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Abstract
This study aims to assess the relationship between community development and environmental protection using the variables of perception of livelihood capitals changes and pro-environmental behaviours based on social exchange theory. Residents’ empirical data were collected at the Nanling National Nature Reserve, which is located in south China. Convenience sampling method was used in the survey, and 314 valid samples were collected in total. The results suggest that the perception of livelihood capitals changes has a significant impact on residents’ pro-environmental behaviours, and six types of livelihood capitals have variable effects on specific pro-environmental behaviours among distinct livelihood strategy groups. Under a tourism participation strategy, the overall effect of the perception of livelihood capitals changes on pro-environmental behaviours is the lowest among the three livelihood strategy groups. In addition, the levels of residents’ perception of livelihood capitals changes and pro-environmental behaviours under a tourism participation strategy are higher than those under a farming strategy, and those under a tourism participation strategy are lower than those under other strategies. This study develops a methodological approach to understand the relationship between development and conservation and advances social exchange theory. Several practical implications are discussed, and recommendations for future research are presented.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes
1 Improving the livelihood of locals includes various aspects, such as improving the material living conditions, enriching their spiritual life, and improving the living eco-environment. In this study, such improvement is mainly expressed by changes in livelihood capital.
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Notes on contributors
Yuling Zhang
Yuling Zhang is an associate Prof in the Guangzhou Institute of Geography, PR China. She received Ph.D. in Tourism Geography and Tourism Planning from Nanjing University. Her research interests include sustainable tourism, National Park and destination environment management.
Xiao Xiao
Xiao Xiao is an assistant professor in the School of Community Resources and Development at Arizona State University and located in the Hainan University- Arizona State University Joint International Tourism College in China. She received her Ph.D. in Natural Resources from University of Vermont. Her research interests include transportation management in parks and recreation areas, climate adaptation planning for cultural resources, and tourism geography.
Chunhui Zheng
Chunhui Zheng is an assistant professor in the School of Tourism at Guangzhou University, China. She received Ph.D. in Tourism Geography and Tourism Planning from Nanjing University. Her research interests include heritage tourism, tourists' psychology and behavior.
Lan Xue
Lan Xue is an assistant professor in the Department of Tourism at Fudan University, China. She received Ph.D. in Park and Tourism Management from Pennsylvania State University. Her research interests lie in destination management, tourism planning, and rural tourism.
Yongrui Guo
Yongrui Guo is a professor in the School of Geography and Tourism at Qufu Normal University, China. He received Ph.D. in Tourism Geography and Tourism Planning from Nanjing University. His research interests include tourism community resilience, tourist flow analysis and tourism economics.
Qitao Wu
Qitao WU is an associate Prof in the Guangzhou Institute of Geography, China. He received Ph.D. in South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, CAS. His research interests include sustainable tourism, Tourism resource protection and development.