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Small Mushrooms for Big Business? Gaps in the Sustainable Management of Non-Timber Forest Products in Southwest China

Author

Listed:
  • Jun He

    (College of Economics and Management, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
    World Agroforestry Centre, ICRAF East and Central Asia, Kunming 650204, China)

  • Min Dong

    (Centre for Education Reform and Development Studies, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
    College of Forestry, Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China)

  • Macro Stark

    (World Agroforestry Centre, ICRAF East and Central Asia, Kunming 650204, China)

Abstract

The challenge of managing forests for the production of commercial non-timber forest products (NTFPs) lies in promoting economic development by maintaining and even increasing production while simultaneously maintaining or improving ecological conditions. The discussion of forest management therefore encompasses a wide range of social, economic, political, and ecological questions. Empirically, it is clear that both market and government failure can lead to unsustainable management in commercial NTFP use. How can we manage the market and at the same time formulate good policies? Taking cases from Southwest China, this paper critically examines the current development of NTFP commercialization in the mountainous region of Southwest China. It focuses particularly on three pieces of research on mushroom collection and marketing. By examining empirical data, the paper analyzes current gaps in the policy and the market in mountainous areas in the context of promoting sustainable use of NTFP. It examines the market structure from the perspective of market failure and explores the government’s failure to promote commercial NTFPs. We recommend economic and political decentralization, capacity building, and government investment as means to improve sustainable management.

Suggested Citation

  • Jun He & Min Dong & Macro Stark, 2014. "Small Mushrooms for Big Business? Gaps in the Sustainable Management of Non-Timber Forest Products in Southwest China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(10), pages 1-15, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:6:y:2014:i:10:p:6847-6861:d:40835
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Yang Ren & Jari Kuuluvainen & Anne Toppinen & Shunbo Yao & Sami Berghäll & Heimo Karppinen & Caixia Xue & Liu Yang, 2018. "The Effect of China’s New Circular Collective Forest Tenure Reform on Household Non-Timber Forest Product Production in Natural Forest Protection Project Regions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-17, April.
    2. Rasmussen, Laura Vang & Mertz, Ole & Christensen, Andreas E. & Danielsen, Finn & Dawson, Neil & Xaydongvanh, Pheang, 2016. "A combination of methods needed to assess the actual use of provisioning ecosystem services," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 17(C), pages 75-86.
    3. He, Jun & Kebede, Bereket & Martin, Adrian & Gross-Camp, Nicole, 2020. "Privatization or communalization: A multi-level analysis of changes in forest property regimes in China," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    4. Franz K. Huber & Michael Morlok & Caroline S. Weckerle & Klaus Seeland, 2015. "Livelihood Strategies in Shaxi, Southwest China: Conceptualizing Mountain–Valley Interactions as a Human–Environment System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-26, March.

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