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This study adopts an ecological anthropology perspective to examine the impact of the Chengdu–Kunming Railway on ecological concepts in the Liangshan Yi region. By tracing the forestry management practices of the Liangbei Forestry Bureau (later the Liangbei Forestry Administration) between 1958 and 1998 and its interactions with Yi communities, the research reveals how large-scale logging during railway construction exerted ecological pressure and reshaped villagers’ livelihoods and ecological perceptions. Findings show that while the railway offered short-term access to fuelwood and economic opportunities, it also caused severe forest depletion and ecological imbalance. With the implementation of the Tianbao Project, Yi communities gradually shifted from resource users to ecological stewards, transforming their ecological outlook from pragmatism to sustainability. The study demonstrates that major infrastructure projects not only restructure regional economies but also profoundly influence ecological practices and cultural values in ethnic minority areas, offering a representative case for understanding human–environment adaptation in the process of industrialization.