Coping with giant panda nature reserve protection dilemmas in China: Social capital’s role in forest conservation
Jingyi Dai, Jinzhi Chen, Zhongjie Luo, Wei Zhou
Abstract
Understanding the role of social capital is crucial to cope with the cooperation dilemma of forest conservation. This study examined the impact of rural households’ social capital on forest conservation behaviors based on 669 rural household data around 17 giant panda Nature Reserves (NRs) in Shaanxi Province and Sichuan Province, China. Probit model and Ordered Probit model were used, the results show that: (1) Social capital plays a crucial role in rural households’ forest conservation behaviors; in particular, it makes up for formal institutions in surrounding NRs. (2) Social trust is core to social capital. It positively affects rural households’ forest conservation participation outside NRs as well as in experimental and buffer areas with strict regulation. In addition, it has a significant effect on both low-cost and high-cost forest conservation behaviors, such as reforestation. (3) Social capital enhances rural households understanding of NRs’ policies and develops environmental protection awareness thus promoting forest conservation participation. The above conclusions help illuminate the influencing mechanism of rural households’ forest conservation behaviors and improve the protection effects of NRs.