A comparative analysis of herdsmen and eco-immigrant’s livelihood under ecological compensation of the Source Area of Three Rivers: A case study base on household investigation in Zeku County, Qinghai Province

Ecological compensation mechanism of the source area of three rivers has great importance to solve the contradiction between economic development and ecological protection in that area. Based on questionnaire survey and interview in Zeku County, livelihood with ecological compensation policy of eco-immigrants and herdsmen was contrasted. The results showed that the ratio of eco-immigrant family with animal husbandry income is lower than the ratio of herdsmen family,and the ratio of eco-immigrant family with steady jobs or part-time jobs and business is higher than the ratio of herdsmen family. No one has the job about daily supervision of key regions of ecological protection. There is a gap between training willingness and reality of eco-immigrant and herdsmen, and the ratio of trained eco-immigrant is higher than the ratio of herdsmen. Family income of herdsmen and eco-immigrant is not significantly different, but source of income of herdsmen and eco-immigrant is different. Household income from animal husbandry and ecological compensation of eco-immigrants is significantly lower than herdsmen and the income from business of eco-immigrant is significantly higher than herdsmen. Energy consumption of eco-immigrant family and herdsmen family is not significantly different. The fuel subsidy from the government relieves economic pressures of eco-immigrant family. Because of inadequate infrastructure of eco-immigrant settlement, using electricity ratio and cost of eco-immigrant family is lower than herdsmen family.