Abstract ID: 3.13548 | Accepted as Talk | Talk | TBA | TBA

Organized ecological relocations significantly improve the living conditions of herders at extremely high altitudes in Xizang, yet environmental changes pose challenges to sustaining their livelihoods. This study examines Senburi Resettlement, the largest high-altitude ecological relocation site in Xizang, to assess differences in livelihood resilience among migrant groups. Data were collected through questionnaire surveys and in-depth interviews, and a game theory combination weighting method was employed to quantitatively evaluate post-relocation livelihood resilience. A two-step clustering analysis then identified distinct migrant groups and explored their resilience patterns. (1) The average livelihood resilience score at Senburi Resettlement was 2.93, comprising buffering capacity (1.29), self-organization capacity (0.77), and learning capacity (0.86). Overall resilience remains relatively low. (2) Resilience scores varied by township: Gacuo scored the highest (2.99), followed by Cuozheqiangma (2.97) and Qiangma (2.96), while Ejiu scored the lowest (2.75). (3) The sampled households were grouped into three categories: young knowledgeable female-headed households, resource-constrained male-headed households, and affluent male-led households. The affluent male-led households displayed the highest average resilience (3.50), followed by the young knowledgeable female-headed households (3.30), while resource-constrained male-headed households had the lowest (2.43). (4) These disparities primarily arose from variations in buffering capacity. Future efforts should focus on enhancing the economic capital and skills of resource-constrained male-headed households, tapping the governance potential of young knowledgeable female-headed households, and leveraging the demonstration effect of affluent male-led households to improve overall resilience. These findings elucidate the differential livelihood resilience of high-altitude ecological migrants in Xizang and offer targeted policy recommendations for advancing sustainable livelihood development and effective resettlement management in other ecologically fragile regions.