Abstract: This present study is to answer the question “How have WWF's freshwater conservation activities improved people's livelihoods? ” It is one for four WWF global case studies. The systematic questionnaire surveys were used during the period from 2000 to 2005. A total of 1 474 farmer samples were obtained, in which 964 farmer samples were in Xipanshanzhou Polder, Dongting Lake. Six conclusions have been drawn from the study: (1) WWF Yangtze Programme in Xipanshanzhou Polders has resulted in four outcomes, including more income, increased wellbeings, reduced vulnerability, more sustainable use of the natural resource base. (2) The project benefited women, elder farmers, and lowincome groups. (3) Project households earned much more income and owned more properties than nonproject households. (4) The livelihood continued to be better than when the project started in 2000. (5) The reasons for the successful projects are motivation in local community, favourable national policy, partnership building, institutional arrangement, and adaptive management and innovative approaches. (6) The return of fish and bird species and restored wetland ecosystem functions proved that the conservation objectives of the project were successfully achieved.

Key words: economic assessment, alternative livelihood, wetland restoration, case study, Dongting Lake