Analysis of the Impact of Livelihood Capital on Farmers’ Willingness to Participate in Wildlife Conservation

Understanding the impact and mechanisms of livelihood capital on farmers’ willingness to participate in wildlife conservation is crucial for improving the effectiveness of wildlife protection in nature reserves and achieving harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. Based on survey questionnaires completed by 186 farmers around the Jiyuan Section of Taihangshan Macaque Natural Reserve in Henan Province, this study uses the ordered probit model to investigate the impact of livelihood capital on farmers’ willingness to participate in wildlife conservation, and applies mediating and moderating effect models to examine the mediating role of perceived living conditions and the moderating role of farmers’ policy cognition. The relevant results are threefold. (1) Livelihood capital has a significant positive effect on farmers’ willingness to participate in wildlife conservation; however, this positive effect differs across differing dimensions of livelihood capital. While different dimensions of livelihood capital can promote farmers’ willingness to participate in wildlife conservation, the promotional effect of physical capital is insignificant, whereas natural, financial, human, and social capital can significantly promote farmers’ willingness to participate in wildlife conservation. (2) Perceived living conditions have a significant mediating effect on the impact of livelihood capital on farmers’ willingness to participate in wildlife conservation. (3) Farmers’ cognition of ecotourism policy has a significant positive moderating effect on the impact of livelihood capital on farmers’ willingness to participate in wildlife conservation, while the cognition of wildlife damage compensation policy does not appear to have such moderating effect. Therefore, this study proposes recommendations to enhance farmers’ willingness to participate in wildlife conservation to continuously enhance farmers’ livelihood capital, improve farmers’ perceived living conditions through multiple channels, and strengthen policy publicity and awareness.