The habitats of the already endangered Yunnan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus bieti) are degrading as village economies develop in and around these habitat areas, increasing the depopulation and biodiversity risk of the monkey. The paper aims to show the areas of these monkeys’ high-quality habitats that are at highest risk of degradation by continued village development and hence be the focus of conservation efforts. Our analysis leveraged multiple tools, including primary component analysis, the InVEST Habitat-Quality model, and GIS spatial analysis. We enhanced our analysis by looking at habitat quality as it relates to the habitat suitability for the monkey specifically, instead of general habitat quality. We also focused on the impact of the smallest administrative scale in China—the village. These foci produced a clearer picture of the monkeys’ and villages’ situations, allowing for more targeted discussions on win–win solutions for both the monkeys and the village inhabitants. The results show that the northern habitat for the monkey is currently higher quality than the southern habitat, and correspondingly, the village development in the north is lower than in the south. Hence, we recommend conservation efforts be focused on the northern areas, though we also encourage the southern habitats to be protected from further degradation lest they degrade beyond the point of supporting any monkeys. We encourage developing a strategy that balances ecological protection and economic development in the northern region, a long-term plan for the southern region to reduce human disturbance, increase effective habitat restoration, and improve corridor design.

The reduction in habitat quality (as shown, in part, by the increase in habitat rarity) is an important challenge when protecting the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey. We used the InVEST model to quantitatively analyze the dynamic changes in the habitat of the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey from 1975 to 2022. The results show that in the study period, the degree of habitat degradation increased, with the degradation range at its widest in the south, and the degradation intensity highest in the north, especially along a center “spine” area in the north. Over the latter part of the study period, the habitat quality of most monkey groups improved, which is conducive to the survival and reproduction of the population. However, the habitat quality and monkey populations are still at significant risk. The results provide the basis for formulating the protection of the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey and provide research cases for the protection of other endangered species.