# Advancements, Dynamics, and Future Directions in Rural Environmental Governance Research in China
## 6 Conclusions and Recommendations
### Research Challenges and Prospects  
Research on rural environmental governance presents significant challenges yet offers considerable innovative potential. The primary challenge is the acquisition of accurate, comprehensive, and timely data on rural environmental conditions, hindered by inadequate monitoring infrastructure in many rural regions and often unsystematic data collection and updates. Additionally, some rural areas lack the advanced technology and financial resources necessary for supporting effective research and practice in environmental governance. Despite numerous environmental protection policies and regulations enacted globally, discrepancies persist between policy intent and local implementation, influenced by local government enforcement, budget allocations, and prioritization, which can undermine policy efficacy. Moreover, the inherent contradictions between economic and environmental objectives in rural settings--such as the tensions between agricultural production and resource conservation, and the need to balance local economic growth with environmental sustainability--demand focused attention in research.  
Future research in rural environmental governance will benefit from harnessing modern technologies, including remote sensing, big data, and artificial intelligence, to enhance the monitoring and management of rural areas. Promoting sustainable agricultural practices such as ecological farming and organic cultivation is essential, as these methods improve soil and water quality and enhance the quality of agricultural products, thereby benefiting the long-term health of rural environments. Moreover, the development and implementation of scientifically robust and comprehensive environmental policies, especially innovative local initiatives, are crucial for addressing rural environmental challenges. Engaging community members actively in environmental protection and increasing envi  
Figure 14: Hotspot map of spatial distribution of REM-issuing organizations and beautiful villages in China.  
ronmental awareness and education in rural areas are vital strategies for improving policy acceptance and effectiveness.  
Overall, despite ongoing challenges, the scope and depth of research on rural environmental governance are poised to grow, driven by technological progress and policy enhancements.  
Conceptualization, H.T.; methodology, H.T.; resources, H.T.; data curation, H.T.; writing--original draft preparation, H.T.; writing--review and editing, H.T. and X.L.; visualization, H.T.; supervision, J.L. and X.L.; funding acquisition, X.L. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
The authors gratefully acknowledge the support provided for this research by the Shanghai Art Science Planning Project, No. YB2022-F-059, the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, 2232021B-03, and China Arts and Crafts Society 2023 Arts and Crafts Research Topics, CNACS2023-I-38.  
Not applicable.  
All authors thank the reviewers and all members of our team for their insightful comments.  
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.