Conflicts in protected areas often result from contestations around benefit-sharing arrangements. Integrating biodiversity conservation and livelihood goals in protected areas can be aided by quantitative assessments of the contribution of surrounding land-use options and trade-offs between conservation and use. Using household surveys, this study examines the contribution of livestock income (cash and subsistence) to household welfare among livestock-owning households living adjacent to the Great Fish River Nature Reserve, South Africa. Across all households, livestock income contributed about 28% to total household income but the distribution of and dependence on livestock income varied across groups of people. Livestock income had little effect on income inequality but poverty incidence and depth were tied to livestock income especially for the poor and less-poor households. The potential livelihood and conservation benefits for increased support for livestock production are discussed, including how this could reduce conflict levels between conservation agencies and local communities and in a broader sense, improve the relationship between the state and its citizens.

保护区的冲突通常是由于利益分享安排的争执所致。通过对周围土地利用方案的贡献以及保护与利用之间的权衡取舍的定量评估，可以帮助将生物多样性保护和生计目标整合到保护区中。通过家庭调查，这项研究检验了居住在南非大鱼河自然保护区附近的拥有牲畜的家庭中，牲畜收入（现金和生活）对家庭福利的贡献。在所有家庭中，牲畜收入约占家庭总收入的28％，但牲畜收入的分布和依赖性在不同人群之间有所不同。牲畜收入对收入不平等影响不大，但贫困发生率和深度与牲畜收入息息相关，特别是对于贫困和较贫穷的家庭。讨论了增加对畜牧生产的支持所带来的潜在生计和保护利益，包括这如何可以减少保护机构与当地社区之间的冲突程度，并在更广泛的意义上改善国家与公民之间的关系。