• Energy Research

The human–elephant conflict is a current issue that receives global attention and occurs in all elephant-distribution countries. This paper focuses on Pu′er and Xishuangbanna cities in the distribution area of Asian elephants in Yunnan Province. Based on two case studies, we collect basic information from local farmers regarding the severity of the damage caused by Asian elephants and the impact this has on their psychology. Based on the Logit model and modulation effect, we analyze the impact farmers’ livelihood capital on how they choose livelihood strategies in the distribution area and whether damage caused by Asian elephants and general conflict conditions can regulate this impact. The results show that the damage caused by Asian elephants and general conflict conditions is serious in the distribution area, but the number of farmers who choose to change their livelihood strategies is small. The damage caused by Asian elephants has a different modulation effect on farmers’ livelihood capital. In the future, we should be more considerate of the livelihood capital accumulation of local farmers in the process of protecting Asian elephants, with a view towards maintaining and improving the livelihoods of farmers.

The human–elephant conflict is a current issue that receives global attention and occurs in all elephant-distribution countries. This paper focuses on Pu′er and Xishuangbanna cities in the distribution area of Asian elephants in Yunnan Province. Based on two case studies, we collect basic information from local farmers regarding the severity of the damage caused by Asian elephants and the impact this has on their psychology. Based on the Logit model and modulation effect, we analyze the impact farmers’ livelihood capital on how they choose livelihood strategies in the distribution area and whether damage caused by Asian elephants and general conflict conditions can regulate this impact. The results show that the damage caused by Asian elephants and general conflict conditions is serious in the distribution area, but the number of farmers who choose to change their livelihood strategies is small. The damage caused by Asian elephants has a different modulation effect on farmers’ livelihood capital. In the future, we should be more considerate of the livelihood capital accumulation of local farmers in the process of protecting Asian elephants, with a view towards maintaining and improving the livelihoods of farmers.

Badaling is the main tourism area in Beijing. The development of tourism has generated considerable economic benefit in this region, but the tourism industry also brought considerable environmental pressure. To obtain a targeted upgrade plan for metropolitan tourism industry, static and dynamic analysis methods were used to quantitatively estimate the structure of the tourism industry in this region. In addition, the ecological footprint and ecosystem capacity models were used to evaluate the sustainable development of tourism. The results show that: (1) The structure of tourism in Badaling is better than that of Beijing, but the growth rate of tourism earnings is slower than the average value in Beijing. Overall, the region lacks competitiveness and the tourism industry in the area is in dire need of an upgrade; (2) the total ecological footprint due to tourism in the Badaling region is 381,098.28 hm2, and the ecosystem capacity is 4509.61 hm2. It is in an obvious ecological deficit, and the development of the tourism industry is unsustainable. To relieve the pressure on the ecology in the Badaling region, we propose four policy suggestions: (1) develop disadvantaged sectors and enhance tourism industry competitiveness, (2) boost tourist transportation revenues relying on the Winter Olympic Games, (3) grow cultural and creative products and expand sales channels, and (4) strengthen inter-regional cooperation and alleviate local ecological pressure.

Badaling is the main tourism area in Beijing. The development of tourism has generated considerable economic benefit in this region, but the tourism industry also brought considerable environmental pressure. To obtain a targeted upgrade plan for metropolitan tourism industry, static and dynamic analysis methods were used to quantitatively estimate the structure of the tourism industry in this region. In addition, the ecological footprint and ecosystem capacity models were used to evaluate the sustainable development of tourism. The results show that: (1) The structure of tourism in Badaling is better than that of Beijing, but the growth rate of tourism earnings is slower than the average value in Beijing. Overall, the region lacks competitiveness and the tourism industry in the area is in dire need of an upgrade; (2) the total ecological footprint due to tourism in the Badaling region is 381,098.28 hm2, and the ecosystem capacity is 4509.61 hm2. It is in an obvious ecological deficit, and the development of the tourism industry is unsustainable. To relieve the pressure on the ecology in the Badaling region, we propose four policy suggestions: (1) develop disadvantaged sectors and enhance tourism industry competitiveness, (2) boost tourist transportation revenues relying on the Winter Olympic Games, (3) grow cultural and creative products and expand sales channels, and (4) strengthen inter-regional cooperation and alleviate local ecological pressure.

This study constructs a research framework to examine the decision-making process of tea farmers’ green production behavior based on the improved theory of planned behavior, incorporating external environmental factors such as government regulation, market mechanisms, industrial organization-driven environmental factors, and community governance. A structural equation model was employed to empirically analyze the influence paths and underlying mechanisms of multi-subjective governance on tea farmers’ green production behavior using survey data from 872 tea farmers in the main tea-producing areas of Fujian Province. The results showed that (1) government regulation, market mechanisms, and community governance significantly and directly impact the decision-making of tea farmers’ green production behavior, with path coefficients of 0.676, 0.686, and 0.373, respectively, and market mechanisms also indirectly act on green production behavior through perceptual behavioral control, with a path coefficient of 0.459. (2) The market mechanisms had the greatest influence on the decision-making of tea farmers’ green production behavior (total utility of 0.830), followed by government regulation (total utility of 0.676), community governance (total utility of 0.373), and finally, industrial organization-driven factors (total utility of 0.046), indicating that the market organization and the government departments are the most important external environmental forces affecting the decision-making of tea farmers’ green production behavior. The results provide valuable references for achieving effective multi-subjective governance and guiding/regulating tea farmers’ green production behavior. While strengthening the incentives and constraints of government regulations on tea farmers’ green production behavior, it is important to fully leverage the roles of market mechanisms, industrial organization-driven factors, and community governance in the governance of tea farmers’ green production behavior.

This study constructs a research framework to examine the decision-making process of tea farmers’ green production behavior based on the improved theory of planned behavior, incorporating external environmental factors such as government regulation, market mechanisms, industrial organization-driven environmental factors, and community governance. A structural equation model was employed to empirically analyze the influence paths and underlying mechanisms of multi-subjective governance on tea farmers’ green production behavior using survey data from 872 tea farmers in the main tea-producing areas of Fujian Province. The results showed that (1) government regulation, market mechanisms, and community governance significantly and directly impact the decision-making of tea farmers’ green production behavior, with path coefficients of 0.676, 0.686, and 0.373, respectively, and market mechanisms also indirectly act on green production behavior through perceptual behavioral control, with a path coefficient of 0.459. (2) The market mechanisms had the greatest influence on the decision-making of tea farmers’ green production behavior (total utility of 0.830), followed by government regulation (total utility of 0.676), community governance (total utility of 0.373), and finally, industrial organization-driven factors (total utility of 0.046), indicating that the market organization and the government departments are the most important external environmental forces affecting the decision-making of tea farmers’ green production behavior. The results provide valuable references for achieving effective multi-subjective governance and guiding/regulating tea farmers’ green production behavior. While strengthening the incentives and constraints of government regulations on tea farmers’ green production behavior, it is important to fully leverage the roles of market mechanisms, industrial organization-driven factors, and community governance in the governance of tea farmers’ green production behavior.

Ecotourism has a high potential impact on remote communities, by improving economic opportunity and natural resources conservation, and is increasingly accepted as an alternative livelihood for rural people. This study examines ecotourism development from the perspective of participation and economic impact for the Bousra people in Cambodia. A total of 237 households were selected as the sample size. Data collection was carried out with face-to-face interviews and analyzed using logistic regression and ordinary least square methods. Results revealed that local households depend mostly on agriculture (i.e., crop plantation and farming) and utilize ecotourism as a secondary source of income. Most households acknowledged ecotourism had a positive impact on environmental, social, and economic perspectives, while some signaled negative backlash due to depleted natural resources and impact on local culture. Household participation in ecotourism was not significantly affected from assistance issued by government or non-governmental organizations. However, causal relationships were found based on household demographic factors, attitude to environmental conservation, and village life. It was shown that the percentage of people involvement in ecotourism is high, but their income percentage is low due to education, skill, and capacity to expand. As a low-impact alternative to standard commercial tourism, community-based ecotourism has potential in becoming a transformative form of economics for local communities.

Ecotourism has a high potential impact on remote communities, by improving economic opportunity and natural resources conservation, and is increasingly accepted as an alternative livelihood for rural people. This study examines ecotourism development from the perspective of participation and economic impact for the Bousra people in Cambodia. A total of 237 households were selected as the sample size. Data collection was carried out with face-to-face interviews and analyzed using logistic regression and ordinary least square methods. Results revealed that local households depend mostly on agriculture (i.e., crop plantation and farming) and utilize ecotourism as a secondary source of income. Most households acknowledged ecotourism had a positive impact on environmental, social, and economic perspectives, while some signaled negative backlash due to depleted natural resources and impact on local culture. Household participation in ecotourism was not significantly affected from assistance issued by government or non-governmental organizations. However, causal relationships were found based on household demographic factors, attitude to environmental conservation, and village life. It was shown that the percentage of people involvement in ecotourism is high, but their income percentage is low due to education, skill, and capacity to expand. As a low-impact alternative to standard commercial tourism, community-based ecotourism has potential in becoming a transformative form of economics for local communities.