Abstract: The inherent tension between biodiversity conservation and socio-economic development poses multiple challenges to global protected areas. The synergy between these two priorities is essential to promote sustainable governance. To address this knowledge gap, this study examines the multifaceted impacts of conservation-related conflicts on household livelihoods within four representative protected areas in China, including Giant Panda National Park, Wuyi Mountain National Park, Crested Ibis Nature Reserve, and Poyang Lake Nature Reserve, under the framework of sustainable livelihoods. A stratified random sampling analysis of 2001 household questionnaires collected between 2021 and 2023 revealed three dominant conflict types: resource utilization restriction, agricultural production restriction, and wildlife-induced damage. The intensity of conflict showed spatial variation across different regions, with the severity ranked as follows: Giant Panda National Park>Crested Ibis Nature Reserve>Poyang Lake Nature Reserve>Wuyi Mountain National Park. The assessment of livelihood capital showed significant differences among regions. Households in Wuyi Mountain National Park enjoy superior livelihood capital due to abundant tourism income, higher education levels, and improved infrastructure. On the other hand, households in other reserves face lower capital levels, constrained by limited financial resources, reduced land accessibility, and weaker institutional support. Analysis of livelihood strategies highlights the advantages of part-time livelihoods. Most households across the four protected areas combine agriculture, non-farming employment, and environmental activities to make ends meet. Notably, households adopting multifunctional strategies demonstrate greater resilience in the face of conservation restrictions, highlighting adaptability as a key survival mechanism. Regression models further indicate that resource utilization restriction and agricultural production restriction exert a significant positive effect on per capita wage income. This suggests that regulatory pressure encourages a shift in livelihoods toward non-agricultural activities, such as labor migration or tourism services. Conversely, wildlife conflicts are negatively related to natural capital, reducing crop yields and increasing poverty risks for vulnerable households. This study proposes the following policy recommendations. First, effective conflict management mechanisms should be established to promote information sharing and timely resolution, thus preventing conflict escalation. At the same time, the wildlife damage compensation mechanism should be strengthened by improving compensation standards and payment efficiency to ensure timely support for affected households. Secondly, differentiated community development policies should be designed to foster the development of non-agricultural industries and reduce dependence on limited resources. Lastly, through vocational training, digital employment platforms, rural e-commerce initiatives, and agricultural innovation incubation programs, households are empowered to develop themselves. These interventions aim to boost economic resilience, optimize incentives for conservation compliance, and ultimately provide a model for coordinating biodiversity conservation and rural revitalization in protected areas around the world.