Creating sustainable
communities in China: the
case of Nong Jia Le in Anji,
China
Julie Newton
Overview
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Sustainability in China
Eco-tourism
Sustainable livelihoods approach
Eco-economy of Anji
Nong Jia Le: Experiencing rural life
NJL & sustainable livelihoods
Moving forward
Sustainability in China
• 3 factors affecting China’s
sustainability (Ho, 2006)
– SIZE
– SPEED
– SCARCITY
“China faces internal dilemma
of how to reconcile economic
growth with ecological
sustainability” (Ho & Vermeer,
2006).
• “pollute first, clean up
later” attitude
• Greening of State &
Society
– But doesn’t mean
sustainability being
pursued
• Little on Sustainable
Communities
– Eco-demonstration
programme
– Eco-towns
Tianjin eco-town
Transformation of countryside
• New Socialist Countryside movement (2005)
• Marketisation and modernisation of rural
countryside
– Rise of township and village enterprises (TVEs)
Integrated rural/urban development
Challenges for sustainability
Innovation
ECOTOURISM
Nong Jia Le
Ecotourism
• No widely agreed
definition, but agreement
that includes:
– Travel to natural
environment
– Environmentally & socially
responsible travel,
generates funds to support
conservation, provides
benefits for host community
“responsible travel to natural areas
which conserves the environment and
improves the wellbeing of local
people” International ecotourism
society (2010)
• 3 features:
– nature-based
– environmental & cultural
education
– sustainably managed
(Blamey, 2001)
Ross & Wall (1999)
Ecotourism in China
• Sheng Tai Nu You: “tourism that is not
based on exploiting or harming the local
environment ecology or society” (Wang et al, 2009).
• 2009: Chinese Ecotourism Year
• National Ecotourism Development Plan
(CNTA, 2008) mission of ET:
“advocating the harmony of the environment and the economy,
strengthening construction of ecological environment, improving education,
constantly meeting the demand of ecotourism, and ensure sustainable
tourism development. Goals include the development of Chinese tourism
industry into a green industry with sustainable development”
• Types of ecotourism: forest recreation, wetland bird
watching, desert exploration, prairie excursions and
countryside experiences
Sustainable Livelihoods
Framework
• Livelihood =comprises the capabilities,
assets and activities required for a means
of living.
• A livelihood is sustainable when it can
cope with and recover from stresses and
shocks, maintain or enhance its
capabilities and assets
– while not undermining the natural resource
base (Chambers & Conway, 1992)
DFID (1999)
Land use layout of Anji in 2005
Source: Anji Comprehensive Plan 2006-2020
Anji Eco-economy
• Target: “most beautiful
countryside in China”
through integrated urbanrural development
• Endogenous ecological
development
– Local eco-economy: bamboo
processing, local food, ecotourism, and local energy
– Local government as enabler:
provide physical
infrastructure/eco-awards
– Regenerate villages and
independent/viable communities
– Each village has own
economic niche
Achievements:
• Diversified industrial and service
sector base
• Reduced income disparities
between urban and rural
• 680,000 tourists, generating
Y62.4 billion (Anji Statistical
Bureau, 2008)
Nong Jia Le: rural ecotourism
• “Experiencing Life in Rural Area”
– Nong = agriculture/ rural
– Jia = family/home
– Le = activities
• Involves:
– Staying in rural accommodation overnight
– Eating local food
– Rural experiences (working on farm, pick your own, outdoor
activities)
marketed as ecotourism
Natural capital: natural resource stocks (land, water,
wildlife, biodiversity, environmental resources
RICH natural
resource base
Social capital: social resources which people draw on
(networks, membership of groups, relationships of trust,
access to institutions)
Combination of
capital assets
Human capital: skills, knowledge, ability to work, good
health, physical capabilities
Physical capital: basic infrastructure (transport,
shelter, water, energy and communications) and
production , equipment which enable people to pursue
livelihoods
Financial capital: Financial resources (savings, credit,
regular remittances, pensions)
Governance: starring
system, training, NJL
committees, marketing
Tourist season
Bamboo products
Local food products
ECOTOURISM
Increased income
Increased standard of living
Social dimensions
Local food economy
NJL: contributions towards
sustainable communities
• Multiple livelihood
strategies
– one element of broader
livelihood portfolio
– stimulated local economic
development & improved living
standards
– Local food economy
• SLF highlights
opportunities and
tensions
• Not linear: dynamic, interlinkages between
different components
• Sheds light on meso level
processes
• Need a combination of
livelihood assets to be
successful
Moving forward
• Governance:
– Interaction between provincial, county, town and
village level
– Interaction between tourist board and environmental
protection bureau
• Social justice: Who can engage in NJL?, Who
can mobilise key capital assets?
• Broader sustainability questions:
– Is NJL changing attitudes/values towards
environment?- Is this leading to sustainable behaviour
change?
– Sustainable management: competition within and
between villages
– Cultural attitudes towards nature and people/nature
interactions
Thank you
For more information:
www.brass.cf.ac.uk
Julie Newton: newtonj2@cardiff.ac.uk
Alex Franklin: franklina1@cardiff.ac.uk
Newton, J. & Franklin, A. (2011) “Delivering sustainable
communities in China: using a sustainable livelihoods framework
for reviewing the promotion of “ecotourism” in Anji”, Local
Environment