How Livelihood Capital Shapes Farmers’ Cognition of Natural Forest Conservation Policy: Implications for Sustainable Forest Management

Background and Objectives: China’s natural forest conservation policy impacts community livelihoods, with farmers’ policy awareness being a key determinant of conservation effectiveness. However, research gaps remain regarding how this policy shapes farmers’ perceptions of livelihood capital drivers and influences their willingness to participate in sustainable forest management. With this study, we aim to quantify the relationship between livelihood capital and farmers’ policy awareness, providing scientific evidence for formulating more effective sustainable policies. Materials and Methods: Using household survey data, we conducted empirical analysis on 498 randomly sampled households from nine villages in Menghai County and Changting County. Generalized ordered logit and binary logistic regression models were employed to examine the impact of multidimensional livelihood capital on policy awareness levels. Results: Our findings indicate heterogeneous effects of livelihood capital. Conclusions: Policymakers should prioritize targeted interventions to enhance the effectiveness of natural forest conservation policies by moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach. Research Highlights and Significance: This study reveals that livelihood capital across different dimensions exerts complex and inconsistent effects on farmers’ policy cognition. Through comparative analysis of two representative regions in China, this study provides empirical evidence for this core finding from both ecological and economic perspectives. The results further offer precise policy implications for enhancing forest conservation policy effectiveness by optimizing livelihood capital structures.