Analysis of livestock farming pollution control in ecologically sensitive areas through socio-ecological lens: A case of the water sourcing buffer zone of Xiqin Water Plant in Nanping City, Fujian Province

In livestock pollution control, the attitudes and behaviors of various stakeholders have not only been influenced by ecological and economic conditions and their interrelationships, but also directly affected the effectiveness of pollution management which is critical for sustainable development in rural regions. In order to improve the effectiveness and public participation in livestock pollution control in ecologically sensitive areas, this study explored a new idea of governance to effectively control pollution from livestock farms through socio-ecological lens by using the water sourcing buffer zone of Xiqin Water Plant in Nanping City (Fujian Province, China) as a case study. The Mitchell scoring method was used to identify and classify stakeholders. A theory-driven analytical framework was formulated to examine the differences in ecological, social and economic desires among different stakeholders, the relationship networks of pig farmers, village committee members and the general public, and the roles and impacts of these stakeholders in pollution governance. This framework was tested in an empirical analysis using data collected through face-to-face interviews and direct observations of 13 village committees and 111 households in the water sourcing zone of Xiqin Water Plant. Tobit regression was used to identify the factors influencing the attitudes of stakeholders toward pollution control in pig farming. Logistic regression was used to determine the factors influencing the behavior of stakeholders in controlling pollution. The results showed that the social, economic and ecological desires of stakeholders and their social networks had statistically significant impacts on governance decisions-making. Attitudes toward pollution control differed across stakeholders - pig farmers, upstream inhabitants and village committees preferred economic development while downstream inhabitants and village committees favored environmental protection. Village committees had significantly higher attitude scores in supporting pollution control than the inhabitants and pig farmers. Individual attitude scores varied significantly with gender, desire type, education and age. Females and the elderly had a weaker desire for pollution control and the higher education folks showed more positive attitude toward pollution control. While the attitude of stakeholders was not correlated with behavior in pollution control, the desire and relationship with pig farmers significantly affected behavior. Stakeholders with weaker desires were more likely to choose active participatory behavior in pollution control. Then stakeholders with closer relationship with pig farmers were less likely to choose active participatory behavior. The lack of public participation because of negligence of ecological, economic and social desires, and obstruction from local social relationship networks impeded pollution control in pig farming in the study area. A new livestock pollution governance approach was proposed, which sought the transformation of government-led pollution control systems into shared multi-stakeholder governance systems by taking into account the ecological, economic and social desires of stakeholders and local social relationship networks, balancing the interests of different stakeholders and taking advantage of local social networks. Strengthening education, promoting the participation of the elderly and women in decision-making and establishing mechanisms for total village pig control, upstream-downstream ecological compensations, tradable pig emission permits and eco-certified pig raising subsidies could guide the attention of stakeholders for environmental benefits. Environmental protection advocacy, training and guidance focused on local clan organizations, elderly associations, civil society organizations, farmers' cooperative organizations and village elites could promote the overall social networks to more effectively support pollution control.