How Does Eco‐Migrant Relocation Affect the Eco‐Friendly Behaviors of Rural Residents? Evidence From Hainan Province, China

ABSTRACT Exploring how eco‐migrant relocation influences eco‐friendly behaviors of rural residents is essential for advancing ecological protection and sustainable governance in protected areas. Existing scholarship has largely emphasized poverty alleviation and livelihood reconstruction, while overlooking the micro‐level behavioral consequences and underlying mechanisms of relocation. Addressing this gap, this study draws on survey data from 855 rural households in the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park and employs a propensity score matching (PSM) approach to estimate the causal effect of eco‐migrant relocation on residents' eco‐friendly behaviors. The results indicate that eco‐migrant relocation significantly promotes eco‐friendly behaviors. After controlling for observable selection bias, relocated residents exhibit a 40.1% increase in eco‐friendly behaviors compared with non‐participants. The effect is heterogeneous, being more pronounced among higher‐income and better‐educated residents. Mechanism analysis indicates that relocation operates through enhanced social interaction, heightened environmental risk perception, and strengthened policy cognition. These results provide rigorous causal evidence and illuminate how institutional environmental interventions translate into individual behavioral change, offering valuable insights for differentiated ecological governance.