Traditional livelihood risks and adaptation within a conservation context: Insights from two national parks in China

Area-based conservation that addresses rural communities' livelihoods may result in both sustainable rural development and improved ecological outcomes. A comparative study was conducted within the context of China's national park pilot initiative, focusing on herders in Qilianshan and tea farmers in Wuyishan. The results show that inertia towards tradition was common among rural communities, regardless of geographical differences, but their perceptions of livelihood risks varied. Generally, herders were more dependent on policy-support, while tea farmers were more reliant on market mechanisms. Specifically, policy risks, especially from the grassland eco-compensation programme, were significant and added to the conventional natural and market risks for herders. Tea farmers, on the other hand, were more exposed to natural, market, and individual health risks that directly affected income from tea production. The herders' strong demand for adequate pastures and high dependence on eco-compensation created a tension that hindered both ecological and economic outcomes. The lack of tea processing facilities among tea farmers indicated a structural mismatch between supply and demand, which negatively impacted income due to restrictions on tea orchard expansion. We argue that national park management should align traditional livelihoods with conservation objectives by capitalizing on the multiple functions of conservation-compatible production systems, and employing targeted measures to address specific risks.