Factors Influencing Grazing Behavior by Using the Consciousness-Context-Behavior Theory—A Case Study from Yanchi County, China

Grazing behavior is a key factor that affects the sustainable development of the grassland social-ecological system. Grazing behavior is not only restricted by policies but also affected by the awareness of the herder of the grassland environment. To explore the influencing factors and mechanism behind grazing behavior, Yanchi County of Ningxia, a typical area of the “returning grazing land to grassland” project in Northwest China, was selected as a study area. Based on the consciousness-context-behavior theory, a questionnaire was designed, and 305 households were surveyed. Analysis of structural equation model results show: (1) the environmental sensitivity of herders and their satisfaction with the compensation mechanism regulated grazing behavior. When herders were more dependent on grassland, they were more willing to graze. (2) The grassland dependence, environmental sensitivity of herders, and herders’ satisfaction with the compensation mechanism had a significant interaction effect on grazing behavior. (3) Family livelihood diversification and the number of young and middle-aged laborers had a significant moderating effect on grassland dependence and grazing behavior. These findings are of vital importance for the government to formulate policies to promote the sustainable development of grasslands.

Satisfaction Evaluation of Rural Human Settlements in Northwest China: Method and Application

Rural human settlements are an integral part of a rural system. The evaluation of public feedback based on farmers’ satisfaction is a crucial way to understand the current situation of rural human settlements. This paper establishes a framework to evaluate local dwellers’ satisfaction towards the environment of rural human settlements in northwest China from six dimensions involving living conditions, the environment, physical infrastructure, public service, governance, and culture. The empirical study was conducted in Yanchi County, which demonstrates the applicability of this evaluating method. This study shows that the overall degree of satisfaction towards the environment of rural human settlements is relatively high, with a figure of 77.38. However, the satisfaction scores for the six dimensions are uneven, and there are significant differences between the villages. Further, these villages can be divided into three types according to the residents’ satisfaction, and viable strategies are suggested correspondingly. To sustain rural settlement development, the authors argue that more efforts should be put into technology advancement, public participation incentives, and the subsequent maintenance of projects in the long run.

Evaluation of Soil Seed Banks in Different Aged Caragana microphylla Plantation in Desert Steppe Ecosystems

Soil seed bank (SSB) represents potential plant communities, which is essential in the restoration of degraded ecosystems. Consequently, SSB is crucial in the reconstruction and recovery of aboveground plants because they largely determine the process and direction of vegetation restoration. SSB is also important indicators that can be used to evaluate the effects of management on degraded desert steppe. Here, field sampling and soil seed germination experiments were used to investigate the role of SSB in the recovery of degraded desert steppe. Results indicated that (1) the species composition of SSB and ground vegetation significantly differed in different aged Caragana microphylla plantation and control in the Yanchi County. (2) The abundance of SSB was significantly promoted by C. microphylla plantation. The average seed density in Caragana plantation SSB was 11248.75 m−2, which was 17 times than that of SSB in areas without C. microphylla plantation. (3) The ages of C. microphylla plantation were closely related to the composition and density of SSB.

Erratum: Xuan Wei, et al. Assessing the Effects of Desertification Control Projects from the Farmers’ Perspective: A Case Study of Yanchi County, Northern China. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 983

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Assessing the Effects of Desertification Control Projects from the Farmers’ Perspective: A Case Study of Yanchi County, Northern China

Desertification has inflicted severe damage on the natural environment and social economy for decades, particularly in the arid and semi-arid regions of northern China. In Yanchi County, a series of projects were implemented to combat desertification after 2000. To assess the effects of these Desertification Control Projects from the farmers’ perspective, we divided Yanchi County into two regions (the northern and southern regions) according to their different environmental conditions. We collected data including basic family information, farmers’ perceptions and attitudes, and farmers’ suggestions, in a questionnaire investigation following the Participatory Rural Appraisal approach. Data analysis using the Mann–Whitney U test and Fisher’s exact test revealed that the Desertification Control Projects were generally successful, as the local environment and farmers’ incomes were both improved. Farmers were all satisfied with the effects of the projects, but the farmers in the southern region had a higher acceptance of the projects than those in the northern region. In addition, three problems with the Desertification Control Projects were noted: the farmers had a low degree of participation in the projects, the farmer’s low incomes affected the sustainability of the projects, and the implementation of the complete grazing ban had several adverse effects. We provided suggestions for solving these problems. Our findings have important implications for assessing the effects of environmental conservation projects, especially from a participant’s perspective.

Prohibited Grazing Policy Satisfaction and Life Satisfaction in Rural Northwest China—A Case Study in Yanchi County, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region

In order to restore degraded grasslands, the Chinese central government initiated the Prohibited Grazing Policy (PGP) in areas of severe grassland degradation and ecologically fragile regions which is an important payment for ecosystem services (PES) program. Since the initiation of this policy in the early 2000s, the PGP has significantly influenced participants’ lives. Therefore, in order for the policy to be successful, it is necessary to understand what determines participants’ satisfaction in the policy. This paper presents an analysis of survey data from Yanchi County using ordered probit regression models to explore the factors influencing PGP satisfaction and life satisfaction. The empirical results suggest that farmers’ policy perception, environmental perception, and livelihood strategies of raising sheep had significant effects on PGP satisfaction. Additionally, PGP satisfaction, marital status, environmental satisfaction, self-reported influence of the PGP on income, self-reported income level, and self-reported income and expenditure had significantly positive effects on overall life satisfaction. These results are important for promoting better implementation of such programs as well as enhancing social stability and sustainable development in these regions.

Linking Prohibited Grazing Policy to Farmers’ Subjective Well-Being: A Case Study in Yanchi County, China

Since the launch of a prohibited grazing policy (PGP) in 2002, the ecological environment in North China has improved markedly. The aims of PGP are to improve the ecological environment without reducing farmers’ well-being in rural areas. Hence, after the implementation of the policy for more than 16 years, the effect of this policy on farmers’ subjective well-being (SWB) has become a question that needs to be studied. In this paper, the survey data in Yanchi County was used to explore the relationship between the perception of the policy and farmers’ SWB using structural equation modelling (SEM). The results showed that there was a full mediation effect in the relationship between the perception of the PGP and farmers’ SWB through economic status, neuroticism, and extraversion. However, the mediation effect through the perception of the ecological environment was not significant. These findings suggest that it is important to continue to implement this policy.