Southwest China has undergone serious changes in recent years. In this respect, it is representative of large areas in South Asia and in particular the ‚Greater Mekong Subregion’ (GMS) with its 300 Mio inhabitants. The GMS is an informal cooperation of Thailand, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Cambodia, Viet Nam, and the P.R. China (Yunnan and Guangxi Province) to promote the development of the region.
While being far off from global developments and characterized by subsistence economy in the past, the region turned out to become one of the most dynamic areas worldwide. A new highway system connects the countries of the GMS, and the area is opened up to international markets. Cash crops such as rubber, which plays already a significant role in local economy, will become even more attractive and speed up land-use cover change (LUCC) with all its consequences for man and his environment.
As a consequence of the dynamic development, socio-economic and cultural traditions are challenged, leading to a rapid change or even disappearance of traditional land-use systems. The consequences are manifold and affect people and their livelihood, as well as the century-old cultural landscape with its high (agro-)biodiversity.
Table of Contents
Background
Symposium Programme
Presentations
Mo et al.: Limited impact on plant diversity and composition of traditional forest management in a tropical seasonal rainforest in SW China
Liu et al: Land-use and plant diversity - a case study from the NRWNNR
Zhu, H.: Vegetation and flora of Xishuangbanna, Southern Yunnan
Meng et al.: Ground beetle (Carabidae) communities and species distribution in a dynamic landscape mosaic of tropical Yunnan, SW China
Meng et al.: Responses of insect pollinators (hoverflies and wild bees) to land-use change in tropical Yunnan, SW China
(Warren, M.: Soil carbon and nitrogen in the Nabanhe mosaic)
Ghorbani et al.: Non-timber forest products in Naban River Watershed National Nature Reserve (NRWNNR): a case of medicinal and food plants
Li & Li: Soil quality evaluation of different land use types in Naban River Watershed National Nature Reserve
Wolff et al.: Carbon sequestration potentials and nutrient status under different land uses in Xishuangbanna, Southwest China
Zhang et al.: Water Management in Naban River Watershed National Nature Reserve
Leng et al.: The effect of farming area on the livestock number in Naban River Watershed National Nature Reserve
Riedel et al.: Perspectives of small scale pig production in Naban River Watershed National Nature Reserve, Southern Yunnan, P. R. China
Pfingst & Hensel: Post-harvest technologies for value added neglected plants of the Naban River Watershed National Nature Reserve
Liang et al.: Social, cultural and institutional framework of agricultural landscape protection
Liu, Y.: A village social accounting matrix (SAM) for mountainous Southwest China: a case study in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan
Tang et al.: Opinion leaders: making the link between the external extension system and farmers’ indigenous knowledge in rural China
Grötz et al.: The adoption likelihood of land-use innovations in the Naban River Watershed National Nature Reserve (NRWNNR), Southwest China
Wehner & Korff: Landscape and Society: the dialectics of the rubber-line
Jin & Guo: Comparative study on urban and rural residents’ willingness to pay for environmental protection: case study in the Naban River Watershed National Nature Reserve, Yunnan
Ahlheim et al.: Economic valuation of a land-use change scenario of rubber cultivation in Xishuangbanna
Herrmann, S.: Integrated modelling approach for impact assessment in the NRWNNR
Gibreel & Nuppenau: Land-use change analysis by programming of farmer behaviour: a village-household approach to assess the impact of rubber production in southern China
Berkhoff, K.: Modelling land-use change in the NRWNNR with the CLUE-s model
Wahren et al.: Assessment of scenario-driven landscape water budget - embedded in a model framework for decision support in land-use planning in Mountainous Southwest China
Cotter et al.: A biodiversity evaluation tool for the tropics – modelling concept for planning and conservation
Berkhoff, K.: Impact assessment of land-use change scenarios for the NRWNNR
Research Objectives and Themes
This document presents a comprehensive scientific overview of the "Living Landscapes China" (LILAC) project, which focuses on the complex dynamics of land-use change in the Naban River Watershed National Nature Reserve in Southwest China. The primary objective is to analyze the socio-economic and ecological impacts of shifting land use patterns, specifically the expansion of rubber plantations, and to provide data-driven tools for sustainable landscape management.
- Ecological impacts of land-use change on biodiversity (flora and fauna).
- Socio-economic analysis of small-scale agriculture and livestock systems.
- GIS-based modelling of future land-use change and scenario assessments.
- Institutional and cultural frameworks governing agricultural landscape protection.
- Sustainable development and resource management strategies in mountainous regions.
Excerpt from the Book
Limited impact on plant diversity and composition of traditional forest management in a tropical seasonal rainforest in SW China
In order to determine the impacts of different traditional forest management types on plant diversity and composition of the seasonal tropical rainforests in Xishuangbanna, China, four types of forests were selected in Naban River Watershed National Nature Reserve (NRWNNR): primary forest (non-timber product collection allowed), understorey planted primary forest, old secondary forests (~200 years after slash-and-burn), and young secondary forest (15-50 years after slash-and-burn). The results indicate that although human activities affected tree diversity and composition of the forests, the forest regeneration potential under the different management systems was good. Even the young secondary forest, showing the lowest Fisher’s alpha diversity at plot level, had similar diversity levels to primary forest when all plots were combined, indicating high betadiversity. Number of red list tree species, timber species, and useful plant species (edible, medical and fiber plants for livelihoods of local people or commercial use) in young secondary forests was as high as those of less disturbed primary forests, and higher than old secondary forests. Additionally, there were a number of vulnerable and endangered species that were more common in the secondary than primary forests, suggesting that these secondary forests complement rather than decrease diversity.
Summary of Chapters
Background: Provides an introduction to the LILAC project and the socio-economic and environmental context of land-use changes in Southwest China.
Symposium Programme: Outlines the schedule of the Sino-German LILAC symposium, including keynotes and thematic sessions on biodiversity, socio-economics, and modelling.
Presentations: Comprises the collection of scientific papers covering biodiversity, land-use impacts, agricultural economics, and integrated environmental modelling within the reserve.
Keywords
Land-use change, Xishuangbanna, biodiversity conservation, Naban River Watershed, rubber plantations, socio-economics, sustainable agriculture, GIS modelling, ethnobotany, ecosystem services, rural development, forest management, CLUE-s model, mountainous regions, Greater Mekong Subregion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this publication?
The publication focuses on documenting the ecological and socio-economic consequences of land-use changes, such as the transition to rubber monoculture, within the Naban River Watershed National Nature Reserve in Yunnan, China.
Which regions are analyzed in this research?
The research primarily centers on the Naban River Watershed National Nature Reserve (NRWNNR) located in Xishuangbanna, which is part of the broader Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).
What is the core research goal?
The goal is to understand the drivers of land-use change and to develop interdisciplinary tools, such as GIS-based models, to support sustainable decision-making for land-use planning.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The project employs a wide range of methods including vegetation inventories, biodiversity evaluation, socioeconomic household surveys, contingent valuation methods (CVM), and advanced spatial modelling using the CLUE-s framework.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body covers biodiversity assessments of flora and fauna, the socio-economic impacts on farmers, non-timber forest products, soil quality evaluations, and the development of predictive land-use change scenarios.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include land-use change, Xishuangbanna, biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, rural development, and environmental modelling.
How does the "rubber-line" concept influence the region?
The "rubber-line" represents both a natural and social boundary where elevations suitable for rubber cultivation allow for economic modernization, while regions above this line struggle with limited cash-crop alternatives and subsistence levels.
Why are secondary forests important according to the research?
The research indicates that secondary forests in the region often support significant species diversity and house endangered species, thereby complementing primary forests rather than merely representing degraded land.
What is the function of the village social accounting matrix (SAM)?
The SAM serves as an economic model to analyze how different land-use options and rural infrastructure investments influence income generation within local village economies.
- Quote paper
- Dr. Gerhard Langenberger (Author), Gerhard Langenberger (Series editor), 2010, Land use in the Greater Mekong Subregion - A Challenge for Society, Economy and Biodiversity, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/163703
