Rehabilitation of Degraded Forests to Improve Livelihoods of Poor Farmers in South China
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cover2.qxd 6/30/03 11:29 AM Page 1 Degradation of forests and forest lands is a problem in many parts of the world and is particularly serious in south China. Chinese forest policy reforms in recent years have enabled rural households to generate income Rehabilitation of from forests, to own the trees they have planted, and have offered new opportunities to manage forests sustainably. Rehabilitation of degraded Degraded Forests forests and forest lands is one of the possible pathways to improve livelihoods of poor farmers and others in the rural communities. Rehabilitation of to Forests Degraded Improve Livelihoods in of Farmers South Poor China to Improve Livelihoods This report documents the results of four case studies in south China in which farmers, local officials and researchers analysed the problems of of Poor Farmers degraded forests and forest lands, and formulated options for their in South China solution. Opportunities to improve forest management and people's livelihoods are dependent on overcoming a range of biophysical, socioeconomic and political constraints. Action research was used to implement and test some of the options identified. The experience and analysis should be of value for researchers, resource managers and government officials in China and elsewhere to address poverty and environmental concerns through a multidisciplinary, participatory and holistic approach. ISBN 979-8764-98-6 CAF Editor Liu Dachang Editorial Board Zhu Zhaohua, Cai Mantang, Liu Dachang and John Turnbull Rehabilitation of Degraded Forests to Improve Livelihoods of Poor Farmers in South China Editor Liu Dachang Editorial Board Zhu Zhaohua Cai Mantang Liu Dachang John Turnbull 2003 by Center for International Forestry Research All rights reserved. Printed by SMT Grafika Desa Putera, Indonesia Cover photos by Christian Cossalter ISBN 979-8764-98-6 Liu, D. (ed). 2003. Rehabilitation of Degraded Forests to Improve Livelihoods of Poor Farmers in South China. Center for International Forestry Research, Bogor, Indonesia. 97p. Published by Center for International Forestry Research Bogor, Indonesia P.O. Box 6596 JKPWB, Jakarta 10065, Indonesia Tel: + 62 (251) 622 622; Fax: + 62 (251) 622 100 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: http://www.cifor.cgiar.org Table of Contents Acknowledgements v Foreword vi Chapter 1. Rehabilitation of Degraded Forests to Improve the Livelihoods of Poor Farmers: A Synthesis of Four Case Studies in South China 1 Introduction 1 Research Methods 4 Location of Research Sites 7 Biophysical and Socioeconomic Settings of South China 8 Extent of Forest Degradation 13 Causes of Forest Degradation in South China 15 Forest Rehabilitation in South China 20 References 26 Chapter 2. Reclaiming Degraded Forest Lands in the Dry, Hot Climate of Yuanmou County, Yunnan Introduction 29 Research Methods 30 Background Information on Yuanmou County and Loafan Village 31 Land Degradation Assessment 34 Strategies and Interventions for Land Reclamation 36 Conclusions 41 References 43 Chapter 3. Degradation and Rehabilitation of Evergreen Broadleaf Forest in Cangwu County, Guangxi 45 Introduction 45 Research Methods 46 Background Information on Shanxin Village, Cangwu County 47 Extent and Causes of Degradation of Evergreen Broadleaf Forest 50 Disincentives to Managing Evergreen Broadleaf Forest for Commercial Timber and Other Wood Products 54 Strategies for Rehabilitating Degraded Evergreen Broadleaf Forest 55 Conclusions 61 References 63 iv Chapter 4. Rehabilitation of Degraded Chinese Fir Plantations and Evergreen Broadleaf Forest in Huitong County, Hunan 65 Introduction 65 Research Methods 66 Background Information on Dongxi and Xiangjian Villages, Huitong County 67 Chinese Fir Plantations 70 Evergreen Broadleaf Forests 75 Disincentives to Forest Rehabilitation 77 Conclusions 78 References 80 Chapter 5. Rehabilitation and Sustainable Management of Degraded Forests in Gaohong, Lin’an County, Zhejiang 81 Introduction 81 Research Methods 81 Background Information on Lin’an County 83 Overview of Forest Degradation in the Villages 86 Degraded Timber Forests 86 Degraded Bamboo Plantations and Forests 90 Degraded Tea Plantations 92 Development and Extension of Forest Technology 93 Conclusions 95 References 97 v Acknowledgements This publication is the result of a project initiated a team from the CAF Research Institute of Tropi- by the Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF) and cal Forestry; in Hunan, Professor Xu Guozhen finalised with inputs by representatives of Center led a team from the Central South Forestry Uni- for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), and versity; and in Zhejiang, Mr Zhou Guomo led a Canada’s International Development Research team from Zhejiang Forestry College and Lin’an Centre (IDRC) at a meeting in Singapore in 1995. County Forestry Bureau. The academic insights and management skills of We also thank the following individuals Professor Zhu Zhaohua and Mr Cai Mantang were and institutions for their participation in, and valu- critical in formulating the project and coordinat- able support in many ways for our research: in ing the implementation of the case studies in the Yuanmou County: staff of Bureaus of Forestry, field. Their major contribution is gratefully ac- Meteorology and Statistics, and the governments knowledged. They were supported by Professor of Zuolin Township, Nengyi Township and Bai Jiayu, who replaced Professor Zhu Zhaohua Laocheng Township; in. Cangwu: Mr Shao as the overall Project Leader towards the end of Jingxian, Mr Huang Yicai, Mr Xie Shangao, Mr the research period, Mr Jiang Chunquan and Ms Liang Shusheng, Mr Lu Shi’an and Xie Li Yuzhen. Drs Neil Byron, John Turnbull and Hongsheng of Cangwu County Forestry Bureau; Liu Dachang of CIFOR visited field sites to pro- and staff of Guangxi Academy of Forestry, vide academic inputs into the research process. Cangwu County Government, Cangwu County This was a multidisciplinary, participatory Committee of Science and Technology, Cangwu project and it involved many people to a greater Agriculture Bureau; and staff of Wangfu Town- or lesser extent at the case study sites. Sincere ship Government, Wangfu Forest Station and thanks go to farmers of the villages of Laofan, Wangfu Agriculture Station of Cangwu County; Xiaocun, Moke and Bingyue of Yuanmou County, in Huitong: staff of Huaihua Prefecture Forestry Yunnan; Shanxin Village in Cangwu, Guangxi; Bureau, Huitong County Government, Huitong the villages of Xiangjian and Dongxi in Huitong, County Forestry Bureau, and Ma’an Township Hunan; and the villages of Chenjiakan, Hongqiao Government of Huitong County; and in Lin’an and Shangfeng, Lin’an County, Zhejiang, for their County: staff of Lin’an County Forestry Bureau, participation in and collaboration with this re- Gaohong Township Government, and Gaohong search project. Their active involvement and col- Forest Station. laboration made it effective to identify causes of Dr Brian Belcher provided a critical review. forest degradation, and constraints to and strate- Mr Christian Cossalter and Dr John Turnbull gies for forest rehabilitation. Their traditional made a valuable contribution to the final editing knowledge made a great contribution to the de- and lay out. Dr John Graham provided continu- velopment of rehabilitation strategies. ous encouragement to those preparing this publi- The untiring efforts of the research teams at cation. each site in diagnosis, design and delivery, and Finally, sincere thanks to IDRC and CIFOR the preparation of reports is acknowledged with for their financial support for the research, and thanks. In Yunnan, Professor Lai Yongqi led a the preparation and publication of the research team from the CAF Research Institute of Resource report. Insects; in Guangxi, Professor Zheng Haishui led vi Foreword Degradation of forests and forest lands is a Hu Shaofang, Chinese Science and Technology problem in many parts of the world and is Press, Beijing, 1995). Building on this particularly serious in south China where 70 per experience, a new project was initiated in 1995 cent of the population lives in rural areas. Many to develop strategies to assist in the rehabilitation natural disasters, such as catastrophic flooding in of the degraded forests and forest lands in the Yangtze River basin, have been attributed to southern China, to improve local livelihoods and deforestation and there is real poverty in areas to provide inputs into policy deliberations. A that have severe soil erosion and degraded forests. multidisciplinary, participatory approach with Forest policy reforms in the last 20 years have action-orientated research was designed and enabled rural households to generate income from carried out at selected sites in four provinces. The forests, to own the trees they have planted, and new project was managed by the Chinese have offered new opportunities to manage forests Academy of Forestry and implemented in sustainably. Rehabilitation of degraded forests and partnership with the Center for International forest lands is one of the possible pathways to Forestry Research (CIFOR), CAF Research improvement of livelihoods of poor farmers and Institute of Resource Insects, CAF Research others in the rural communities. Institute of Tropical Forestry; Central South In China, where individual farmers own Forestry University, Zhejiang Forestry College, much of the forest, management of the forest is Lin’an County Forestry Bureau with cooperation just one component of the farming system and of local and regional institutions