Factors Influencing Grazing Behavior by Using the Consciousness-Context-Behavior Theory—A Case Study from Yanchi County, China

Bibliographic Details
Title: Factors Influencing Grazing Behavior by Using the Consciousness-Context-Behavior Theory—A Case Study from Yanchi County, China
Authors: Caixia Hou, Mengmeng Zhang, Mengmeng Wang, Hanliang Fu, Mengjie Zhang
Source: Land, Vol 10, Iss 11, p 1157 (2021)
Publisher Information: MDPI AG, 2021.
Publication Year: 2021
Collection: LCC:Agriculture
Subject Terms: policy of returning grazing land to grassland, consciousness-behavior theory, grazing behavior, herders, moderating effect, Agriculture
More Details: Grazing behavior is a key factor that affects the sustainable development of the grassland social-ecological system. Grazing behavior is not only restricted by policies but also affected by the awareness of the herder of the grassland environment. To explore the influencing factors and mechanism behind grazing behavior, Yanchi County of Ningxia, a typical area of the “returning grazing land to grassland” project in Northwest China, was selected as a study area. Based on the consciousness-context-behavior theory, a questionnaire was designed, and 305 households were surveyed. Analysis of structural equation model results show: (1) the environmental sensitivity of herders and their satisfaction with the compensation mechanism regulated grazing behavior. When herders were more dependent on grassland, they were more willing to graze. (2) The grassland dependence, environmental sensitivity of herders, and herders’ satisfaction with the compensation mechanism had a significant interaction effect on grazing behavior. (3) Family livelihood diversification and the number of young and middle-aged laborers had a significant moderating effect on grassland dependence and grazing behavior. These findings are of vital importance for the government to formulate policies to promote the sustainable development of grasslands.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2073-445X
Relation: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/10/11/1157; https://doaj.org/toc/2073-445X
DOI: 10.3390/land10111157
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/8933b93751cc499db3164333af2f3a14
Accession Number: edsdoj.8933b93751cc499db3164333af2f3a14
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:2073445X
DOI:10.3390/land10111157
Published in:Land
Language:English