Abstract
Household livelihood strategies are embedded in the natural and socioeconomic contexts in which people live. Analyzing the factors that influence household livelihood choice and defining their consequences can be beneficial for informing rural household policies. In turn, this has great significance for fostering sustainable livelihood strategies. We grouped household livelihood strategies based on the income distribution of 756 households and analyzed their influencing factors and possible livelihood consequences in the watershed of Miyun Reservoir, the only source of surface water currently available for domestic use in Beijing, China. Local farmers’ livelihood strategies can be grouped into three types: farming, local off-farm, and labor-migrant. Farming households have the lowest livelihood capitals, other than natural capital, compared with labor-migrant households and off-farm households, the latter having better livelihood capital status. Geographical location, natural capital, household structure, labor quality, and ecological policies are the main factors affecting farmers’ choice of livelihood strategy. Local off-farm households have a significantly lower dependency on firewood, land resources, and investment than that of farming and labor-migrant households, and have the highest reliance on fossil fuel. This household classification can help us understand the livelihood characteristics, impact factors, and consequences of different types of household strategies, which also suggest tailored policy and management options to promote sustainable livelihoods based on different household types.
Highlights
Rural poverty and environmental degradation are two intertwined challenges developing countries are facing
We investigated the watershed of the Miyun Reservoir, the only source of surface water currently available for domestic use in Beijing, China
The choice of household livelihood strategy was strongly related to geographical location, natural capital, household structure, and ecological policies
Summary
Rural poverty and environmental degradation are two intertwined challenges developing countries are facing. How to improve rural household livelihoods, and simultaneously realize ecological conservation in rural areas, has become a common concern of global social organizations, and an area of increasing research [1]. Researches on rural household livelihood strategies, on the types of strategies that rural households typically adopt and the factors that shape these strategies, have contributed to our understanding of the relationships between rural household livelihoods and the natural environment. Understanding these relationships has important implications for realizing a win–win for rural environmental protection and rural household livelihood improvement
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
