Case Study on Ntfps of Jinghong Market, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China
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Page 1 of 3 Case study on NTFPs of Jinghong market, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China Luo Aidong 1 Abstract Based on a two years' (1998 - 1999) case study of the Jinghong (the capital of Xishuangbanna prefectures market, more than 90 Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) are identified. These NTFPs species are divided into categories referring to the indigenous knowledge of local people, vegetables, fruits, medicines, spices, ornamentals, dying sources, weaving sources, lighting sources, etc. The NTFPs, which we also call forest products, sometimes have been utilized by local ethnic groups inhabiting the forests for ages. In the two years' NTFPs species study, the use type proportion, their market price and seasonal occurrence are compared relatively. The potential use of some NTFPs species are discussed as well. 1. General introduction of study area Xishuangbanna is located in the southwest of Yunnan province and situated in the southward extension of Hengduan and Wulian Mountains. It is often referred to "Kingdom of plants and animal" of China. Due to its unique geographical and climatic conditions this prefecture harbors the largest and most integrate tropical forest ecosystem in China. It covers not more than 0.2 % of the total area of China, but it more than 4000 species of higher plants and over 600 species of vertebrates are abundant here. The abundant flora and fauna natural resources provide the basis of generating a kind of "green culture", referring to the utilization of forest products by local ethnic groups like Dai, Ahka (Hani) , Jinuo, Yao, Lahu and so on. They have inhabited in this area for a long time, and have a similar culture, religion and language with the bordering countries of Laos and Myanmar, and also some other Southeast Asian countries like Thailand and Vietnam as well (MAB- China, 1998). So, Xishuangbanna is a place where ethnic diversity and biological diversity meet together (Margraf, 1999) . 2. Methodology In this case study we regular visited the local market, at least twice a week, checking all the products that local people collect from forest (including rivers) and sell in the market. These products we call NTFPs. The collected information includes the ethnic name (Dai, Ahka, Jinou, Yao and Lahu) , the part used, the function, collecting period, collection location, market price, etc. The information was obtained through interviews with the persons who were selling the specific NTFPs in the market. Additional information was retrieved from results of the case study from the field. 3. Findings 3.1 Market NTFPs list of 1998 and 1999 All together, 97 NTFPs species were found in the Jinghong market during year 1998 and 1999 (See bilingual Table 1, attached in Chinese version: NTFPs species list of Jinghong market in 1998 and 1999). Of the medicinal herb species, only some very common species often found are listed, since for the large rest of it, it is too many to describe comprehensively in this article. Especially for some unique species, it needs effort from botanists, ethic linguists, MoYa (herb doctor in Dai) , pathologists, etc. to be able to describe them. 3.2 Species occurrence comparison in 1998 and 1999 According to the species findings in the two years (See Table 1), the appearing species amount in 1998 is 97, but 'only' 72 in 1999, which is 25 species less than in 1998. Of those 25 species, there are 8 vegetables, 4 fruits, 5 meat, 2 medicines, and 6 others. Guessing what might be the reason that caused this situation, one might be the forest destruction which became more and more serious, leading to resources decline. Another suggestive reason might be the lower interest of the collector, the lower market price related to the more effort Page 2 of 3 needed for collection. 3.3 Market price comparison in 1998 and 1999 As for the NTFPs market price (Figure 2 and 3), the species with highest price in 1998 is dried paddy frog (Rana nigromaculata) and Bee larvae ( Apiidae ), 60 Yuan/kg, but 62 Yuan/kg in 1999. The products having a medium price around 30 - 40 Yuan/kg is Bamboo moth caterpillars ( Nuctuidae ) and Termite mushroom (Temitomy albumniosus ) in 1998, slightly different in 1999. Lower prices around 10 Yuan/kg are paid for eel (Monopterus albu ),bamboo shoots ( Dendrocalamus spp .), among others. The lowest price for an NTFP is just 2 - 4 Yuan/kg, for example for Oroxylum indicum , Castanopsis indica , Docynia delavayi among others. In general, the price of same NTFPs species in 1999 and 1998 is almost same, only a difference of just 1 or 2 Yuan. Some people might think the NTFPs with highest price will be dealt by many venders, but this is not the case in the Jinghong market. On the contrary, the most popular NTFPs are bamboo shoots ( Dendrocalamus spp . ) , water fem ( Callipteris esuculenta ) , snake pennata ( Acacia pennata ) among others, which are those NTFPs with not a very high price, but which can be collected all year around, and some of them can be cultivated. Other reasons why there are not so many people dealing with the highest price products might be that these NTFPs are not easy to get, and that there are not so many people who can afford to consume them so often. 3.4 Seasonal NTFPs species occurrence comparison When comparing the use types and their proportion in wet and dry season in 1998 (figure 4 and 5), it seems that less species are appearing in the market in the dry season (39 species, occupying 40% of the total), comparing to the wet season (19 species more, 60 % of the total). This is also the case in 1999 (figure 6 and 7). in the dry season, 27 species (37% of the total) are appearing, in the wet season 45 species (63 % of the total). 3.5 Uses type proportion comparison Obviously (figure 8 and 9 in Chinese version), the largest proportion of use types (in terms of amount of species) is vegetable (43% in 1998 and 45% in 1999). The second most important NTFP in terms of amount of species is meat (unprotected animals, 16 % in 1998 and 14 % (one species less than medicine) in 1999), followed by medicinal herbs (10% in 1998 and 15% in 1999). Then follows fruits (12%), spices (7%), insects as food (3%), and ornamentals, pet, and mushroom among others (all 1%) in 1998, and respectively fruits (14%),spices (6%),and ornamentals among others (1%) in 1999. 3.6 NTFP as an alternative income source for local people According to this case study the proportion of the sellers who deal with NTFPs in the market is not more than 10 percent, in general just 6% - 8%. Even for the "6% - 8%", more dm 60% of them just sell one or two lands of NTFPs as a supplementary good, whereas the main products they sell are cultivated vegetables like carrot, greens, cabbage, celery and beans. There are only a few sellers that solely focus on NTFPs, e.g. some mountain ethnic people. Collecting and selling NTFPs might be an alternative income source for local people, but comparing with other cash crops like paddy rice, maize, soybean, and cash tree like rubber, and tea, "it does not mean anything for us" (the NTFPs sellers' own expression). In other words, they earn relatively little from NTFPs' trade, and most mountainous ethnic people just collect this kind of products for self- consumption. 4. Discussion NTFPs as one important element of forest products, plays an important role and is indispensable for most mountain ethnic minorities in Xishuangbanna. According to the two year findings, the species occurrence in the market was 25 species less in 1999 then in 1993, which suggestively may indicate the destruction of forest ecosystem in Xishuangbanna. In this case, how to utilize them properly and sustainably is an important issue, and the following steps might be some approaches to address this issue. 4.1 NTFPs' cultivation For the purpose of improving specific NTFP production and quality, and enhancing larger scale NTFP trade, Page 3 of 3 cultivation might be a proper strategy. Currently, Snake acacia ( Acacia intsia ), Fishwort ( Houttuynia cordata ), Nightshade ( Solanum nigrum ) and some bamboo species are cultivated successfully, but the large production is often hampering a higher market price. 4.2 Game species' breeding Barking deer ( Muntiacus munttjak ),Paddy frog ( Rana nigromaculata ),eel ( Monopterus albu ), bee ( Apis spp . ) and some bamboo moth caterpillars ( Nuctuidae ) are generally all sold at the relatively highest price in the market. Successful breeding might become a priority in developing NTFPs trade in Xishuangbanna, but to raise and breed some wild game species successfully is not quite easy, so more approaches need to be tested. 4.3 Market risk (or problem) The current market price of the NTFP species we found in the Jinghong market range from 1 Yuan/kg to 70 Yuan/kg. The species cultivated successfully, like snake acacia ( Acacia pennata ) and Fishwort ( Houttuynia cordata ) , can be available in the local market all year around, although their market is not so big. However, the market situation is a complicated aspect, affecting the consumption trend and utilization of natural resources. The market mechanism also influences NTFPs market value and trade. An in depth market analysis should be implemented. References 1. Edward F. Anderson, 1993. Plants and people of the golden triangle. O. S printing house, Bangkok. 2. Guo Shaorong, Duan Hua, 1991 . Index of medical plants in Xishuangbanna. Yunnan minority publishing house. Kunming. 3. Li yanhui, etc. 1996. List of plants in Xishuangbanna. Yunnan minority publishing house, Kunming. 4 . Luo Aidong, 2000. Dai people and their indigenous knowledge in Moxie, Xishuangbanna, China. Forest trees and minorities.