The IUFRO Regional Congress for Asia and Oceania24 October, 2016, 13:30-15:30

Session 103 @Room 305"Policies, governance and economics on REDD+ and swidden systems"

Mapping a full cycle of swidden cultivation in a Khmu village and its implications for

land use stabilization in Laos

Shinya Takeda1, Riji Suzuki2, Nyen Chan3 & Lamphoune Xayvongsa4

1)Kyoto University, 2)Kyoto Gakuen University, 3)University of Forestry (Yezin), 4)National University of Laos

　 Swidden farming is found throughout the mountains of Laos; however, there is a current preference for other land-use systems. The recent trend toward a market economy has forced the people and forests in the mountains of Laos to undergo various changes as they integrate into the world market. They have been impacted by the Land and Forest Allocation Program, the expansion of the cultivation of cash crops such as maize and Para rubber trees, the increase in logging concessions, and re-afforestation aimed at industrial wood resources.

Introduction

Research SiteResearch Site•FORCOM: forest management and community support project, JICA, Lao P.D.R.

•S village in Luang Prabang Province

•Khmu people

•84 household opened 96 fields in 2005

•Monitoring of swidden plots from 2005 to 2016

Villagers face difficulties in continuing swidden agriculture due to of the limited swidden agriculture area. During the 2005-2007 period, several villagers began to rent land in neighboring villages, and 16 villagers migrated to other province.

隣村借地焼畑地

S村集落

Swidden farming 2005-2011

年 Number of HH

Total Area of swidden Field (ha

）

Number of Plots

Average size of

Cultivation Field (ha)

Average fallow period (year)

2005 84 143.65 96 1.71 4.9

2006 82 110.14 99 1.35 4.1

2007 76 107.60 99 1.42 4.1

2008 76 139.78 131 1.84 3.8

2009 75 112.70 114 1.50 3.7

2010 63 89.08 71 1.41 3.7

2011 56 82.63 71 1.48 3.3

•Ｍａｉｚｅ•Ｖｉｅｔｎａｍ•Ｔｈａｉｌａｎｄ

•Ｙｏｕｎｇ　ｆａｌｌｏｗ　•ｗｉｔｈ　Ｙａ　Ｋｈｉ　Ｌｏ

Young fallow: Chromolaena odoratum

Fig. Price trend for maize during 2005-2015 (U.S. No.2 Yellow, FOB, Gulf of Mexico)

( Nyein Chan and Takeda, in print)

Year 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Area harvested (,000 ha) 86.0 113.8 157.7 229.2 207.6 212.7 212.1 196.8 212.0 243.4

Yield (ton/ha) 43.3 39.5 43.6 48.3 54.6 48.0 51.7 57.2 57.3 58.0

Production (mil. ton) 0.4 0.4 0.7 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.4

Seed production (,000 ton) 2.3 3.2 4.6 4.2 4.3 4.2 3.9 4.4 4.4 -

Table Maize production in Laos (2005-2014)

2005 2006 2014 2015

‘the end of cheap food’ (The Economist 6 December 2007)

Crops n (HHs) Production (kg per HH)Agricultural crops

Rice

 

56

 

1,832.50 ± 147.742 Maize 45 2,263.1 ± 258.68  

Red rice 7 765.7 ± 198.35  

Cassava 3 2,433.3 ± 1,105.04  

Mak kha† (Alpinia galangal‡) 1 150.0  

Fallow crop    

Broom grass 4 122.5 ± 26.58

Table Average production of agricultural crops in S village in 2013

　 Dec 2012, new road was constructed !

( Nyein Chan and Takeda, in print)

•Eaglewood ( Aquilaria spp. ) >10 years•Para rubber tree ( Hevea brasiliensis ) 7 years•Paper mulberry ( Broussonetia papyrifera ) 3 years•Lac ( Laccifer lacca ) + Pigeon pea ( Cajanus cajan )•Livestock

How to modify swidden agriculture How to modify swidden agriculture in the project sitesin the project sites

Lac is the resinous protective exudation of a Lac is the resinous protective exudation of a tiny insect, tiny insect, LacciferLaccifer laccalacca ( lac insect ), ( lac insect ), parasitic on certain trees.parasitic on certain trees.

• Lac is cultivated in plantations of host Lac is cultivated in plantations of host trees (trees (Cajanus cajanCajanus cajan) in fallows. ) in fallows. Compared with other ‘New Crops’ such Compared with other ‘New Crops’ such as Para Rubber and Eaglewood, lac as Para Rubber and Eaglewood, lac allows villagers to earn cash income in a allows villagers to earn cash income in a relatively short time. relatively short time.

• C. cajanC. cajan, , AquiraliaAquiralia spp. and other spp. and other perennials planted in fallow fields perennials planted in fallow fields contribute to the ‘stabilization’ of swidden contribute to the ‘stabilization’ of swidden agriculture. agriculture.

• Based on the increasing demand for Based on the increasing demand for lac in the Chinese market, host tree lac in the Chinese market, host tree plantations are being set up on an plantations are being set up on an increasing scale in Luang Prabang increasing scale in Luang Prabang Province. This can be seen as an Province. This can be seen as an ‘intensification of agricultural land ‘intensification of agricultural land use’ in marginal mountainous areas use’ in marginal mountainous areas of northern Laos.of northern Laos.

• The “stabilization” of swidden farming is a means, not an end itself. For The “stabilization” of swidden farming is a means, not an end itself. For the Kamu people who live on swidden farming, the important goal is to the Kamu people who live on swidden farming, the important goal is to ensure a future where they can live with a sense of security. For that ensure a future where they can live with a sense of security. For that purpose, it is necessary to “wait” without hastily seeking immediate purpose, it is necessary to “wait” without hastily seeking immediate results. A broad range of resources to support lives through self-results. A broad range of resources to support lives through self-sufficiency is available from swidden fields and fallowed land. sufficiency is available from swidden fields and fallowed land. Specializing in the selling of non-timber forest products may certainly Specializing in the selling of non-timber forest products may certainly bring about increased incomes, but also runs the risk of facing bring about increased incomes, but also runs the risk of facing uncertain markets. Market trends cannot be determined by producers. uncertain markets. Market trends cannot be determined by producers. That is the source of the uncertainty. It is necessary to sustain self-That is the source of the uncertainty. It is necessary to sustain self-sufficient lives supported by swidden farming and fallowed land and sufficient lives supported by swidden farming and fallowed land and engage in skillful marketing of non-timber forest products. engage in skillful marketing of non-timber forest products.

• Historically, in widespread areas across Southeast Asia, Historically, in widespread areas across Southeast Asia, including Laos, there have existed villages where people have including Laos, there have existed villages where people have lived by commercializing nature. Examples abound in various lived by commercializing nature. Examples abound in various areas where non-timber forest products generated from areas where non-timber forest products generated from swidden fallows are sold as commodities, and as a result of swidden fallows are sold as commodities, and as a result of such production activities, forests and woods have been such production activities, forests and woods have been preserved. Forests in Laos have also been linked to outside preserved. Forests in Laos have also been linked to outside markets since ancient times. Such linkage, at one time severed markets since ancient times. Such linkage, at one time severed by wars, is regaining strength thanks to the marketization of the by wars, is regaining strength thanks to the marketization of the economy. However, the ongoing rapid changes will not adjust economy. However, the ongoing rapid changes will not adjust themselves to the inherent rhythm of swidden farming. themselves to the inherent rhythm of swidden farming.

• In the swidden fields of the Kamu people, a fallow In the swidden fields of the Kamu people, a fallow period of several years must be endured after one period of several years must be endured after one year of farming. Lac is one non-timber forest year of farming. Lac is one non-timber forest product that helps people wait out those several product that helps people wait out those several years. Waiting for opportunities to ripen is a years. Waiting for opportunities to ripen is a shortcut to securing the lives of the people who live shortcut to securing the lives of the people who live there and the environment that surrounds them. there and the environment that surrounds them. This is what helps people achieve the real goal of This is what helps people achieve the real goal of the “stabilization” of swidden farmingthe “stabilization” of swidden farming

Waiting for opportunities to ripen

S villageKhmu swidden cultivation (2005 ～ 2011 7 years ）

1,673.88ha A 143.65ha B 11.7years (A/B) 4 years

maize goat, pig, cattle, buffalo

(cassava production for feed)paper mulberry, lac,

agarwood, para rubber

commrecial crop productive fallow

continuous upland farming

Para rubber plantation

wage labor

The availability of land is limited, and in turn leading to semi-commercialized farming such as maize, red rice, and cassava.

subsistence upland rice production

Swidden transformations and rural livelihoods

Cash crops have often improved livelihoods but complete specialization for the market increases vulnerability. (Cramb 2009)

Positive market incentives and supportive government policies are better than standardized, top-down directives.

Swidden farming with productive fallows plays a key role in 1) ensuring livelihood safety of local people against market fluctuations and 2)conserving biodiversity.

REDD+ integrated with supportive measures and policy incentives can be potential as a tool to conserve the secondary forest carbon stocks