Improving Well-Being of Farmers Using Ecological Awareness around Protected Areas: Evidence from Qinling Region, China

Li Ma, Yueting Qin, Han Zhang, Jie Zheng, Yilei Hou and Yali Wen
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Li Ma: School of Economics and Management, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Yueting Qin: School of Economics and Management, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Han Zhang: School of Economics and Management, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Jie Zheng: School of Economics and Management, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Yilei Hou: School of Economics and Management, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Yali Wen: School of Economics and Management, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 18, 1-22

Abstract: Sustainability of ecosystems is crucial for improving human well-being and sustainably developing human society. In recent years, global attention towards ecosystems and human well-being has been increasing. Exploring and understanding the relationship between ecosystems and human well-being, and establishing the well-being of residents while protecting the ecosystem have become urgent problems. Based on 618 valid samples collected from communities surrounding seven nature reserves in the Qinling Mountains region of China, this study analyzed the impact of ecosystem services on farmers’ well-being from the perspective of their subjective perception of ecosystem services by using multiple linear regression and seemingly unrelated regression methods. The main conclusions are as follows: supply of vegetation and clean water improves farmers’ well-being, improvement of air quality increases farmers’ life satisfaction, and the sense of belonging and tourism value brought by the ecosystem are important factors for farmers’ physical and mental pleasure and economic benefits. Therefore, the following countermeasures and suggestions are proposed: focusing on establishing the ecological well-being of farmers, improve implementation of the services and benefits provided by the ecosystem to farmers, increase publicity and education to improve the protection consciousness of farmers, and improve community participation mechanisms while mobilizing enthusiasm for protection. This article starts from the perspective of farmers’ perception, attempting to explore whether changes in ecosystem service functions will affect farmers’ well-being, so as to provide new opinions and suggestions for improving farmers’ well-being.

Keywords: ecosystem services; household well-being; perception; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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