In the process of building a Chinese path to modernization that emphasizes harmony between humans and nature, wildlife-induced damage has emerged as a pressing challenge. Based on 1666 household survey samples collected in Yunnan province during 2023-2024, this study employs the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) method to systematically analyze the impacts of wildlife damage on farmers' adaptive behavioral choices and the mechanisms of production factor reallocation. The results show that: (1) wildlife damage promotes farmers' adaptive behavioral responses, leading to marginal adjustments in cropping structure; (2) by altering the allocation of production factors, wildlife damage indirectly inhibits the optimization of cropping structure; and (3) small-scale farmers, those with low investment in protective measures, and those experiencing lower loss levels, are more likely to adjust their cropping structure to cope with wildlife risks. This study reveals the decision-making logic of limited adaptive responses, in which farmers tend to downscale production rather than transform agricultural systems under wildlife-induced risk. The findings provide micro-level evidence for achieving both ecological conservation and sustainable rural development.
WANG et al. (Thu,) studied this question.