Report No. 10: China Cluster of GEF/UNEP/UNU PLEC
FINAL CLUSTER REPORT
Summary of Results and Achievements from 1998-2001
China Cluster, GEF/UNEP/UNU PLEC
I. HISTORY OF WORK OF CHINA CLUSTER
China cluster of UNU/PLEC was formed and established as part of Mainland
Southeast Asian (MMSEA) Cluster at the end of 1992 and early 1993.
From 1992-1997, the main focuses of China Cluster were site selection, identification
of research contents, development of methodology and capacity building, as well as
planning for GEF Proposal. Seven workshops have been organized jointly with Thailand
Cluster.
The main achievements from 1992-1997 are: (1) development of Agrobiodiversity
Assessment (ABA, Guo Brookfield, et al, 1996); (2) formation of the core members of
China Cluster; (3) confirmation of four demonstration sites: two in Xishuangbanna and
other two in Gaoligong Mts.; (4) training of young researchers on methodology etc.; (5)
baseline data collection of the demonstration sites and background information of the two
regions.
1. Site Selection
Gaoligong Mts. Region:
Sites Selection in Gaoligong Mts. was based on a survey all around the communities
surrounding Gaoligong Mts. State Nature Reserve in 1993. Baihualing in the eastern
slope and Daba in the western slope of the GLG SNR were selected both for PLEC and
FMBC (MacArthur funded project). At the same time, Shabadi and Datang in the west
were selected as supplementary sites.
Gaoligong Mts. is one of the biodiversity richest without systematic scientific research
in the world. Many new plant species were found and published from this area since
1920s. Only from 1995-1997, a long term field plant specimen collection and systematic
flora research revealed that there are more than 5,000 species of higher plant in GLG Mts.,
and 40% of them are endemics (Li Heng, Guo Huijun and Dao Zhiling,200).
The local people already developed various technologies and practice to cope with
changes and conserve biodiversity. However, the conflicts between nature reserve and
surrounding communities are one of the great challenges. Baihualing and Daba villages
are located at the South Silk Route passing Gaoligong Mts. and also close to Nature
Reserve. Therefore, these two villages were selected as demonstration sites since 1993.
From 1993-1997, the research team has conducted following activities: (1) research
on the interaction between community and nature reserve; (2) survey of flora and different
vegetations from 780 m to 3,400 m a.s. and different land use stages in the two sites; (3)
household survey of 60 % of the total number of households; (4) establishment of GLG
farmers association on biodiversity conservation etc. A series articles and monographs
1
have been published.
Xishuangbanna Region
Xishuangbanna group has worked in 9 villages for site selection from 1992-1996.
Daka of Hani people and Baka of Jinuo people were finally identified and confirmed in
1996 as demonstration sites of PLEC China.
Xishuangbanna is a relatively rich in traditional agricultural practice and tropical
rainforest in China, and is similar to neighboring countries in Mainland Southeast Asia. 13
native ethnic minorities live in the area, and many of them are still live within or nearby the
Xishuangbanna State Nature Reserve. Most of them are practicing swidden cultivation,
and have developed tropical cash crops like rubber. The local people have developed
various successful agroecosystems, such as Casia siamea based firewood forest,
homegarden, cropping under natural forest, sacred forest etc. They also preserved rich
varieties of upland rice and paddy rice. However, traditional practices and genetic diversity
are threatened by modern crops and agro-techniques.
Those issues are interested to be scientifically understood, and conservationist
community development approaches need to be developed for the region.
2. Initial Characterization and Method
Objectives of PLEC and characteristics of Xishuangbanna and Gaoligong Mts.
Regions are the main principles for site selection of China Cluster.
PLEC has change focuses from interrelationship between population growth, land
use and environmental change (1992-1995) to biodiversity conservation and expert
farmer demonstration (1996-1997). According to the long-term field research by cluster
members in these two regions, China cluster changed to find the communities with
successful land use and rich native agrobiodiversity as demonstration sites.
In December 1997, under the supervision of Dr. Harold Brookfield, the Principle
Scientific Coordinator, China Cluster finally confirmed Daka in Xishuangbanan and
Hanlong/Baihualing in GLG as the two main demonstration sites, and Baka and Shabadi
as supplementary sites.
3. Determination of focus sites and conversion of some or all of these into
demonstration sites
China cluster has worked in about 13 villages for pre-study of GEF-PLEC. Only four
of them converted into GEF-PLEC funded demonstration sites, as mentioned above. But
the cluster members are still working in some of the supplementary sites on other subjects.
Shabadi, one of the four sites, is maintained as research sites after one-year
implementation since 1999.
4. Progress of work within the four GEF-PLEC years
Since 1998, there have been several significant outcomes and achievements:
1) China Cluster has gradually moved its interest from general issues of population
growth and resource management to specific issues, i.e. biodiversity conservation.
Biodiversity was further divided into natural biodiversity and agricultural
2
2)
3)
4)
5)
biodiversity.
The agrobiodiversity assessment in demonstration sites was conducted at both
landscape and household levels. Major research findings, including
methodologies, were published in two special issues of Acta Botanica Yunnanica
on agrobiodiversity assessment and conservation.
The traditional extension by outside technicians has been replaced by expert
farmers' demonstration of local innovations. By 2001, a total of 27 expert farmers
with their best practices in three villages are recognized by scientists and other
farmers. From 1998 to 2001, 10 expert farmers demonstrated their successful
management practices to over 1000 farmers in Baihualing village alone.
Scientists and technicians have gradually reduced their roles in experimental and
demonstration activities from being organizers to being facilitators. On the other
hand, farmers, especially the Gaoligongshan Farmers' Association for Biodiversity
Conservation, have taken an increasing role in promoting conservation farming
and forest management. The Association has 115 members, and its activities
were reported in many medias such as China Central TV and Japan NHK.
Members of the Association said that they had a sense of recognition and felt
more responsible for developing and promoting conservation farming practices.
Junior researchers and students have become the key research force of the
Cluster. Six PLEC postgraduates published 8 academic papers. They are fully
trained to carry on the PLEC-type research in future.
Table 1. Number of Persons Involved in PLEC China by Year and Category
Category
1998
1999
2000
2001
XB
GLG
XB
GLG
XB
GLG
XB
GLG
Researcher
9
8
7
7
6
3
6
4
Local Researcher
5
13
5
13
6
9
6
7
Students
1
1
1
2
2
3
3
Expert Farmers
17
9
17
9
17
10
17
10
192
175
192
175
192
175
192
178
na
270
na
325
na
310
Exp. Farmers
Ext. Farmers
na
From 1998-2001, China cluster has organized following (detailed see table 2):
(1)
Four annual cluster meetings participated by 221 person, 57 of which are
non-PLEC members and officials, 28 of them are international scholars; 4
cluster working group meetings with 32 person participants, and other 6
meetings with 66 participants.
(2)
Nine Young Researchers Training Workshops, one English Training Course,
totally 199 person participated these training workshops, 70 person of which
are non-PLEC participants and 18 are female.
(3)
6 MSc. graduate students have been trained. They have published 8 articles
in Chinese Journals from 1998-2001.
(4)
Two regional groups (Gaoligong Mts. and Xishuangbanna) have organized
15 farmers training workshops. Totally, 587 persons attended, 142 of which
3
are female and 225 are non-PLEC farmers.
Four on-farm workshops for Expert farmer and Non-Expert Farmers have
been organized, totally 65 household times attended, in which 21 households
are non-PLEC funded farmers. 110 farmer times on-farm exchange have
been organized.
Registered Gaoligong Mts. Farmers Association for Biodiversity
Conservation has absorbed 115 members who are conservationist
development farmers. An exhibition room with a small library, history, charts,
and activities of the association are placed in the association room.
(5)
(6)
Table 2. Annual Meetings, Workshops, Training Workshops and Field Days etc. of PLEC China
Categories
Annual Cluster Meetings, Working Group
Meetings and National Meetings
# of non-PLEC part.
1998
1999
2000
2001
74
44
36
69
20
28
Other Meetings including sub-cluster meetings,
Advisory Group Meetings and International
16
10+?
40
?
30
22
118
10
69
2
125
187
143
56
59
93
Workshops
# of non-PLEC part.
Training Workshops for Young Researchers and
Local Officials)
49
# of non-PLEC part.
Farmers Training Workshops
103
# of non-PLEC part.
Students, including MSc. and Undergraduates
2
4
5+1
6+2
Demo Expert Farmers*
26
26
27
27
Experimental Farmers
192
367
367
367
Collaborating farmers
178+781+?
270+781+?
325+781+?
310+781+?
1,421
1,649
1,887
1,715
1,005
1,107
1,465
1,216
Total Number of Participating China Cluster
Activities (person times)
# of non-PLEC part.
II. DESCRIPTION OF DEMONSTRATION SITES
Yunnan is one of the richest areas both in natural and agro-biodiversity from
ecosystem, species and genetic levels, and linked with its cultural diversity for China and
Eastern Himalayas. Totally, there are 1,500 species of ferns (accounts for 58% of China),
18,000 species of seed plants (accounts for 50% of China), 760 species of birds (accounts
for 66% of China), 248 species of mammals (accounts for 56% of China). Yunnan is also
part of the origin area of many world important cultivated plants, such as rice, tea, mango,
and animals including chicken and their wild relatives. These are preserved in conjunction
with traditional culture of ethnic minorities.
But, there are many species threatened, for instance, 500 endangered plant species,
and 199 species of endangered animals (accounts for 59.4% of China) in Yunnan, some
4
of these are endemics of Yunnan. To protect these important species and ecosystems,
totally 120 nature reserves with total area of 2,549 km2 (accounts for 6.5% of Yunnan’s
territory) were established until 2001, and 10 of them are state nature reserves.
Xishuangbanna State Nature Reserve and Gaoligong Mts. State Nature Researve are two
of the first five state nature reserves in Yunnan, where 4 China PLEC demonstration sites
are located.
Baihualing and Shabadi are located in the eastern and western slope of GLG SNR,
Daka(Hani) and Baka(Jinuo) located nearby Menglun Reserve of XB SNR(see Fig 1,
Table 3).
Figure 1. Location of Demonstration Sites of PLEC China
Xishuangbanna
Xishuangbanna is a critical transformation region from Eastern Himalay to Mainland
Southeast Asia, from the sub-tropics to the tropics by means of flora, fauna and
vegetation.
Within the total land area of 19,700 sq km, farming land occupied 11%, 7% of
plantation, 66% of forestry land. It has a total population of 993.3 thousands, with
population density of 50 persons/ sq km, 35% of them are Dai, 8% of them are Hani, 30%
of them are Han (immigrants from interior for rubber plantation since 1960s) in 2000.
Xishuangbanna preserve the largest China’s tropical rainforest with 8 types, 12
sub-types and 38 communities of vegetations. 5,000 species of higher plants (accounts
for 34.8% of Yunnan, 14.9% of China) with 4 endemic genera and 153 endemic species,
56 species endangered plant species. 102 mammals, 427 birds, 1437 insect species have
5
been recorded in the region, many of them are endemics.
Table 3. Brief Information of Demonstration Sites of PLEC China (1995/2001)
category
Demonstration Sties
Region
Xishuangbanna
Baka
Gaoligong Mts.
Daka
Hanlong
1995 2001 1995 2001
Shabadi
1995
2001
1995
2001
1. Social Setting
Population
# of Households
Ethnic Group
2. Elevation
258
269
304
332
196
208
59
75
56
68
53
65
45
48
14
17
Lisu, Han
Lisu, Han
Lisu
Lisu
Jinuo
Akha
600-1000
720
1200-1600 1200-1600 1800-2000 1800-2000
3. Land Use
Swidden Field
2064
Upland*
720
Paddy
104
Community Forest
500
Plantation.1: Rubber
413
Plantation. 2: Tea
700
850
440
450
80
/
/
179
180
150
150
220
295
255
225
55
85
1,000
500
1050
1500
300
300
633 1416 3900
/
/
7
7
38
35
4
4
Plantation .3 : Fruit
37
770
14
40
15
25
Plantation .4 : fuel wood
20
116
150
40
400 ***
276
403
142
180
30
4. Cash Crops
Cardamom
Sugarcane
Tobacco
100
130
/
/
/
250
150
/
50
150
Richest biological resources, largest China’s tropical rainforest, and characteristic
ethnic culture, characteristic agroecosystems such as shifting cultivation, Dai’s
Homegarden, Casia siamea fire wood system, sacred forest etc. attracted wide attention
from China and overseas. But these are in the process of decreasing, losing, destroying
under the population growth, policy changes, market driven economy during the past 50
years. At the same time, the local people already developed some successful technical
and institutional measures to cope with the changes.
A. Daka
1. Area and population: Area of Daka is 10910 mu, consist of community forest, rubber
and fallow in turn. Its most recent census recorded 332 people in 65 families in the
village. There are 164 males and 168 females, and Hani people occupy 98% and Han
occupy 2%.
2. Physical characteristics: The average temperature is 21.5C, the annual rainfall is
1,563mm/y, and annual mean relative humidity is 83%. The soil is lateritic red earth. The
original vegetation is tropical seasonal rainforest. The altitude is from 540 to 980 meters.
3. System of land use and production: Community forest is owned by community and
used for building wood and fuelwood collection, and is managed by a committee.
6
Household-owned hilly land used for fuelwood and cash crop plantation. Foodstuff
depends on paddy field and upland cultivation. Rubber and Chinese Cardamom play
important roles in cash income.
4. Population characteristics: Young generation only have two children based on national
policy. On the other hand, old generation usually have four to six children. Cash income
mainly depends on cash crop, such as rubber, Chinese Cardamom and Passiflora, and
usually changes with market price. Hani nationality can marry with other nationality.
5. Resource degradation, outmigration, and other constraints: There is enough land for
fallow and have enough time for plant restoration, so land degradation is not serious in
the village. There are a lot of young people going out for work, most of whom are labors
without high education. There are several factors that limit sustainable development, e.g.
market price change affect crop cultivation and bad traffic.
B. Baka
1. Area and population: Area of Baka is 2600 mu, consist of fallow and cash crop
plantation. Its most recent census recorded 269 people in 68 families in the village. There
are 144 male and 125 female and of which Jinuo people occupy 98.8%, Han occupy
0.7% and Hani occupy 0.3%.
2. Physical characteristics: The average air temperature is 21.5C, the annual rainfall is
1556.3mm/y, and annual mean relative humidity is 82 %. The original vegetation is
tropical seasonal rainforest. There are 186.4 foggy day per year.
3. System of land use and production: Land use mainly are fallow and cash crop
plantation, and lack forest as state nature reserve takes great deal of fallow land of the
village. Foodstuff depend on fallow and paddy field. Main crops include upland rice,
corn and paddy rice. Cash crops include rubber, passiflora and Chinese Cardamom.
4. Population characteristics: Population increase slowly, and family structure is simple.
Non-agricultural income takes great ratio of cash income, such as sell wild butterfly from
nature reserve. Jinuo nationality only can marry with other clan.
5. Resource degradation, outmigration, and other constraints: The fallow land area
decreased from 24 mu to 8 mu per person in 1983. The cultivation period is extended and
fallow period is shortened, and therefore, plant and soil are lacking an enough restoration
period and are degraded seriously. Complex land ownership and lack of land had bad
effect on sustainable development of the village.
Gaoligong Mts.
Gaoligong Mts. is an bi-national Mts. between China and Myanmar, in China side, it
has total land area of 23,988 sq km, 63.56% of which are forest, 11.98% are farming land.
Recent study reveals that Gaoligong Mts. is another biodiversity richest region in Yunnan
and China, with total seed plants of 5000 species (Li Heng et al, 2000). Three state,
provincial nature reserves have been established with total reserve land area of 505,626
ha, accounting for 21.52% of the territory until 2000. Gaoligong Mts. State Nature Reserve
is one of the first five State Nature Reserves in Yunnan.
Because of its south-north oriented mountains and rivers, and as the linkage among
three ancient continents in the geological history, as well as its vertical climate, GLG
harbors 44 communities of 12 sub-types and 7 types vegetation from tropical to alpino
ecosystems, especially those 1,759 endemic plant species (44.05% of the flora) in
7
Gaoligong Mts. attracted world wide attention of botanist.
During the past 40 years, diverse ecosystems and species are threatened by local
demands of fire wood for home consumption and industrial crops such as tobacco,
sugarcane, tea etc. many endemic species live below 2,000 m a.s.l, and are threatened
by agricultural expansion. On the other side, the local people have developed many
successful agroecosystems such as Alnus nepalensis based agroforestry system, Oak
tree based fire wood systems, artificial afforestation of rare timber of Phoebe sp., etc.,
which provide some important experience and techniques for sustainable development.
C Baihualing
1. Area and population: area：1,810 ha.（27,150 mu）
；population：2,180
2. Physical characteristics: Main vegetations are dry and hot volley shrub, subtropical
evergreen broad leave forest etc.. Its subtropical monsoon climate can be divided into
distinct dry season and wet season. Rain season is between May to October; The village
lies between 850 meters to 2,000 m. a.s.l., and the upper part borders the State Nature
Reserve of the Gaoligongshan Mountains. The main soil is brick red soil.
3. System of land use and production: Main land-use types are upland, paddy and forest
and home garden. Forest lies between 1,400-2,000 m a.s.l. and borders nature reserve
which lies above 2,000 m. Community forests are commonly divided into collective
forest, responsibility forest and private forest with divers classification among different
nature villages; All of farming lands were allocated to and managed by individual
household. Main crops of Baihualing village are paddy rice, maize, sugar cane, coffee,
walnut, chestnut, pea and potato.
4. Population characteristics: Main sources of income are sugarcane, livestock, labor
output, cash crops; annual cash income is low. The age and sex of population are
moderate. But education level is widely low, only 3% farmers graduated from high school.
Han is majority, the others are Lishu (16.83%), Bai (16%), and Yi, Hui, Zhuang, Dai etc.
5. Resource degradation, outmigration, and other constraints: Soil fertility of upland is
letdown because of monocropping of maize and sugar cane while paddy field become
hardening because of too much use of chemicals; A lot of young generation went out for
jobber in winter. Minor forest products collection is popular in the village. Farmers do not
have enough money to extend cultivation and to find a new way for development.
D. SHABADI
1. Area and population: 11,273mu；655 households, with 3,018
2. Physical characteristics, including soils and land cover: Main vegetations are monsoon
evergreen broad-leaf forest and humid evergreen broad leaf forest. It is subtropical
monsoon area with distinct dry season and wet season with average annual rainfall of
1400 mm. Rainy season is from May to October; The village lies between 1,385 - 2446 m.
a.s.l.. The village lies in the western slope and bordering GLG Mts. State Nature Reserve.
The main soil is brick red soil. Much forest already been replaced by artificial timber and
economic forests.
3. System of land use and production: Main land-use types are paddy (4,105 mu, more
than Bauhualing), forest, upland (397 mu, relative less), and home garden. Main crops are
8
paddy rice, tobacco, rape, wheat, soybean etc.
4. Population characteristics, including main sources of income, livelihood options, age
and sex considerations, ethnicity: Population density is quite high, main cash income are
from tobacco, rape, husbandry, forest products. Han and Lisu are the main ethnic groups.
5. Resource degradation, outmigration, and other constraints: great demand of fire
wood lead to destruction of community forest, and monoculture of afforestation has been
developed.
III. PLEC ACTIVITIES AT THE SITES, AND EVALUATION OF THE
OUTCOMES
China cluster has implemented 55 activities under the 8 PLEC activity categories
from 1998-2001: (1) Demonstration sites: 3; (2) Biodiversity Assessment: 7, plus 10
specific research; (3) Socio-economic Survey: 4; (4) Experimentation / demonstration: 5,
plus 10 specific activities; (5) Data analysis and reporting: 5; (6) Capacity building: 5; (7)
Networking and dissemination: 2; (8) Coordination and Planning: 6. (Detailed see
attachment 1). Based on these activities, a series articles have been published.
These activities were identified according to the PLEC Project Document, Annual
Contract with UNU, and proposals from Cluster members each year. Those activities are
classified into three types: (1) Regional (Xishuangbanna and Gaoligong Mts. Region); (2)
Cross-region (one group working in both region); (3) Cluster office organized and
participated by all regions.
1. Principles and Methods
Demonstration is the heart of PLEC. Conservation of biodiversity with high income is
the basic indicator for selection of demonstration farmers (expert farmers). Identification of
expert farmer requires both scientific survey and farmer’s recommendation. Household
based agrobiodiversity assessment (HH/ABA) developed in 1999 provides basic need
and important opportunity for expert farmer selection. Some successful practice could be
found in the 4 PLEC demo sites, and some could be found from other non-PLEC demo
sites, which also important for the farmers in the PLEC demo sites to learn from
non-PLEC communities for their conservationist development (see Fig.2).
Figure 2. Process of HH/ABA & Expert Farmer Selection
Assessment and Selection
Assessment and Selection
of Expert Farmers in Demo Sites
of Expert Farmers out Demo Sites
Household Base Agrobiodiversity Assessment (HH/ABA)
Farmers Recommendation
Experimentation of outside Expert
Farmer Tech in PLEC Demo Sites
Expert Farmers: Summarizing Technology and Experiences
9
Modification and Demonstration Design
Demonstration of Expert Farmers, Experimentation of
Successful Technology at System and Species Level
M/E of In site Expert Farmers
M/E of Exp. Demonstration
Farmer – Farmer on-Farm Exchange, Training & Extension
Impact Assessment and Policy recommendation
Not all of the practices could be extended, some of them need to be modified then
demonstrated and extended.
The above process helped researchers found some farmers innovatively developed
some specific technologies, or managed specific species, or successful agroecosystems,
or domesticated wild species etc. and also earned high income. These expert farmers
already became or are becoming the leaders of community development and
agrobiodiversity conservation. Not only can be found the expert farmer in the PLEC demo
sites, but also many expert farmers can be found in other non-PLEC sites. Those are
some times more direct resources for conservationist development.
Farmer’s Association has played an important role in facilitating experimentation and
demonstration of outside expert farmer as well as expert farmer selection, training,
on-farm exchange, extension and implementation of those experimentation and
demonstration activities. China cluster used both outside (mainly before 1999) and inside
(mainly since 1999) expert farmer approaches. HH/ABA also become a very useful tool for
monitoring and evaluation every year.
Totally 17 activities have been implemented which are directly implemented by
farmers, funded by PLEC funds, under the facility of researchers, organized by farmers
association from 1998-2001. Those are categorized and described in the following
sessions.
2. (PLEC Sites) Expert Farmer Demonstration
Li Dayi, famous in Baihualing and GLG because of his specific expertise in breeding,
plantation of Phoebe puwenensis, a rare timber tree species, is the first identified expert
farmer through ABA, and is the first PLEC-supported demonstration expert farmer since
1995. The project supported breeding, plantation and extension of Phoebe puwennensis
from 1998-2001. Li Dayi has extended his technology to 95 farmers in Baihualing Village.
Based on HH/ABA, and under the support from PLEC and organization of Farmer’s
Association in Baihualing, 10 expert farmers were selected for 8 activities demonstration
including fruit tree grafting, Ammommum cultivation, breeding of walnut, agroforestry
systems, homegarden, management of timber forest etc. Cooperating farmers increased
10
from 178 households in 1988 to 270 households in 1999, 325 in 2000, 310 in 2001.
3. Experimental Demonstration and Income Earning Activities
Totally, 10 activities have been assigned for experimental demonstration activities
directly participated by 367 household supported by PLEC, 781 household have been
extended by the experimental demo farmers. The following categories are included:
(1) Outside Expertise Experimental Demonstration: 4 activities, participated by 180
household, extended to 301 household. The activities include:

Agroforestation alternating swidden cultivation in Baka (XB) and alternating
degraded land in Shabadi (GLG);

Homegarden Improvement and Agrobiodiversity Conservation in Daka (XB) &
Shabadi (GLG);

Casia siamea Fire Wood Afforestation in Baka (XB) and Indigenous Oak Tree
Fire Wood Afforestation in Shabadi (GLG);

Community Forest Conservation and Community Toursim in Baihualing (GLG)
Jinuo people in Baka has already learned Casia siamea fire wood afforestation since
1970s. Hani people in Daka and Jinuo people in Baka started learning Dai’s homegarden
systems and combining their own knowledge of plant utilization since they settled in the
current location in 1960s. PLEC China is facilitating their process of transferring these
technologies and expanding the extension.
In Xishuangbanna, 17 expert farmers have extended agroforestry, homegarden and
fire wood systems to 96 households from 1998-2001, which accounts for 71.43% of total
number of households of the two demo sites. In Gaoligong Mts., 133 households directly
participated in these activities, and extended to 301 household from 1998-2001.
Community forest conservation and community tourism participated by 48 households
and extended to 480 households in Baihualing has become one of the successful
approach of sustainable and environment-friendly community development, while
recognized by the government and applied by many other projects.
(2) Introduced Technology Experimentation and Extension: 4 activities, participated
by 187 households, extended to 480 household from 1998-2001. These include:

Butterfly farming in Baka (XB): 2 experimenta demo farmer, 20 attracted;

Rare Timber Tree Plantation in Daka and Baka (XB): 60 hh participated;

Fire wood saving Stove in Baka (XB): 15 households participated;

Endemic Plant Garden of GLG Mts.(GLG)
These activities were based on the problems encountered by the community and
identified by the researchers, and then introduce some appropriate technologies to solve
these problems. For instance, butterfly has been one of the large amount products
purchased by tourists and also one of the main cash income of the local people in
Xishuangbanna. Population of many rare wild butterflies are decreasing, some of them
are distinct. The project introduced technology from the Nature Reserve Research
Institute and experiment it in two farmers, successful butterfly farming already attracted 20
framers to be extended.
(3) Infrastructure Projects:

Irrigation Channel Construction in Baka;
11
Transportation Road Construction in Daka (XB)
These two projects are supplementary infrastructure support of PLEC conservationist
and expert farmer based development mostly supported by the local government.

4. Farmer’s Association Oriented Community Capacity Building
Gaoligong Mts. Farmer Association on Biodiversity Conservation, as China’s first
Farmer’s Environment Protection Association, attracted wide attention of news media and
became the main organizer of demonstration sites.
Gaoligong Mts. Farmers Association on Biodiversity Conservation was established
and registered in 1995. It was promptly reported by various news media in the same year,
and became one of the “hot topics” in the year. Since 1998, the association summarized
its experienced in the period of 1995-1997, and improved its regulations and roles, and it
gradually became the main organizer of all experimentation, demonstration activities,
expert farmer demonstration activities, and farmers training activities. Up to February
2002, 115 households became the members of the association, the members are
selected and assessed in advance, only those farmers has successfully conserving
biodiversity and economic development can become the member.
Successful experience of the association not only attracted attention from media and
the public, but also recognized as one of the most successful approaches of coordinating
the relationships between nature reserve and its surrounding communities by the
government agencies, this experience has been extended to many other areas with
nature reserves in the whole province of Yunnan. There are 50 similar associations have
been established in Yunnan.
5. Impacts of PLEC Training Activities on the Local Communities
Beside the GLG Farmers’ Association as mentioned above, the impacts of PLEC on
demonstration and local communities can be also realized from: (1) the growth of local
farmers participating PLEC training workshops: (2) technician oriented training transferred
into farmer led training; (3) formal training workshop changed into informal on-farm
exchange; (4) management of demonstration activities by farmers association and expert
farmers; and (5) improvement of interrelationships between nature reserve and
Communities etc.
The most important of the impacts are changes of altitude from large scale extension
to small farmer based demonstration and extension, coordinative development with
biodiversity conservation, as well as farmer oriented training.
(1) 15 farmers trainings participated by 587 household from 1998-2001 (see table 4),
not only involved PLEC supported farmers, but also 208 household joined the training
activities. Through these activities, the local people understood that expert farmer
demonstration and biodiversity conservation.
On the other side, they found that there are some farmers already developed
conservationist and sustainable agroecosystem by the farmers themselves (expert
farmers) both in the demo site and other places, instead of government extension
agencies.
There are five types of farmers’ capacity building adopted by China Cluster: (1)
12
practical knowledge and technology training course by researchers and technicians; (2)
Expert Farmer-Non-expert farmer Training; (3) On-farm workshop; (4) Cross-visit /
on-farm exchange; (5) Responsibility of PLEC Contracted Demonstration expert farmer
with number of other Farmers.
Two great changes of capacity building approaches have been taken places in China
Cluster. The first is teachers of the training workshop from researchers and technicians
changed to expert farmers; the second is organizer of the training workshop from Project
member to Farmers association. These changes also improved passive conservation to
aggressive conservation.
(2) Another important change is from formal training into informal on-farm training.
From 1998 to 2001, 4 on-farm Demosntration workshops were held in demo sites, and
totally 65 expert farmers and 21 non-expert farmers attended. 110 on-farm exchanges
were organized (see table 4). These informal training activities organized by farmers
association raised great respects of farmers knowledge by other people and the public.
They realized that successful experience and technology is around themselves. On the
other side, these successful expert farmers provide approaches environmental friendly
economic development approaches. These reorganizations lead to large number’s
participation in PLEC demonstration and training activities from 1998-2001, and also lead
to sustainable development of the whole community.
Table 4. Training Course / Workshops held for Farmers, China Cluster of PLEC
Title
1
Agrobiodiversity Conservation
2
Ethnic Favorite Timber Plantation
Organizer
Date
Place
# of Part.
# of
Femal
XB
24/12/1998
XTBG
103
27
32
71
XTBG
60
10
10
50
BHL
65
12
9
56
GLG18/06/1999
19-20/12/
Nature Conservation and Fruit Tree
3
# of PLEC
# of Non
Demo Farmers –PLEC Farmers
GLG
1999
Grafting
On-Farm Training of Homegarden
4
XB
28/10/2000
Daka
24
22
12
12
XB
31/12/2000
XTBG
47
42
32
10
XB
8/12/2000
36
10
32
4
Mgt.
5
Cross Exchange Between Demo Sites
Daka /
Agrobiodiversity Conservation and
6
Baka
Practical Techniques
7
Demo Farmers Exch. Workshop
GLG
20/04/2000
BHL
15
1
10
3
8
Workshop on Demo Activity
GLG
15/06/2000
BHL
15
1
10
3
GLG
All Year
BHL
50
5
10
41
GLG
29/12/2000
BHL
30
0
10
20
XB
22/06/2001
Daka
10
10
10
0
GLG
22/02/2001
BHL
18
1
10
8
GLG
20/06/2001
BHL
17
1
10
7
GLG
All year
BHL
60
8
10
50
On-farm Exchange between Expert
9
Farmer and N-Expert Farmer
10
Practical Techniques & Fruit Tree Mgt.
11
Tropical Fruit Plantation and Mgt.
Reporting and Exchange of Expert
12
Farmers
Rewarding and Exchange of Expert
13
Farmers
14
On-farm Exchange between Expert
13
Farmer and N-Expert Farmer
Biodiversity Conservation and
15
GLG
24/12/2001
BHL
38
2
10
28
587
142
217
225
Practical Techniques
Total 1998-2001
Those capacity building activities changed into community oriented since 1998. The
local people and the community are seeking approaches to secure fund for sustainable
maintenance and to continue the activities. For instance, GLG Farmers association has
obtained 12 thousand RMB donation from private, membership fees, and responsibility
regulations of supported expert farmer to train other farmers etc. to sustain the activities.
6. Impacts of PLEC demonstration on Agroecosystems
(1) Conservation of Native Agrobiodiversity
Some of the small farmers have already developed some successful knowledge and
technology of agroecosystem, species as well as varieties of some species. Therefore,
selection of expert farmer for demonstration is based on agro-biodiversity conservation
and economic development. For example, Agroforestry systems alternating swidden
cultivation developed by Jinuo People in Baka harbors 289 species, with 108 preserved
species, 50 cultivated and semi-domesticated native species, 6 endangered species, 3
endemic species, 12 cultural species (Zen Yiqun et al, 2001). Hani people in Daka
managed 124 species in their homegarden system for medicine, vegatable and etc. 37
species of them are semi-domesticated from wild (Cui Jingyun et al, 2000). About 34 - 85
species have been recorded in the homegarden of Lisu people in Hanlong, Baihualing,
according to HH/ABA in 10 households, 12 species are managed wild species, and some
important semi-domesticated species such as Phoebe puwenensis, a rare timber tree,
Toona sinensis, a rare timber and tree vegetable, Trachycarpus fortunei, a weaving
material and edible flower plant, Crataeva unilocularis, as well as some native bamboo
species (Dao Zhiling et al, 2000).
Those farmers with high agro-biodiverisity and income were selected as expert
farmers for demonstration based on HH/ABA. Rewarding and supporting those
conservationist expert farmers encouraged native agroecosystems conservation, as well
as conservation of some important native endemic, endangered, and semi-domesticated
species. Since many of the species are subsistence consumption of the local people
during their long history encouraged conservation of native agro-biodiversity, increasing
market of tourist and urban consumption this conservationist development.
(2) Income Increase and Crop diversification:
From the general information collected from 1998-2001, number of crops and species
of the agroecosystems of the demo farmers and the village were gradually increasing in
three demonstration sites. Monoculture of cultivation is changing into agroforestry
systems with more crops and species. Natural and market crisis is going to be decreased.
For instance, cash crops have been diversified and expanded which will provide an
important basis for the farmer future income sources in Baihualing (see table 5). The
14
income structure of the demo farmers like Yang Zhixue, Wu Chaoming in Baihualing
Village has been diversified under the PLEC supported and encouragement from
1997-2000.
Table 5. Area and production of main tree cash crops in 1997 and 2000 in the Baihualing village
Units: Area: mu (1/15 ha.), Yields: kg.
Crops
Walnut
Chestnut
Coffee
Longan
Persimmon
Orange
1997
35
50
82
10
4
43
2000
150
130
1272
480
4
42
1997
500
600
1200
1
80
172
2000
3200
4400
18500
120
93
970
Area (mu)
Yields (kg)
Source: Dao Zhiling et al, 2002，PLEC/China Report No.4. (Note: data are from the village
statistics; most of cash crops are still young seedlings. PLEC data suggest that the village statistics
underestimate the area now under tree crops, which now totals more than 5,000 mu).
GAOLIGONG MTS.
1. Baihualing
1) Growth of a population of collaborating farmers: Nine expert farmers were
selected as demonstration households in 1998. Nine expert farmers were divided into
two generalist farmers and seven specialist farmers in 1999. One specialist expert
farmer was added in 2000 to 2001, total expert farmers are ten 。 100
farmers(households) took part in PLEC activities every year during project
implementation in Baihualing village, such as training workshops.
2) Selection of expert farmers, and the development of farmer-to-farmer training:
Farmers with innovative ideas for agrobiodiversity utilization, development and
conservation and special techniques on land management and cultivation were
selected as expert farmers for demonstration; Farmer-to-farmer training is
occasionally happened in the field while the Farmers’ Association for biodiversity
conservation organized one or two field workshops for farmer-to-farmer training and
exchange every year.
3) The main fields and methods in which farmer-to-farmer training has been
effective: Farmer-to-farmer training include grafting, seedling breeding, tree crops
cultivation, agroforestry systems management which related to rural development
and biodiversity conservation. Field workshop(expert farmers show their techniques
and experiences in the field) is one of best methods for farmer-to-farmer training.
4) Success and otherwise in developing farmer associations, and in using these
associations as a vehicle for encouragement of conservationist management:
Gaoligongshan Farmers’ Association for Biodiversity Conservation was established
in Baihualing village in 1995.There are four main roles of this Association: a). To
coordinate biodiversity conservation and rural sustainable development; b). To
provides a bridge between government departments (State Nature Reserve) and
communities, and between projects and farmers; c). To organize training courses for
practical techniques of agriculture and biodiversity conservation; d). One of new
15
roles of the Association has been to identify expert farmers in agrobiodiversity
management and take an important part in the organization of PLEC demonstration
activities. Up to now, there are 115 memberships, and ten of them are women.
5) The nature of interventions introduced by PLEC: The principles of PLEC-China
demonstration projects were: a).based on HH-ABA research results; b).
household-based demonstration; c). organized by Farmers’ Association for
Biodiversity
Conservation;
d).
supported
by
government;
e).core
issue-Agrobiodiversity conservation in situ. Farmers with innovative ideas and
special techniques for biodiversity management and conservation are selected as
expert farmers for demonstration. Expert farmers bring along other farmers to
develop diverse cultivation, such as to develop agroforestry systems both in uplands
and paddy fields. By training workshops and farmer-to-farmer training, more and
more farmers join PLEC activities. Expert farmers are encouraged to transfer their
knowledge and experiences to other farmers. By monitoring and evaluation of
demonstration results and impact, expert farmer get reward from PLEC.
6) Ways in which farmers have adapted PLEC activities and their own ideas: In
beginning, farmers think that PLEC will give money for them to increase their cash
income and develop large scale of plantation. By explaining, training and expert
farmers selection, more and more farmers understand that PLEC will select
innovative farmers (expert farmers) to transfer their knowledge and experiences for
agrobiodiversity conservation and development, evoke them to develop divers,
productive and sustainable agricultural systems. They not only manage
biodiversity conservation in situ well, but also get a lot of benefits from
their diversified farming systems. As expert farmers of Baihualing said
when we visited demonstration, there are many advantages with the
framing systems of perennial/annual crop diversity. They reduce
production risk and market risk compared with monoculture. And few
people must lead the development of diversity, and other conservative
people would then see benefits of new ways of farming and follow.
7) The value of PLEC activity to the farmers and their families: PLEC ideas and
demonstration projects help local farmers to develop indigenous technologies for
biodiversity conservation in situ. The local farmers cultivated a lot of native tree
crops such as walnut, chestnut and Phoebe puwenensis( a timber tree)in their upland,
and introduce some high economic value crops （ Amomum kravanh ） into
agroforestry systems. Soci-economic assessment shows that cash income of most
households are increased in recent years. One of important reasons is PLEC
demonstration projects. Following table shows the cash income change of expert
farmers between 1999 to 2001. Cash income of eight expert farmers(80%) are
increased.
Table 6. Cash income change of ten expert farmers between 1999 to 2001
Expert Farmer(household)
Annual Cash Income(Y)
1999
2001
Wu Chaoming
26840.00
32060.00
Yang Zhixue
12990.00
14170.00
16
Gao Denglin
5600.00
6600.00
Yang Xiubo
29900.00
20100.00
Chen Shihou
10090.00
11730.00
Mi Yunheng
17000.00
7300.00
Yang Chengwu
12000.00
14000.00
Zhen Jiafan
6535.00
14300.00
Li Jiahu
15600.00
27000.00
Li Dayi
12250.00
13450.00
XISHUANGBANNA
2. DAKA
1) Growth of a population of collaborating farmers: Before 1998 farmers express
their collaborating willing when we undertaken landscape level agrobiodiversity
assessment. At the same time, there are some expert farmers who manage natural
resource much better than other farmers. In 1998 9 collaborating farmers were
selected and determined. Up to 2001, there are 12 collaborating farmers.Selection of
expert farmers, and the development of farmer-to-farmer training: 8 expert
farmers were selected through direct observation, farmer recommended and of
HH/ABA quadrat investigation on homegarden, rubber plantation, upland, fuel wood
plantation, and fallow field management. Farmer-to-farmer training on experiences
and technique management of homegarden through expert farmers to other farmers
in October, 2000.
3) The main fields and methods in which farmer-to-farmer training has been
effective: Expert farmers introduce their experience and management of homegarden
on the spot.
4) Success and otherwise in developing farmer associations, and in using these
associations as a vehicle for encouragement of conservationist management:
Although hard work had been done, farmer association is failed to develop in
Xishuangbanna for some reasons.
5) The nature of interventions introduced by PLEC: Homegarden economic
improvement was undertaken as there are many homegarden with low cash income
or few biodiversity. Get rid of some species and varieties of cash crop with bad
quality or low cash income from homegarden. At the same time, introduce some
species and varieties of high quality or high cash income from wild and other
villages. In addition, as community forest lack of construction timber, valuable
timber species are encouraged to be planted in the village.
6) Ways in which farmers have adapted PLEC activities and their own ideas At the
beginning, farmers thought the PLEC project a helping-poor-up project, and were
passive. Now, farmers accept the PLEC methods, and are voluntary. Especially,
farmer to farmer training of homegarden improvement is warmly welcome by the
farmers as they think it is more easy to understand and acceptable.
7) The value of PLEC activity to the farmers and their families: Farmers changed
their viewpoint. PLEC activity offered farmers chances of inter-communication and
inter-study. Farmers widen their horizon, and accept others’ experience and
17
technique. Average cash income per person from 786 to 1193 yuan from 1998 to
2001. Cash income from cash crops per family from 3114 to 5681 yuan from 1998 to
2001.
3. BAKA
1) Growth of a population of collaborating farmers: Before 1998 farmers express
their collaborating willing when we undertaken landscape level agrobiodiversity
assessment. At the same time, there are some expert farmers who manage natural
resource much better than other farmers. In1998 selected and determined 9
collaborating farmers. Up to 2001, there are 33 collaborating farmers, including 16
on slash-and-burn agriculture alternative with agroforestrty, 15 on fuelwood
plantation, and 2 on butterfly breeding.
2) Selection of expert farmers, and the development of farmer-to-farmer training:
As lack of land, agroforestry practice is popular in the village. 5 expert farmers were
selected through Household-based agrobiodiversity assessment (HH/ABA) on
agroforestry system management. Through farmer-to-farmer training, expert farmers
introduce their experience and technique to other farmers.
3) The main fields and methods in which farmer-to-farmer training has been
effective: the management of agroforestry system is the main fields. Zhangshan is
expert farmer of rubber plant system management. Licongbao is expert farmer of
fruit tree system management. Alao is expert farmer of passionflower system
management.Success and otherwise in developing farmer associations, and in
using these associations as a vehicle for encouragement of conservationist
management: Although hard work had been done, farmer association is failed to
develop in Xishuangbanna for some reasons.
5) The nature of interventions introduced by PLEC: The first, Lack of enough land
for fallow, farmers have to adopt land management and develop agroforestry systems.
Agroforestry system is very popular in the village, but technology and yield is
different among farmers. At the same time, some expert farmers manage well and
earn more cash income than other farmers. So they have been selected to
demonstrate their experience to others. The second, as deforestation, it is more and
more difficult to find fuelwood. Farmers realize that fuelwood plantation advantage
so they proposed to plant fuel wood. The third, hunt wild butterfly is popular in the
village in the past. As national policy forbid, they have to give up hunting and lose
cash income. At the same time, butterfly breeding is easy to be accepted by farmers
as technology and practice is very simple. So two farmers were selected to practice
butterfly breeding in the village.
6) Ways in which farmers have adapted PLEC activities and their own ideas: At
the beginning, farmers thought the PLEC is a poverty alleviation project, and were
passive. Now, farmers accept the PLEC methods, and are voluntary. Especially,
farmer to farmer training of agroforestry systems is warmly welcome by the farmers
as they think it is more easy to understand and acceptable.
7) The value of PLEC activity to the farmers and their families: Farmers changed
their viewpoint. PLEC activity offered farmers chances of intercommunication and
inter-study. Farmers widen their horizon, and accept others’ experience and
18
technique of. For example, farmers develop agrobiodiversity as they introduce more
species in agroforesty system to get more cash income. Butterfly breeding helps to
earn 8,315 yuan cash income from 1998 to 2001 and protect wild butterfly resource.
20 farmers begin to learn butterfly breeding experience. Cash income from cash
crops per family increased from 3,794 to 6,294 yuan from 1998 to 2000.
IV. Data Analysis 1:
The effect of PLEC-sponsored management on biodiversity
GAOLIGONG MTS.
1. Agroforestry Systems：Agroforestry management is one of main demonstration
activities of PLEC expert farmers. Based on HH-ABA research of agroforestry system of
Hanlong village, the results show that the species richness indices, agro-species
richness indices, species using rate, individual using rate of agroforestry are different
among different households. The individual using rate is low while the species-using rate
is high in agroforestry systems. The species richness and useful species of two expert
farmers (Mr. Wu and Mr. Yang) is the highest. The average species richness indices are
0.052. The highest one (Mr. Wu and Mr. Zhang) is 21% higher than the average and
lowest one is 71% of the average. Average agro-species richness indices are 0.192. The
highest one (Mr. Wu) is 51% higher than the average and lowest one is 51% of the
average. Otherness of agro-species indices is high among the different agroforestry
systems. The economic value of agroforestry system with high species richness indices
and agro-species richness indices are higher than the agroforestry system with low
richness indices （ see following figure. Agroforestry systems take more and more
important role in Hanlong village. On the other hand, some farmers are much more
knowledgeable on wild plants than other farmers. For example, Mr. Wu Chaoming, one
of expert farmers, he not only knows how to use a lot of wild plants, but also introduces
some useful wild plants into his agroforestry system, such as he cultivates one of orchid
medicinal plant (Dendronbium candidum) on walnut and chestnut tree stems and rocks.
Table 7. Species richness indices of different households of agroforestry systems in Hanlong
Sample ID
Area
Species
Individual
（m2）
Useful
Useful
Useful
Useful
spcies
individuals
species
sindividual
rate(%)
rate（%）
DMo
D`Mo
AF1 Zhang MS
400
63
952
16
57
25.4
6.0
0.066
0.281
AF2 Peng XL
400
29
625
10
139
34.5
22.2
0.046
0.078
AF4 Peng DF
400
21
501
8
42
38.1
8.4
0.042
0.190
AF5 Xiong WR
400
50
968
17
178
34.0
18.4
0.052
0.096
AF6 Yang ZX
400
49
1322
21
186
42.9
21.6
0.037
0.113
AF7 Wu ChM
400
55
837
18
46
32.7
5.4
0.066
0.391
19
0.45
0.4
0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
张明书
彭学礼
物种丰富度
彭大凡
熊维荣
农业物种丰富度
杨志学
吴朝明
经济效益（元/亩）
图 3. 不同农户混农林系统中物种丰富度指数与经济效益比较
Figure 3. The comparison between cash income and species richness indices of different
household in agroforestry systems
Comparison the relationship between biodiversity and economic value of agroforestry
system also reflects difference between expert farmers and other farmers. As shown in
figure, Mr. Wu and Mr. Zhang get more cash income while they keep and use more
biodiversity and agrobiodiversity in their agroforestry systems.
2. The purpose of PLEC is not only to absolutely increase biodiversity in a certain
land type or a certain field. The main purpose of PLEC is to demonstrate expert framers’
innovative knowledge and skill on agrobiodiversity conservation and sustainable rural
development which will help increase biodiversity on all aspects of management level,
landscape level, ecological level, species level, and variety (genetic) level in a certain
area. In the mean while, farmers can undoubtedly get benefits from their diverse farming
systems. In Gaoligongshan demonstration site, 461 farmers have been trained on
grafting, pruning, pest control, tree crop cultivation and environmental protection through
workshops on biodiversity conservation and practical rural skill since 1995. More and
more farmers introduce tree crops into both uplands and paddy fields bringing along by
expert framers. In Baihualing village, about 400 households took part in PLEC activities
on cash crop breeding, cultivating, grafting and pruning between 1998 and 2001. And
2200 mu (147 ha.) farm land have been managed by agroforestry. On the other hand,
more and more farmers consciously protect wild animals and plants in the nature reserve
around the village. For example, Mr. Li Dayi, a Lishu people, he was a typical Lishu
hunter in the past. He began to cultivated a native timber tree (Phoebe puwenensis）in
1983 after land allocation to individuals. He tested two years to get seedlings of this
timber tree. He began to cultivate this tree around his house and upland sides. And then
he planted this timber tree in his 30 mu (15 mu rented from other) upland from 1993 to
1995. He also planted other trees, such as Toona ciliate, Cunnighamia lanceolata. He
has been selected as expert farmer since 1995. He also supplies different kinds of tree
crop seedlings for other farmers and teaches them how to cultivated every year. His new
seedlings are Chinese fir, walnut and Punica granatum. He bred 50,000 walnut seedlings,
20
5,000 Punica granatum seedlings and 5,000 chinese fir seedlings from 2000 to 2001. A
hunter has gone.
XISHUANGBANNA
1. Experimental Demonstration of Agroforestry Systems alternating
Slash-and-burn Cultivation: The tropical uplanders have started to alternate Slash-Burn
cultivation into various agroforestry systems under the pressure of population growth and
market driven economy (Zeng Yiqun et al, 2001). Under the PLEC support, rubber
plantation, the priority cash crop of the local people were developed and encouraged into
agroforestation on the swidden field, fruit tree, 8 other crops were added into the systems
with total area of 116 mu. HH/ABA has been conducted on 24 different sample quadrates
of 18 farmers, which reveals that there are 289 species that belong to 197 genus and 76
families, including 108 cultivated and reserved species that belong to 82 genus and 45
families. Noteworthiness, 12 species with culture meaning are cultivated and conserved in
agroforestry systems. New species are introduced into agroforestry systems almost every
year to face market needs such as pomelo, coffee, plum, orange, banana, litchi and etc.
Vegetable is inter-planted in young rubber plantation, such as pumpkin, cucumber, and
dasheen etc.
2. Experimental Demonstration of Fuelwood Plantation: Artificial fire wood of
Cassia siamea developed by Dai people has been learned by other siwddeners since
1960s. The project helped this process with a total area of 50 mu fuelwood plantation.
There are 106 individuals of Cassia siamea in two 400 m2 sample quadrates that mean 88
individuals per mu. The sample investigation results show that there are 48 secondary
species and 30 individuals of 12 tree species around the barrier. Artificial fuelwood helps
meet most consumption of the village and helps to conserve nature forest.
3.Homegarden Improvement Demonstration: Get rid of some species and
varieties of cash crop with bad quality or low cash income from homegarden. At the same
time, introduce some species and varieties of high quality or high cash income from wild,
such as Acacia pennata willd and from other villages, such as Caria papaya Linn, etc. and
from local scientific institution and government department, such as passion fruit etc. Most
of all, as farmers collect seedlings from wild and grow in homegarden, it helps conserve
some wild species. HH/ABA of 9 farmers shows that there are 124 valuable species in
homegarden, including 47 introduced from wild.
4. Experimentation of Butterfly Farming: There are 126 butterfly species that
belong to 62 genus and 7 families are found around Menlun. Of which 27 species are
valuable and hunted by farmers in the village. 507 individuals of 13 plant species are
introduced into butterfly breeding garden, including 120 individuals of 8 species found and
introduced from local area. Farmers begin to realize the value of plant and the importance
of biodiversity conservation, and butterfly farming become an important approach to
release the wild population decrease.
21
V. DATA ANALYSIS 2:
Briefly describe and present firm or conditional results on other forms of data
analysis undertaken by the Cluster
GAOLIGONGSHAN MTS.
1. Special topics research by graduate students
1) Ms Li Jianqin: Fuelwoodwood Forest at Shabadi, Tengchong County:
Abstract: Fuelwoodwood wood, one kind of energy sources, plays an important role
in energy consumption of rural area. Now, lacking of Fuelwoodwood wood becomes
a common problem in that place because forest, the source of Fuelwoodwood, was
destroyed seriously. However, the indigenous in some area have accumulated a
wealth of traditional knowledge on protecting, managing and using fuelwoodwood
forest. The Shabadi villagers provide a typical case for this. Under the methods
guidance of Participatory Observation, Depth Interview and House-hold
AgrobiodiversityAssessment(HH-ABA), this paper sum up the traditional knowledge
and practice situation of Quercus Fuelwoodwood forest management in Shabadi;
The traditional knowledge and technology of Shabadi villagers on Quercus
Fuelwoodwood forest management and using should be inherited and carried on.
Meanwhile, methods to accelerate growing of Quercus and economize
Fuelwoodwood wood through building methane tank, improving the function of
cooking stove should be developed. This method can not only protect the
environment but also solve the energy crisis effectively. At the same time, it can
provide a good example for the area which be puzzled by energy lacking problem.
2) Ms Li Jiqun: Socio-Economic development and Biodiversity Change in
Agroecosystem: A Case from Baihualing, Baoshan, West Yuannan
Abstracts: Socio-economy development is one of important factors that could
influence the biodiversity. The author investigated the socio-economy situation of
sample households and thirty-seven sampling plots in three nature villages of
Baihualing administrative village, which have different environment and situation of
socio-economy development in Baoshan. The results show that: the change of
population and household could influence the land management. On the other hand,
the structure of income, plant change and the methods of plant management
connect with the economy. In a word, we should advocate the diversity of plant.
3) The Impacts of Different Managements on Biodiversity of Community Forest
Abstracts: There are several tendencies in community forest under different
management by using vegetation sampling method and agro-biodiversity assessment
method of PLEC BAG guidelines. The results show: (1) The forms of community forest
management become more and more variable with multiple factors, such as: policy,
traditional customs; (2) With the intensity of the management declining, the indexes of
biodiversity are increasing in tree layer and herb layer, but that of shrub layer is
decreasing. (3) The timber volume is increasing with the species decreasing, in tree
layer. Get to know the regulation between community forest management and it’s
22
biodiversity is helpful and urgent for conservation the forest and biodiversity.
2. Gaoligongshan Farmers’ Association for Biodiversity Conservation was
established in Baihualing village in 1995. There are four main roles of this Association:
a). To coordinate biodiversity conservation and rural sustainable development; b). To
provides a bridge between government departments (State Nature Reserve) and
communities, and between projects and farmers; c). To organize training courses for
practical techniques of agriculture and biodiversity conservation; d). One of new roles
of the Association has been to identify expert farmers in agrobiodiversity
management and take an important part in the organization of PLEC demonstration
activities. Up to now, there are 115 memberships, and ten of them are women. From
1998 to 2001, 461 farmers attended nine training workshops on Biodiversity
conservation and practical rural technologies. 500 farmers joined more than twenty
PLEC field demonstration workshops. It has been interviewed by many media, such
as CCTV, China Daily, China Youth Daily, China Environmental Daily, Yunnan Daily,
and so on.
3. Expert farmer demonstration on agrobidiversity conservation in situ achieved
successful results.
Since 1999, PLEC household-based assessment has identified several innovative
farmers and their practices in Hanlong and other communities in Baihualing. These
farmers are very experienced in management of cash crops, and some of them have
developed sustainable agroforestry systems, which they are encouraged by PLEC to
demonstrate. In contrast to the extension approach, the modified approach
emphasizes the role of innovative farmers in diffusion and improvement of
technologies. Household survey and agrobiodiversity assessment showed that
farmers differ in management of biodiversity for their livelihoods. Nine expert farmers
were selected in 1998 and one was added in 2000 on the basis of their farming skills.
Expert farmers are further divided into generalist farmers and specialist farmers. The
former has multiple skills in management of soil and diverse cash crops. The latter has
one or two special skills in management of soil or cash crops. Details about the ten
demonstration farmers are provided in Table 8.
BOX 1. Expert Farmer Li Dayi, Taoyuan, Baihualing, GLG
Mr. Li Dayi is an expert in tree plantation. Phoebe puwenensis is a preferred
native timber in Baihualing. His household received two ha of upland from the
community for maize in 1982. Since 1983 Mr. Li has prepared seedlings by himself
and transplanted them and other timber trees into his uplands. In 1995, he rented
about two ha.of land from other villagers for expansion of this native tree business.
He also started to provide seedlings of Phoebe purwenensis to other farmers, and to
train them in plantation techniques, with support from both PLEC and the
MacArthur Foundation (Guo Huijun, Christine Padoch, Fu Yongneng, Dao Zhiling
and Kevin Coffey, 2000). At present, all of his uplands are covered by timber trees
and other cash crops (Ammomum vilosum etc.). He also prepares seedlings of
coffee and timber trees.
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Table 8. Expert farmers and their skills
Household(farmer)
Demonstration types
Natural Village
Main skills
Wu Chaoming
Generalist
Hanlong
Yang Zhixue
Specialist
Hanlong
Gao Denglin
Specialist
Da Yutang
Grafting
Yang Xiubo
Generalist
Da Yutang
Upland Management and
timber tree plantation
Chen Shihou
Specialist
Mang Gang
Nursery and seedlings
Mi Yunheng
Specialist
Mang Gang
Chinese fir plantation
Yang Chengwu
Specialist
Gu Xinzhai
Home garden
Zheng Jiafan
Specialist
Bai Hualing
Dry fruit tree plantation
Li Jiahu
Specialist
Mang Gang
Fruit tree plantation
Li Dayi
Specialist
Tao Yuan
Native timber tree plantation
Walnut, chestnut, ammomum,
coffee, honeysuckle plantation,
home garden, grafting
Walnut and chestnut based
agroforestry systems
management
BOX 2. Expert Farmer Wu Chaoming, Hanlong, Baihualing, GLG
Mr. Wu Chaoming, is one of the best expert farmers managing his farmlands
quite diversely and well. He was also one of earliest farmers turning his annual
cropping upland into a perennial biodiversity-rich system since the former
community land allocated into individuals under the Household Production
Contract System in l982. One of plots of his household received in 1982 is about
7.5 mu, which used to be for annual crops like maize and beans. Because this plot
of land is too rocky and steep to continue annual crops, he has planted different
trees, such as walnut, chestnut, Chinese fir, Zanthoxylum, flowering quince,
bamboo. Some of wild species are regenerated naturally, such as Phoebe
puwenensis, Pinus armandii, Lindera conmmunis etc. There are now more than 100
species in the agroforestry plot.
Mr. Wu also does a lot of experimentation in his small but diverse home
garden. There are 73 species in his garden, 71% are useful species. He tried to graft
many pear, persimmon, new apple varieties on local variety tree, prepare and graft
seedlings of walnut and chestnut and cardamom (medicinal use) seedlings. Mr. Wu
says to the young generation that when you cultivate a tree crop, planting counts
for only 30 % of the efforts while management absorbs 70%. He often discusses
grafting technique with some old farmers and teaches the young generation both in
his house and fields. Mr Wu, who has a large family, is now one of the most
prosperous farmers in Hanlong.
24
Usually, farmers exchange their ideas informally. It is difficult to organize a large
meeting of farmers. It is more convenient for farmers to meet in the fields accidentally and
exchange their ideas. Expert farmers demonstrate their skills in the fields, not in the house
and are happy to share their knowledge with other farmers. For example, Mr. Yang Zhixue
helps four farmers nearby his chestnut agroforestry land, and teaching them management
techniques. Another example is Mr. Chen Shihou. He began cultivating a traditional rice
variety of high quality instead of hybrid rice two years ago. Now, more and more farmers
are following his example and cultivating this rice variety because of its high quality and
high market value.
XISHUANGBANNA
1. Graduate students thesis
1). ZENG Yi-Qun, 2001. Causes and Dynamics of the Changing of Agroforestry Practices
in Baka, Xishuangbanna. Acta, Botanica Yunnanica. Suppl. ⅩⅢ (in Chinese with
English abstract): Agroforestry systems play a vital role in rural development,
especially in tropical upland areas. This new technique combines agriculture, forestry
and husbandry, linking closely with social, environmental and economic factors. The
dissertation deals with dynamics of social, technical and economic elements in
agroforestry practices, alternative to shifting cultivation. The study was conducted in a
Jinuo Mountain of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province,
southwest China. The contents include identifying land use changes at village and
household level respectively, examining the relationships between fallow systems and
agroforestry practices, and describing farmers strategies in agroforestry development
and its impact on other agriculture systems, environment, indigenous agriculture and
agro-biodiversity. Methods of household-based socioeconomic survey , on-farm
monitoring, , participant observation and interview have been applied in this research.
2). ZENG Yi-Qun,. 2001. Household-based Agrobiodiversity Assessment(HH-ABA) of
Agroforestry Systems in Baka Village in Xishuangbanna. Acta, Botanica Yunnanica.
Suppl. ⅩⅢ (in Chinese with English abstract): Three types of agroforestry systems
of 18 households were selected for agrobiodiversity assessment. The contents
include agroforestry development and its relationship to indigenous agriculture,
agrobiodiversity changes and market integration. Methods of HH/ABA
(Household-based Agrobiodiversity Assessment), sampling, on-farm monitoring,
PRA and interview have been applied in this research.
3). DU Xue-Fei.2001. Study on the Relationship of Indigenous Medicine and
Agrobiodiversity Conservation in Daka, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan. Acta, Botanica
Yunnanica. Suppl.ⅩⅢ (in Chinese with English abstract): Indigenous medicine is
important part of indigenous knowledge, about 1/5 plants are used to cure illness. By
the research in tropic upland village, it is found that the indigenous medicine can evoke
local people to preserve 24 medicine plants. So it can be used to improve the richness
of agrobiodiversity. But the traditional medicine is facing disappeared, the policy must
be took is to improve the important of traditional medicine.
4). DU Xue-Fei.2001. Study on the Relationship of Indigenous Medicine and
Agrobiodiversity Conservation in Daka, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan. Acta, Botanica
25
Yunnanica. Suppl. Ⅹ Ⅲ (in Chinese with English abstract): Local villagers have
important effect on the biodiversity in the nature reserve as they take advantage of the
source for hundreds of years. Baka, a Jinuo village was studies with market
investigation and questionnaire, especially focused on the benefits and costs that risen
from nature reserve. It is found that the local people get a large number of income from
nature reserve, at the same time, local people lost opportunity costs for lost land
where is turned to nature reserve. Suggestions are given to management and
development of the nature reserve.
5). GONG Zhi-lian. 2001. Study on the Relationship of Indigenous Medicine and
Agrobiodiversity Conservation in Daka, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan. Acta, Botanica
Yunnanica. Suppl.ⅩⅢ (in Chinese with English abstract):Upland rice varieties are
collected in Daka, Baka and Mannalong villages. Socio-economy situation and upland
rice varieties diversity of 39% households in each village were investigated using
structure and semi-structure interview based on household based agrobiodiversity
assessment. The results are as follows: upland rice resources and their diversity in
morphology and genetics were discovered through investigation on upland rice
resources in the three villages. Some upland rice varieties of good quality are
disappearing and most are fit for poor soil. The number and varieties of upland rice
which farmers plant are influenced not only by the area of upland rice and swidden but
also by farmers’ hobbies, planting techniques ,market ,and culture. So we must take
measures to protect upland rice varieties.
2. Mr. Wangxueren, vice governor of Yunnan Province reviewed demonstration
sites in 14, January, 2000. Mr. Wang interviewed with farmers in the demonstration
field and gave excellent advice and suggestions about the demonstration activities.
He praised PLEC work and thought it valuable to extend to other rural area around
Yunnan Province.
3. Fuelwood plantation and energy-saving stove has attracted local government’s
attention. Xishuangbanna Newspaper has reported success of fuelwood plantation
and energy-saving stove within PLEC work in Baka in May, 2000. Jinuo local
government extends Baka experience and encourages farmers plant fuelwood and
timber species..
4. Research work undertaken within PLEC Work: There are 18 scientific papers have
been published during 1998 to 2001 (see attachment 3).
VI. THE SUSTAINABILITY OF PLEC WORK
GAOLIGONGSHAN MTS.
1. Project Impact and sustainability of PLEC
Outside technicians demonstration (large scale plantation) have been changed into
expert farmers (household) demonstration. Expert framers become one of important
demonstration tools for second phase of PLEC.
26
Roles of farmers and the farmers association are promoting conservation farming and
forest management (One of important capacity buildings). Field training activity is one of
the best way for farmer-to-farmer training. Training workshop for rural practical techniques
and biodiversity conservation is adapted and very helpful for local framer.
Junior researchers and students have become the key research force (One of most
important Capacity buildings), they will become senior researchers in the second phase of
PLEC. PLEC is not only promoting to increase biodiversity in particular fields, but also,
very importantly, is promoting innovative farmers to demonstrate their skills and
experience. This is very helpful for biodiversity conservation in situ.
2. One of main demonstration projects PLEC encouraging is to build
Agroforestry systems
Several training courses on techniques of planting fruits such as grafting, pruning,
prevention and cure of plant diseases were organized to help farmer expand areas of
coffee, longan, orange, chestnut, walnut and persimmon as alternatives to sugarcane.
The expansion and diversification has increased farmers’ income and reduced the risk
arising from market fluctuation. Table 5 summarizes the results achieved. The tree crop
cultivation increased nine times and production increased 10.6 times from 1997 to 2000.
Up to now, 50 % of farmlands of Baihualing are managed in agroforestry systems that are
over 5,000 mu in Baihualing Village.
Coffee has become an important new cash crop in Baihualing due to its relatively high
profit. On average, the income from coffee is 1100 yuan (about 8.3 yuan equal to 1 US
dollar) per mu (15 mu equal to 1 hectare), while it is only 800 yuan per mu for rice. With
PLEC and MacArthur’s FMBC projects support, Mr. Sai Huwa experiments inter-cropping
of coffee with vegetables, and fodder crops as contrast to the monoculture of coffee by
other farmers. He has put 30 mu of his contracted and rented fields together for the coffee
plantation and made good money. As coffee is a new crop, most farmers need some time
as well as external advice to manage it well.
Also under PLEC MacArthur’s FMBC projects support and technical guidance, Mr.
Yang Zhixue has developed an intercropping system of chestnuts, peach, maize, peas on
steep uplands. The productivity of the agroforestry systems is much higher than the
former cropping patterns (Table 9).
Table 9. Comparisons of productivity between monocropping and agroforest in Hanlong village
Farming Type
Agroforestry
Mixed Crops
Chestnuts
monocrop
Maize monocrop
Crop
Yield
(kg/mu)
Value
(yuan/mu)
Total Value
Chestnuts
Maize
Beans
Maize
Beans
45
120
40
150
50
360
96
48
120
60
504
Chestnuts
30
240
240
Maize
150
120
120
180
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Note: 15 trees/mu, 5 –year age ; local market price
XISHUANGBANNA
1. Homegarden improvement in Daka: there are 124 valuable species in
homegarden. Most of them are folklore medicine, vegetable, fruit, ornamental and
flavoring. Noteworthiness, there are 47 valuable species introduced from wild. So it helps
agrobiodiversity conservation with guide and encourage farmers in the village. Introducing
some traditional domesticated species and high cash value species into homegarden help
avoid crisis under bad natural disaster and market change. Thus, homegarden
improvement is warmly welcomed and accepted by local farmers and easily extended.
2. Fuelwood plantation in Baka: it is popular that fuelwood and timber wood
resources decrease due to deforestation in rural area, especially in mountainous area of
Xishuangbanna. So fuelwood plantation and energy-saving stove demonstration is worthy
to be extended to other similar villages to resolve fuelwood and timber wood problem.
Furthermore, Jinuo government has equipped energy-saving stove in 3 villages, including
two beyond the PLEC demonstration sites.
3. Butterfly breeding by small farmer: sustainability of butterfly breeding by small
farmer is depend on its simple technology, and most of all, it does not need to change
farmers’ traditional labor allocation. At the same time, butterfly breeding needs less labor
than hunting wild butterfly and earn more cash with good quality. Demonstration farmer
begin to find and relocate host plant from wild and realize the importance of biodiversity
conservation. In addition, some factors need to be noted, e.g. butterfly breeding must be
selected around area with rich butterfly resource and a feasible host plant garden.
4. Slash-and-burn agriculture alternative by agroforestry system: agroforestry
system have synthesized economic benefit of both monoculture agriculture and
monoculture forestry, such as short-term crop interplanted with perennial cash crop, and
Chinese Cardamom plantation under natural forest. Green fence helps keep water and
soil, as well as save wood resource. Traditional agriculture alternative by agroforestry
system is a great contribution to agrobiodiversity in-situ conservation. For example, there
are 74 reserved species in agroforestry field. PLEC work suggests that introduced new
cash crop need to be combined with domestic and native species to practice agroforestry
and diversify variety and species to meet market change.
May 13, 2002
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