How do local people value ecosystem service benefits received from conservation programs? Evidence from nature reserves on the Hengduan Mountains

Abstract

The Hengduan Mountain is one of the biodiversity hotpots in the world and the threatened and rare flora and fauna on the mountain have been protected in nature reserves (NRs) over the past 20 years. However, limited efforts have been made in studying the benefits local people have received from the conservation, particularly from alpine nature reserves. In this study, we address this research gap by focusing on local people's perceptions of ecosystem services (ESs). We assessed local people’s perception of a broad range of ESs benefits in NRs and consequently gained insights into how they valued 20 years of conservation. Binary analysis and multiple logistic regression model were applied to identify factors that affect the local people’s perception of ES benefits. Our results indicated that most people (73%) living nearby NRs recognized ES benefits from conservation, particularly cultural services like better view (68%) and more tourists (66%). Older people, educated, and other people who utilized NRs were likely to perceive the benefits of ESs from conservation. The opinions of respondents varied with village location, the level of NRs, and the knowledge of NRs. Our results reveal that formal education, age and knowledge-related NRs played important roles in shaping local people’s perceptions of cultural ESs benefits. It suggested that adaptive management should be implemented in NRs of the Hengduan Mountain and community-based protection and harvesting measures should be implemented to enhance community-participated co-management, coupled with environmental education programs covering all people in the family. The assessment of the benefit perception of local people provides a reference for seeking higher acceptance of conservation management.