Research on the Low-Carbon Effects of Farmers’ Livelihood Transition in the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park: A Case Study of Dongning Area

Identifying the low-carbon effects of farmers’ livelihood transformation in the Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park is crucial for rural communities’ green development. Based on survey data from farmers in the Dongning area of the park, this study uses the carbon emission inventory method to analyze farmers’ livelihood transformation paths and low-carbon effects from 2016 to 2023. The results show that (1) farmers’ livelihood strategies in the park are categorized into traditional agriculture-dominated, traditional non-agriculture-dominated, specialty farming/breeding, diversified, and non-agriculture-dominated. From 2016 to 2023, 18.22% of farmers changed their livelihood strategies. (2) Per capita household carbon emissions of farmers in the park generally decreased. Specifically, per capita carbon emissions from living consumption declined, while those from production slightly increased. (3) Among transformation paths, shifts to traditional agriculture-dominated or specialty farming/breeding from traditional non-agriculture-dominated or non-agriculture-dominated strategies led to increases in per capita household carbon emissions. In contrast, other transformed groups and those maintaining their original strategy saw decreases in per capita household carbon emissions.