of “1+N”, namely retaining the existing definition and regulation of the core zone, while endowing the zones outside the core zone with autonomy so that they can meet the provisions on the existing “general control zones”. Alternatively, functional zoning can be juxtaposed with the control zoning, with the status of functional zoning being established in laws and regulations. 2) The formal system of zoning should be compatible with the substantive system of zoning, with the logical chain and rule system of “key issues/key elements/key areas − management objectives − management regulations − management zoning” being established in the management plan. Besides, management rules should be refined to enhance the adaptability. 3) Procedurally, the delineation and adjustment of zoning should be incorporated into the management plan, and the mechanisms for periodic assessment of planning and zoning should be incorporated into the legislation to summarize problems and rectify them in a timely manner. 4) The integrity of top-level policy design should be strengthened. Besides the definition of the zoning system, it is suggested to study and formulate a more macroscopic and comprehensive policy on national park management, which should be similar to the “NPS Management Policy” of the United States, and can not only powerfully support the zoning system but also correctly position the zoning system.