Impact of ecological protection policies on life satisfaction of indigenous populations: A survey of the Qilian Mountain National Park

Sustainable ecological development is key to enhancing the life satisfaction of indigenous populations. However, comprehensive studies on the impact of ecological protection policies on life satisfaction from the perspective of the indigenous populations of national parks are lacking. This study investigated the impact of national park ecological protection policies on the life satisfaction of 496 indigenous households in the Qilian Mountain National Park through a questionnaire survey conducted in 2021, employing an ordered multi-categorical logistic regression model. The results showed that overall life satisfaction was high and 17.34% of indigenous populations are very satisfied with their current standard of living, with the highest satisfaction of herding households, followed by non-farming households, half-farming and half-herding households, and farming households. Livelihood capital components had different impacts on life satisfaction. Policy satisfaction, perceived importance, and participation willingness had different impacts on life satisfaction. Key ecological policy instruments, such as ecological compensation, livelihood skills training, eco-stewardship positions, specialty town development, and natural grassland/forest conservation, significantly enhanced life satisfaction. Therefore, emphasizing the interests of indigenous populations, enhancing their willingness to participate in ecological policies, and improving their non-agricultural and pastoral employment abilities can help to improve overall life satisfaction.