Will short-term constraints affect long-term growth? Empirical analysis from the Beibu Gulf Mangrove National Natural Reserve of China

Abstract

The capability approach has long been confined to a static, short-term framework, preventing it from truly providing normative guidance for enhancing multidimensional well-being and sustainable development. Human well-being cannot be seen as fixed, so there is an urgent need to assess the capability approach from a dynamic and long-term perspective. In this paper, the Beibu Gulf Mangrove National Natural Reserve of China was selected as a study area. A sustainable development perspective was integrated into a static capability approach theory framework, focusing on changes in capability approach with a dynamic, long-term gaze, and the impact of coastal zone ecological protection policies on farmers' multidimensional well-being was measured at spatial and temporal scales. The results indicate that ecological conservation policies reduce the level of capability approach of farm households in the short term. However, from a dynamic and long-term perspective, once the “pain period” is over, the capability approach can be continuously improved, achieving a win-win situation for both farmer well-being and ecological sustainability. This result also innovatively verified the core of the capability approach, which states that “freedom” under the capability approach framework is not unrestricted freedom, but restricted freedom. This will further expand and improve the relevant research of Sen's capability approach theory, and is also a beneficial exploration of combining Sen's capability approach theory with the Sustainable Development Goals. In order to solve the contradiction between peasant household welfare development and environmental protection, we need to explore a new scheme. The results of the study provide the government and policy makers with ideas for improving ecological protection policies, along with a more accurate and scientific basis for optimizing the multidimensional welfare compensation system to improve the feasibility and effectiveness of policy implementation.