Inclusive Conservation or Controlled Displacement? Reassessing Community Participation in China’s Ecological Migration Programmes


Li, S ORCID: 0009-0007-1093-6469 (2026) Inclusive Conservation or Controlled Displacement? Reassessing Community Participation in China’s Ecological Migration Programmes China Report. ISSN 0009-4455, 0973-063X

Access the full-text of this item by clicking on the Open Access link.

Abstract

This study examines the extent and implications of community participation in the decision-making and governance processes surrounding ecological relocation induced by the establishment of protected areas. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with government officials, community representatives and relocated residents in two counties within the planning area of the Giant Panda National Park, the research finds that the quality of participation largely hinges on the localisation of policy implementation and the representativeness of community intermediaries. Although official narratives stress the voluntary nature of relocation, China’s distinctive rural governance structure tends to amplify the authority of community representatives, often at the expense of adequately reflecting residents’ voices and concerns. While the overall effectiveness of participatory approaches remains contested, recent innovations in institutional design have opened up new avenues for community involvement in protected area governance. This study contributes to the literature by shedding light on livelihood transformations and governance dynamics in resettled communities, and identifies potential entry points for enhancing local governance and collaborative management of protected areas.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: 4104 Environmental Management, 41 Environmental Sciences, 44 Human Society, 4406 Human Geography, 4407 Policy and Administration, Generic health relevance, 15 Life on Land
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 10 Feb 2026 13:50
Last Modified: 10 Feb 2026 13:50
DOI: 10.1177/00094455251403084
Open Access URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/00094455251403084
Related Websites:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3196960
Disclaimer: The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate.
Altmetric
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)