How Are Residents’ Livelihoods Affected by National Parks? A SEM Model Based on DFID Framework

Likun Gu (), Guoqing Shi (), Yuanke Zhao, Huicong Liu and Xinyu Ye
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Likun Gu: National Research Center for Resettlement, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China
Guoqing Shi: National Research Center for Resettlement, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China
Yuanke Zhao: National Research Center for Resettlement, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China
Huicong Liu: National Research Center for Resettlement, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China
Xinyu Ye: National Research Center for Resettlement, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-23

Abstract: National parks represent a global initiative for biodiversity conservation and environmentally sustainable societal development, with China having launched its own national park program. The establishment and operation of these parks significantly impact local residents’ livelihoods. Based on DFID’s Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, an assessment tool introduced by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) for evaluating the livelihood standards of residents, this study constructs a structural equation modeling (SEM) framework to analyze how national parks affect residents’ livelihoods, discussing livelihood risk management and feasible capacity-building interventions. Focusing on the Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park as a case study, the research reveals that indirect wildlife-inflicted damage poses more pronounced negative impacts on local communities than park establishment policies. Both regulatory land-use restrictions and wildlife conflicts disrupt land-based livelihood activities, ultimately affecting residents’ livelihood stability. Mitigation requires comprehensive measures, including retaining essential farmland; providing vocational skill training; offering specialized loans; diversifying employment channels; and improving compensation mechanisms to safeguard residents’ livelihood security.

Keywords: national park; sustainable livelihood; SEM model; livelihood framework; human–animal conflicts (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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