Community development practices in the Chebaling Biosphere Reserve and their impacts on residents′ livelihoods

As a representative example of China′s 34 Biosphere Reserves, the Chebaling Biosphere Reserve primarily aims to protect the Central Asian subtropical evergreen broadleaf forest ecosystem. Over the past 40 years, this reserve has achieved remarkable conservation success. Faced with the presence of multiple indigenous communities within its boundaries, the reserve has pioneered innovative community development practices across various dimensions and types, striving to achieve the goal of "harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature". Against this backdrop, this study employs the "sustainable livelihoods framework for the 21st century" as its theoretical foundation. By constructing an adaptive theoretical framework and indicator system, it systematically analyzes the establishment of the reserve and the perceptual differences at the resident level. Additionally, from multiple perspectives of community livelihood backgrounds, livelihood-environment interactions, and livelihood pathways, it comprehensively evaluates the residents′ livelihoods and delves deeply into the mechanisms through which community development practices affect them. The research reveals that in advancing community development practices, the Chebaling Biosphere Reserve has developed a resource enhancement system encompassing natural, physical, human, financial, and social resources. With significant innovation and universal value, this system not only effectively resolves the challenge of balancing local nature conservation with community development, but also offers important insights for the sustainable development of similar reserves.