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Challenging established narratives on soil erosion and shifting cultivation in Laos

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  • Guillaume Lestrelin
  • Olga Vigiak
  • Aurélie Pelletreau
  • Bounmy Keohavong
  • Christian Valentin

Abstract

The official environmental discourse in Laos describes a “chain of degradation” stretching from upland shifting cultivation, increased runoff and soil erosion to the siltation of wetlands and reservoirs. This perspective has had wide‐ranging impacts on rural development policy which, in the uplands, has long favoured forest conservation over agriculture. Integrating soil erosion and water sediment data with local perceptions of land degradation in an upland village of northern Laos, this study tests the validity of the official environmental discourse. Biophysical measurements made in a small agricultural catchment indicate a significant correlation between the spatial extent of cultivation and soil erosion rates. However, sediment yields recorded at the outlet of the catchment highlight relatively low levels of off‐site sediment exportation. Furthermore, farmers' perceptions suggest that local land degradation issues and crop yield declines could be less related to soil erosion than to agricultural land shortage, increased weed competition, and fertility losses resulting from the intensification of shifting cultivation. The study concludes that a better understanding and management of land degradation issues can be achieved by developing more inclusive and scientifically‐informed approaches to environmental perceptions and narratives.

Suggested Citation

  • Guillaume Lestrelin & Olga Vigiak & Aurélie Pelletreau & Bounmy Keohavong & Christian Valentin, 2012. "Challenging established narratives on soil erosion and shifting cultivation in Laos," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 36(2), pages 63-75, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:natres:v:36:y:2012:i:2:p:63-75
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1477-8947.2011.01438.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Bin Huang & Zaijian Yuan & Mingguo Zheng & Yishan Liao & Kim Loi Nguyen & Thi Hong Nguyen & Samran Sombatpanit & Dingqiang Li, 2022. "Soil and Water Conservation Techniques in Tropical and Subtropical Asia: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-19, April.
    2. Wong, Grace Y. & Holm, Minda & Pietarinen, Niina & Ville, Alizee & Brockhaus, Maria, 2022. "The making of resource frontier spaces in the Congo Basin and Southeast Asia: A critical analysis of narratives, actors and drivers in the scientific literature," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 27(C).
    3. Jean-Christophe Castella & Sonnasack Phaipasith, 2021. "Rural Roads Are Paving the Way for Land-Use Intensification in the Uplands of Laos," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-19, March.

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