Pathways for consolidating the sloping land conversion program in Guizhou Province using fsQCA and the transtheoretical model

Introduction Consolidating the achievements of the Sloping Land Conversion Program (SLCP) is key to future sustainable operation and the promotion of comprehensive rural revitalization of the SLCP. Methods On the basis of the transtheoretical model and stages of change (TTM) and using the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) model, this study examined the realization paths of the consolidation of the SLCP in Guizhou Province from the perspectives of value perception and government regulation. Results First, the differences in value perception and government regulation determine the different states of SLCP consolidation, and strong value perception and effective government regulation are the key conditions for effectively consolidating the SLCP and achieving economic development and ecological protection. Second, three different paths can support farmers’ transformation from willingness to engage in behavior, and two different paths can support farmers’ transformation from behavior to continued behavior. Value perception and government regulations have formed a diversified configuration for farmers to maintain the SLCP in a “multi-concurrent” manner. Third, on the basis of the corresponding cases covered by the configuration paths, this paper proposes three paths for consolidating the SLCP, namely, consolidating the SLCP under the conditions of implicit risk status, intermittent status, and high-risk status. Discussion The conclusions obtained will propose more targeted and operational paths for the SLCP maintenance behavior of farmers and long-term consolidation mechanism of the SLCP.