Abstract:
The establishment of a national park system is a crucial component of China′s ecological civilization construction. As direct stakeholders in this initiative, community residents play a pivotal role in balancing the dual objectives of ecological conservation and community development within national park areas, with a particular emphasis on their impact on community livelihoods. This study employs semi-structured interview data and utilizes grounded theory methodology to focus on two core issues: first, the specific impacts of the Baishanzu National Park′s establishment on local community livelihoods, and second, strategies for enhancing livelihood resilience and fostering harmonious human-environment relationships. The findings reveal that the impact of Baishanzu National Park′s establishment on community livelihoods is complex and multi-faceted. On the one hand, protective policies have restricted community access to and utilization of natural livelihood resources, as well as the development of traditional agricultural practices. These restrictions have exacerbated human-wildlife conflicts, posing challenges to residents who rely on local natural resources to meet basic needs. On the other hand, the brand identity (IP) of the national park and improvements in the ecological environment have yielded positive outcomes: they have enhanced the competitiveness of community-initiated projects and expanded the regional influence of eco-tourism. This positive momentum has further propelled a transition in community livelihoods from over-reliance on traditional resource-intensive industries to more sustainable, eco-friendly models. To address these dual impacts and the practical dilemmas in the reconstruction of community livelihoods, this study develops a "community livelihood interest conflict-interest coordination model", driven by the synergy of policy, ecology, and development. To promote the coordinated development of Baishanzu National Park and sustainable community livelihoods, three key strategies are proposed: 1) deepen collaborative efforts among diverse stakeholders to establish a community co-management mechanism that encourages joint participation in park governance and livelihood restructuring, and ensure community concerns are integrated into decision-making processes; 2) strengthen talent support through targeted training programs and professional talent recruitment to significantly enhance community residents′ capabilities in adapting to new livelihood models such as eco-tourism services, ecological product development, and sustainable agriculture; 3) deepen the integration of industrial elements by combining ecological resources with cultural heritage, tourism, and modern services to reconstruct the community′s economic model and create diversified income channels for residents. These strategies collectively aim to harmonize the ecological conservation goals of the national park with the sustainable development of local communities, ultimately achieving coexistence between humans and the natural environment.