Abstract: A comprehensive, multi-index evaluation methodology, entailing the use of a sustainable livelihoods framework and a vulnerability assessment model, and applying data obtained from 558 household-level questionnaires, was conducted to identify factors influencing farmers' livelihood vulnerability associated with different karst landforms. The findings of the study indicate that the livelihood vulnerability of farmers in the gorge areas on the Huajiang Plateau, whose natural and financial capital is at risk, is significantly higher than that of farmers in the elevated Salaxi Plateau. Accordingly, the risk resilience of farmers in the former region, who play an important role in reducing the fragility of farmers' natural and social capital and livelihoods in the latter region, is extremely weak. Moreover, the livelihood vulnerability of farmers in the gorge areas of the Huajiang Plateau is increased by these risks, which, in turn, increases the human and material capital risks and the fragility of farmers' livelihoods in the elevated Salaxi Plateau. Under increasingly severe conditions of ecological degradation and livelihood stress, safeguarding financial capital, improving education levels, supporting livelihood diversification business activities, and strengthening social networks are the main strategic directions that should be pursued to achieve targeted poverty alleviation within the region.

Key words: farmers' livelihood, livelihood risk, livelihood capital, livelihood vulnerability, karst