Synergistic pathways to promote nature-based Solutions: How policy and peer collaboration shape herder decisions on artificial pasture cultivation in Qinghai, China

Abstract

Recognized as a Nature-based Solution (NbS), artificial pasture cultivation (APC) provides a viable alternative forage source for livestock production while supporting the restoration and conservation of natural grasslands. However, its successful implementation relies crucially on coordinated efforts between government and local institutions, yet empirical studies examining their interplay remain scarce. Given that herders' adoption of APC is a rational decision-making process shaped by subjective cognition, this study develops an extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) framework to evaluate how policy intervention and peer collaboration influence adoption. Using survey data from 363 herder households in Qinghai Province, China, SEM is employed and the results show that policy intervention and peer collaboration significantly improve herders’ behavior intention and actual implementation of APC practice. Government policies predominantly reinforce subjective norms and perceived behavioral control via regulatory measures and financial incentives, while peer collaboration leverages weak-tie organizational networks to facilitate knowledge dissemination and reciprocal support. These findings imply that effective NbS promotion requires context-specific policy designs that combine complementary instruments. In cases where NbS adoption involves high costs or substantial production adjustments, integrating policy implementation with existing local collaborative networks can enhance implementation effectiveness.