This book examines the experience of China’s forestry sector with respect to the full set of forest and nonforest policy reforrms introduced since 1978. The lessons of this book are important for China, and for the rest of the world as well. For China the analyses in each chapter provides rigorous evidence on those policies that have worked and on how well the have worked. The book consists of 10 chapters: 1. Hyde, W.F., Jintao Xu, Belcher, B. Introduction and Appendix table: policy reform in China’s forestry; 2. Liu Dachang, Edmund, D. Devolution as a means of expanding local forest management in South China: lessons from the past 20 years; 3. Jinlong Liu, Landell-Mills, N. Taxes and fees in the Southern collective forest region; 4. Runsheng Yin. Central characteristics of reform: measures of the effects of improved property rights, a stable policy environment, and environmental protection; 5. Daowei Zhang. Policy reform and investment in forestry; 6. Rozelle, S., Jikun Huang, Benziger, V. Forest exploitation and protection in reform China: assessing the impacts of policy and economic growth; 7. Yaoqi Zhang, Uusivuori, J., Kuuluvainen, J., Kant, S. Deforestation and reforestation in Hainan: roles of markets and institution; 8. Ruiz-Perez, M., Belcher, B., Maoyi Fu, Xiaosheng Yang. Forestry, poverty, and rural development: perspectives from the bamboo sector; 9. Sayer, J.A., Changjin Sun. Impacts of policy reforms on forest environments and biodiversity; 10. Hyde, W.F., Jintao Xu, Belcher, B., Runsheng Yin, Jinlong Liu. Conclusions and policy implications.
Tag: bamboos
Effects of harvesting techniques and intensities on productivity of Oxytenanthera abyssinica in Pawe district, North-western Ethiopia
Bamboos are naturally fast-growing species in tropical and non-tropical regions, with some species growing more than 1 m per day. Oxytenanthera abyssinica is an important bamboo species that could help meet current and future needs worldwide. This study was designed to assess the effects of harvesting techniques and intensities on sustainable utilization of O. abyssinica. Clumps that had a similar number culms were used to conduct the experiment. A factorial experiment with two harvesting techniques (X-shape and Horse-shoe shape) and five levels of harvesting intensities (25, 50, 75, 100 and 0 % harvesting of mature culms) was conducted for five successive years in the dry season. Sprouted and dead shoots, recruited culms, and mean culm diameter at breast height were recorded. Data were analysed using two-way-ANOVA. Culm/shoot sprouting had significantly different values with harvesting techniques; the X-shape harvesting technique produced a higher number culms than horse-shoe harvesting technique. Interaction effects between harvesting techniques and harvesting intensities on shoot sprouting, culm recruitment and shoot abortion were not observed. Both harvesting techniques and intensities had a significant effect on mean culm diameter; i.e., 25 % and 75 % of the mature culms harvested under the X-shape and horse-shoe harvesting techniques, respectively, produced thicker bamboo culms than the unharvested clump (control). Culm recruitment decreased in the second year, and then increased in the third year, subsequently showed a decreasing trend for all treatments. This may have been related to repeated culm harvesting. The population structure has also varied with harvesting technique and intensity. To utilize this species sustainably, the species may need a specific cutting cycle. This study suggests the need for further study through incorporating cutting cycles with different levels of harvesting intensity to develop a sustainable management method.
Effects of social economy and policies on production management systems: a case study of China’s bamboo industries
Over recent years, since reform and liberalisation, there has been rapid development of the bamboo industry in China that has brought about a series of economic policies and regulations favourable to economic development. Between 1981 and 1993, the area covered by bamboo forests expanded at a rate higher than the growth rate in forest-covered areas of the country. By 1996, the annual production value of primary products from bamboo resources reached 0.9 billion USD. The export value of manufactured bamboo products was US$ 35 million in 1995. Because 93% of bamboo forests in rural areas is collectively-owned and directly managed by farmers, the increase in yields and profits from bamboo forest products significantly improves incomes and living standards of rural people. Thus the bamboo industry has become an important means to reduce poverty among the rural population. The purpose of this study is to promote sustainable development of the bamboo sector by reviewing the development of bamboo industries in Anji County, Zhejian Province. The review analyses industry fundamentals, approaches and potential weaknesses and explores the direction and methods for its further development.
Case study: the potential of bamboo resources in mountainous China
The role of bamboo plantations in rural development: the case of Anji County, Zhejiang, China
Bamboos have often been viewed as inferior products, labeled as the “poor man’s timber”. Development groups have proposed bamboo production as an opportunity for increasing the wealth of the low-income groups. This paper is a study of the household economy of 200 bamboo farmers in eight township of Anji County in China. The authors decribe the process of transformation of rural China from communes to the household responsibility system, the differentiated rate of development among farmers and the role of bamboo in that change. A multiple regression analysis was carried out to study the factors that influence farmers’ incomes and their evolution. A warning is sounded against using bamboo production to target low-income group, as well as relying solely on aggr egated data when drawing conclusions on income disparities in China.
Modular, hollow culms of rain-forest bamboos explain their persistence across a wide range of light environments
Bamboo cocoon nursery system: new approach to planting and restoring degraded land
Bamboo: A Potential Resource for Enhancing Rural Economy– A Case Study
Bamboo species -‘filter’ species to mitigate pollution and improve income for smallholder farmers?
Bamboo species (Gramineae bambuseae bambusoideae) provide important income and household consumption to low-income rural residents. According to a local knowledge study in Hoa Binh province, Vietnam, bamboo maintains fertility and productivity of the land because of surface litter accumulation, minimized leaching and long-term primary productivity. A study in Kenya shows that bamboo absorbs water faster than most other plants and is used to clean sewage water in some parts of the world. Bamboo may also be one strategic option of waste prevention and recycling. The uncontrolled dumping of large amounts of urban organic solid wastes in Vietnam causes pollution and ground water contamination. One of strategies since 1980s in dealing with this problem in northern Vietnam is composting solid waste to produce organic fertilisers (OF). However, farmers are skeptical to these OF and risk of the high concentrations of heavy metals is reported in literature. Our assumption is that Bamboo may function as an efficient ‘filter’, which takes up plant nutrients as well as trace (heavy) metals from the OF, and thereby mitigates the risk of environment al pollution. Significant nutrient inputs to the soil, obtained by applying OF together with a better land management, are expected to promote farm production of significant quantities of high quality bamboo products. This is an innovation for upland-lowland interaction for sustainable livelihood and environment protection.
Effect of elevation and aspect on carbon stock of bamboo stands (Bambusa nutans subsp. Cupulata) outside the forest area in Eastern Nepal
Bamboo has emerged as a promising option for climate change mitigation due to its rapid growth, versatility, and renewability. However, in Nepal, there exists a substantial knowledge gap on carbon (C) stock and the influence of aspect and elevation on C stock of bamboo species, particularly in areas outside forests where bamboo is dominant. Therefore, this research was conducted to quantify C stock and aspect-elevation influence on the C stock of Bambusa nutans subsp. cupulata outside the forest area. For this study, three elevation zones (0–400 m, 400–800 m, 800–1200 m) and two aspects (East and West) were considered. A total of 30 square plots having a 100 m2 area were established utilizing purposive sampling due to the scattered distribution of bamboo. Non-destructive methods were applied to measure bamboo culm diameters, while composite soil samples were systematically collected from 30 cm depth using soil augers and core samplers. Clump density (400 ha⁻¹), culm density (42,480 ha⁻¹) and culm diameter (6.82 ± 0.41 cm) were highest at middle elevations (p 0.05). The total mean C stock potential of B. nutans was 148.73 ± 3.43 Mg ha⁻¹. Our results indicated a significant difference in C stock among elevation zones, with middle elevation zones (161.77 ± 6.74 Mg ha-1) exhibiting notably higher C stock compared to both lower (150.26 ± 2.69 Mg ha-1) and higher (134.17 ± 4.26 Mg ha-1) elevation zones. Furthermore, East aspect was found to have significantly (p < 0.05) higher soil organic C stock (18.52 ± 1.32 Mg ha-1) compared to West aspect (11.4 ± 1.01 Mg ha-1). Further research is needed to explore other complex environmental interactions with C stock potential for better climate change strategies. Incorporating bamboo C into Nepal's REDD+ initiative can be crucial for optimizing opportunities to earn C credits.