干旱区内陆河流域农户生计对生态退化的脆弱性评价——以石羊河中下游为例

生态退化对干旱区内陆河流域农业人口的负面影响非常显著,当前急需评估农户生计对生态退化的脆弱性,识别脆弱群体及脆弱性成因,并依此寻求降低生计脆弱性的对策措施。以石羊河中下游为研究区,基于366户农户调查数据,分析了不同类型农户对生态退化的暴露度、敏感性及适应能力,评估了农户生计对生态退化的脆弱性,探明了影响农户生计对生态退化脆弱性的关键因素。结果表明:(1)高收入及高文化程度农户的适应能力强,暴露度与敏感性高,生计脆弱性较低;(2)从纯农户到非农户、从单一生计农户到多种生计农户,适应能力依次增强,暴露度与敏感性递减,生计脆弱性降低;(3)改善生态环境质量,提高农户的富裕水平、受教育程度及社会资本,促进生计转型能够显著降低农户生计对生态退化的脆弱性。最后,提出了减轻农户生计脆弱性的对策建议及未来需进一步关注的问题。

Assessment of the vulnerability of farmers' livelihoods to ecological degradation in arid regions of a continental river basin: a case study of the middle-lower reaches of the Shiyang River in China

The effect of environmental degradation on the agricultural population is particularly significant in continental river basins in the arid regions. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the vulnerability of farmers'' livelihoods to environmental degradation, and to identify both vulnerable populations and the causes of this vulnerability, in order to formulate measures to ameliorate these effects in agricultural populations. We conducted our study in the middle-lower reaches of the Shiyang River in China. Stratified random sampling surveys, participatory rural appraisals, and plot investigation were used to investigate and sample 366 households. We analyzed the farmers''exposure and sensitivity to environmental degradation and their adaptation ability, and assessed the vulnerability of their livelihoods to environmental degradation. We then used an econometric model to evaluate which factors have the greatest influence on the vulnerability of farmers'' livelihoods to environmental degradation. Our results indicate the following: (1) Exposure level, sensitivity, and adaptation ability were highest among high-income and well-educated farmers; However, livelihood vulnerability was also highest for these farmers; (2) Farmer''s exposure level, sensitivity, and livelihood vulnerability was lower, but adaptation ability was higher in farmers with single-livelihood strategies than those with multiple-livelihood strategies; and also in pure agricultural households than off-farming households; (3) The degree of environmental degradation was the most important influence on the vulnerability of a farmer''s livelihood, but the farmer''s affluence, education level, social capital, and livelihood strategy were key factors as well. We recommend reducing or remediating the effects of environmental degradation, increasing farmer affluence, education level, and social capital, and promoting diversified livelihoods to decrease livelihood vulnerability in agricultural populations. Finally, we indicate other concerning issues in research into livelihood vulnerability.