Farmers' risk perception of concentrated rural settlement development after the 5.12 Sichuan Earthquake

Rural housing reconstruction is critical in realizing sustainable recovery. Concentrated rural settlement (CRS) was widely promoted under the context of new countryside construction after the 5.12 Sichuan Earthquake in 2008. Farmers' risk perception of CRS and their corresponding actions affect realizing sustainable recovery. However, few studies have attempted to comprehend farmers' risk perception of such practices, and the impact factors of risk perception remain unknown. Therefore, this study investigates farmers' risk perception of CRS development using four cases in the hardest earthquake-hit area. ANOVA is employed to explore the factors that influence risk perception of CRS development, and in-depth discussions are conducted to explore the reasons behind such perceptions. Potential measures are proposed to reduce relevant risk factors. This study's findings can help local governments in understanding the concerns of farmers toward CRS and in identifying suitable approaches to mitigate risks in order to realize the sustainability of CRS development. This study also provides references for local government to address the specialized concerns when developing CRS within both disaster and non-disaster context.