An Empirical Study Using a Structural Equation Model to Examine the Multiple Driving Mechanisms of Farmers’ Conservation Practices in the Communities Around Nature Reserves in China

This study employed a structural equation model to explore the multiple driving mechanisms of ecological protection behaviors of farmers in the surrounding nature reserves. Using field survey data from 400 households across eight nature reserves in Sichuan and Shaanxi provinces and applying a structural equation model (SEM), this study finds farmers’ perceptions of objective environmental improvement exert the strongest direct influence on protective behaviors, whereas the direct effect of subjective attitude, though significant, is comparatively weaker. This article also reveals that social norms not only directly shape protective attitudes but also indirectly promote protective behaviors through attitude mediation. Although the perceived benefits of ecological compensation benefits can significantly enhance farmers’ protective attitudes, a complete intermediary chain has not been established. It is worth noting that the impact of perceived costs on both attitudes and behaviors did not passed the significance test. This study confirmed the effectiveness of the “normal–attitude–behavior” transmission pathway and, at the same time, revealed that environmental improvement mainly influences behavior through direct paths rather than attitude mediators. This result provides a scientific basis for optimizing ecological compensation policies, emphasizing that a long-term mechanism for ecological and environmental protection should be established by combining environmental monitoring feedback with community standardized construction.