Conservation and Development: Spatial Identification of Relative Poverty Areas Affected by Protected Areas in China and Its Spatiotemporal Evolutionary Characteristics

Abstract

Currently, biodiversity conservation and the achievement of common prosperity are important challenges. China bid farewell to “absolute poverty” in 2020 but continues to face challenges, such as relative multidimensional poverty, especially in regions of protected areas (PA). The correlation between poverty and the natural environment leads to further research on the distribution and spatiotemporal evolutionary characteristics of relative poverty regions affected by the restrictive policies of PA. Quantitative research on these regions helps researchers formalize ecological indemnification policies based on the condition of different regions, thereby stabilizing efforts toward poverty alleviation. Through a study on relative poverty areas in 489 county-level administrative regions in China influenced by 477 national nature reserves, this study formulated a multidimensional integrated poverty index model that comprises three systems, namely, natural environment, economy, and society and 13 indicators. Using the comprehensive index, spatial analysis, and cluster analysis to investigate the evolutionary characteristics and driving factors of poverty from 2014 to 2019, the study created a distribution map of relative poverty regions affected by PA. The results indicated the following. (i) Relative poverty regions are mainly concentrated in provinces on the northwest side of the Hu Line with strong spatial correlation between these regions. Among them, the relatively poor areas with persistent deterioration become the keystone to stabilizing poverty alleviation and promoting green development. (ii) Poverty alleviation focuses on the economic dimension, whereas the environmental and social dimensions lack engagement. (iii) Conservation areas overlap with relative poverty regions. However, the increase in PA does not necessarily lead to the aggravation of the poverty in counties. The results offer a valuable reference for decision makers in formulating targeted policies and measures for areas affected by PA to facilitate green development and common prosperity.