agrarian land use transformation in northern laos -...

Agrarian land use transformation in Northern Laos

Sithong Thongmanivong and Khamla Phanvilay, Faculty of Forestry

Yayoi Fujita, LSUAFRPJefferson Fox, East West Center

Sustainable Sloping Lands and Watershed Management Workshop

Luang Prabang, December 2006

Presentation outlines

• Objectives of the study • Research question and

Methodologies• Main findings• Discussion and future

considerations for research

Objectives

• Understand the impact of land use change on local resource tenure and local livelihood

• Investigate driving forces (i.e. government policies, population, economy)

Study Area

Thailand

Laos

China

Myanmar Vietnam

Cambodia

Myanmar

China

Louang Namtha

Bokeo Province

Thailand

Background: northern Laos

• High poverty incidence among rural population

• Transition from subsistence to market economy

• Integration to regional economies

Background: northern Laos

• Implementation of government policies on – Land and forest allocation

– shifting cultivation

– Opium abolition

Research questions

• What is the current land use pattern along the new Economic Corridor?

• How does demographic change affect natural resources and land use?

• What are the driving forces of farmer’s decisions on land use and farming system?

Research method

• Spatial analysis– Demographic change– Land use change

• Policy review• Village land use

history• Village and household

survey (i.e. cognitive mapping, interviews)

Data collection

• Spatial data: Landsat, Aster, DEM, village location, Census data

• Agricultural statistic (e.g. NSC, MAF, PAFO, DAFEO)

• Village and household interviews • Cognitive maps on factors that lead to

planting rubber

Preliminary findings

Demographic change Sing District

Sing DistrictEthnic distribution

Ethnic 1995 Ethnic 2005

ETHNIC GROUPDistrict boundary

OTHER FEATURES µRoad network 0 10 205 KM

Akha Dam, Phunoi Hmong Khmu

Leu Lue, Nua Nua Mien Mekong River

Viengphoukha DistrictDemographic change

Population 1995 Population 2005

POPULATION

< 200 201 - 500 501 - 1000 > 1000 National high wayDistrict boundary

OTHER FEATURES

0 10 205 kM

µRoad network

Viengphoukha DistrictEthnic distribution

Ethnic 1995 Ethnic 2005

ETHNICNational high wayDistrict boundary

OTHER FEATURES

0 10 205 kM

µHmongAkha

KuiLeu Leu and KuiMix

YangKhmuKhmu and Kui Road network

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1973 1986 1988 1991 1992 1993 1999 2000 2004

% o

f are

a ca

lcul

ated

Forest Non-forest

Forestcover change Sing District

0 6 123 Km µ

LegendForestGrass landLowland agricultureSecondary forestUpland agricultureWater

District boundaryDistrict centre

0 6 123 Km µ

LegendForestGrass landLowland agricultureSecondary forestUpland agricultureWater

District boundaryDistrict centre

Landuse change Sing District

Landuse 2000 Landuse 2005

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

ETM+ 2000 Aster 2005

Thou

sand

s Forest denseSecondary forestGrass and shrubsUpland agricultureLowland agriculture

Landuse Change

Area of rice production Unit: ha

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Luang Namtha Bokeo Luang Namtha Bokeo

Paddy rice Upland rice

Thou

sand

s 19851990199520002004

Maize and sugarcane production Unit: ton

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Luang Namtha Bokeo Luang Namtha Bokeo

Maize Sugarcane

Thou

sand

s

1985

1990

1995

2000

2003

Rubber plantation [ ha ]

0

5

10

15

20

25

Luang Namtha Bokeo

Thou

sand

s

Existing

P lan to 2010

• Concentration of population along the road in lower elevation

• Conversion of swidden and fallow forest to permanent agricultural land

• Increased privatization of resources, and competition over land

• From multiple livelihood options to selecting key livelihood activities

Discussion: observed trend

Challenges for future research

• Impact of agricultural commercialization in uplands on forest and watershed

• Impact of agricultural commercialization and privatization of land on communal resource management practice

• Changing patterns of livelihood basis• Gaps of information and policy

implementation• Cross border trade issues

Thanks for your kind attention