Jie Li is Professor at Institute for Population and Development Studies, School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi’an Jiaotong University, China.
Shuzhuo Li is Professor at Institute for Population and Development Studies, School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi’an Jiaotong University, China.
Gretchen C. Daily is Bing Professor in Environmental Science, Department of Biology, Stanford University, USA.
Marcus Feldman is Professor of Biological Sciences and director, Morrison Institute for Population and Resource Studies, Stanford University, USA.
The book considers the challenge of poverty and deterioration of the ecological environment in China, particularly in rural areas. Examining key factors such as the overuse of natural resources and the loss of biodiversity in the face of an expanding population and rapidly developing economy. It focuses on examining the frameworks of rural households in poor mountainous areas in rural China, considering their livelihood choices and decision-making processes. It analyses the relationship between these households’ livelihoods and their environment, notably farmers’ attitudes and perceptions towards ecological conservation policies, and their use of forest resources. Cutting across the fields of population studies, sociology, economy and environment, this is an important read for scholars and students interested in how China is dealing with the challenges of natural resources exploitation, sustainable development and social welfare.