Ecosystem services, human well-being, and policies in coupled human and natural systems

Over the past decades, human activities have led to unprecedented biodiversity losses and socioeconomic costs. Unless effective changes in policies, institutions, and practices are made, the deterioration is predicted to be even graver in the future. The fundamental challenge to reverse the situation for achieving both environmental and socioeconomic sustainability lies in improving the understanding and management of human-nature interactions.;To address such challenge, this dissertation focuses on improving the understanding of linkages between ecosystem services (ES) and human well-being (HWB), and examining complex policy effects on both ES and HWB. Specific objectives are to: (1) develop an integrated approach to understand the linkages between ES and HWB; (2) understand the effects and underlying mechanisms of indirect and direct drivers, including group size, on collective action and ES management outcomes; (3) test the interaction effects of different policies on HWB; (4) understand the effects of payments for ecosystem services (PES) programs on both ES and HWB; and (5) examine the effects of the post-disaster reconstruction policy on both ES and HWB.;To achieve my objectives, I chose Wolong Nature Reserve and the adjacent Sanjiang Township in Sichuan Province, southwestern China as my study areas. Combining long-term data from household surveys, field plots, and remotely sensed images as well as extensive local knowledge, I used various methods (e.g., ordinary least-squared regression, Tobit models, instrumental variable analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation models, and spatial autoregressive models) to test hypotheses and answer research questions.;Major findings from this dissertation include: (1) the construction of quantitative indicators for ES and HWB as well as integrated models is a viable approach in forwarding the understanding of linkages between ES and HWB. Such integrated approach also generated some important findings. For example, those who are more vulnerable to disasters are disadvantaged households with lower access to multiple forms of capital, more property damages, or larger revenue reductions. Diversifying human dependence on ES helps to alleviate disaster impacts on HWB; (2) group size has nonlinear effects on both collective action and resource outcomes, with groups of intermediate size contributing the most effort and leading to the best outcomes; (3) there are synergistic and antagonistic effects among conservation and/or development policies, which can even lead to unanticipated consequences; (4) the Natural Forest Conservation Program (NFCP) had an overall positive effect on ES, and mixed effects on local livelihood. To enhance the performance of PES programs, it is important to adapt to local conditions and integrate mechanisms in policy design and implementation; (5) the effects of post-disaster reconstruction efforts can differ from one scale to another. Therefore, capacity building and recovery require integrated planning and implementation targeting each form of capital at multiple scales.;Advances in methodology and scientific knowledge from this dissertation may also be applied to study and manage other coupled human and natural systems (CHANS). Hopefully the accumulated knowledge from a set of literature will lead to coherent theories (e.g., human-nature feedbacks theory, vulnerability/resilience theory of CHANS) to guide the management of human-nature interactions.