Park residents see tourism as an option, not always a skill they possess

Wildlife-related livelihood threats were associated with willingness to try tourism, but not with confidence in entering it.

Wild Lands Ecological Intelligence Editor
Wild Lands Institute · 1 November 2026

Evidence: Peer-reviewed
Geography: 513 respondents near Wuyishan National Park, China
System: Human-wildlife conflict and protected-area livelihoods

WHAT THE EVIDENCE SAYS

Survey modeling found greater reported wildlife damage correlated with livelihood threat and intentions to diversify toward tourism. Threat was associated with perceived tourism usefulness but had no clear association with tourism self-efficacy.

WHY IT MATTERS / OUR READ

Creating an alternative livelihood opportunity and equipping local residents to use it are separate governance tasks.

CAVEATS / UNCERTAINTY

Cross-sectional survey intentions do not demonstrate real occupational transitions or causal effects of wildlife damage.

SOURCE

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution — Zheng et al. (30 Oct 2026)
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