The comprehensive social forestry programme in Sichuan province (China), carried out by the Southwest Forestry College, Kunming, with the support of the Ford Foundation, is based on the premise that if participatory forest management is to be stimulated, it is important to have a good understanding of existing indigenous forestry practices.

Within the framework of a training course on participatory action research, in March and April 1997 in two villages in Pingchang County, a case study was set up which focused on the nature of indigenous forest management practices. Two types of forest management co-exist in the two villages: household-managed forest lands (known locally as "ziliushan") and collectively-managed forest lands, which are used by a number of different households ("zerenshan"). The main tree species in these forests are pine (Pinus massoniana) and cypress (Cypressus funebris). Information on local practices aimed at tree maintenance was obtained by semi-structured interviews and field surveys. Data were collected on both the objectives of forest management and the kinds of silvicultural practices in use.

In general, the forests are used as a source of products for the household (timber for building, fuelwood, etc.), for farming (notably bedding material for livestock) and, where possible, for sale.

Three categories of management practices were distinguished: (i) practices aimed at controlled utilization of the trees, (ii) practices aimed at stimulating tree regeneration and growth, and (iii) practices to control harmful agents.

Controlled utilization
Logging usually takes place in the winter. Not only is this the agricultural 'slow season', but the risk of damage by insects or rot fungi is lowest at this time. Market prices are another factor influencing cutting times: commercial timber is best cut when prices are high. The trees to be cut are carefully selected, taking into account tree density as well as the structure of the vegetation; uneven stands are deliberately maintained. Trees are often coppiced (especially oak species) or pruned in order to obtain fuelwood (see picture); these methods do not kill the tree, but allow it to regrow after cutting. In this way, trees can be used for multiple purposes: they yield regular fuelwood and the timber is used for construction, as needed.

Stimulating tree regeneration and growth
Where tree density is insufficient, young seedlings may be planted. The transplanting of wildlings (seedlings growing in the forest) is the most common practice, although some farmers also raise seedlings in farm nurseries. The species usually planted are those which grow relatively slowly, as they provide timber of better quality than the fast- growing species. In planting seedlings, farmers display a thorough knowledge of their environmental requirements, such as a spot in the shade. On several occasions it was noted that the farmers first planted the seedlings, and only when they had reached maturity did they cut the surrounding large trees. If tree stands became too dense, they were thinned; factors influencing the selection of trees to be thinned include tree shape and density. However, crooked trees are not always removed, since wood is scarce and trunks of an unusual shape can often be used for special household purposes.

Protection practices
To protect young seedlings from damage by livestock, the animals--notably buffaloes--are kept away from plots with young trees. Cows are thought to do less damage and may even have a positive effect on tree growth, since they eat grasses which otherwise might smother seedlings and deposit manure which improves soil fertility.

Dynamic aspects
Each management practice may have several different objectives. For example, just as trees are cut in winter to prevent insect and rot damage, pruning is carried out for various reasons: it improves timber quality, reduces the danger of snow damage, and provides fuelwood. Often trees are pruned quite rigorously, but farmers indicated that tree growth is not affected by the small crown which remains.

Wood products are very scarce, and most of the forest plots are quite small (between 0.1 - 0.6 ha). This explains the intensive management practices which local farmers have developed on the basis of observation and experimentation. The practices in use in the ziliushan forests are normally more intensive than in the zerenshan forests. Such indigenous forest management practices have not developed everywhere in Pingchang county. This suggests that indigenous forest management practices are location-specific, often depending on existing systems of resource use. They will inevitably change, under the influence of changes in the economic position of farming households. These dynamic aspects are deserving of further study.

Policy implication
The data compiled for this study indicate that local forest management is a site-specific and dynamic process. In planning development interventions aimed at stimulating sustainable forest management, these practices should be taken into account.

For more information, contact:
Mr Guangxia Cao
Southwest Forestry College
Kunming 650224
P.R. China
E-mail: gxcao@km.col.com.cn

or:

Mr Cor Veer
FTPP coordinator
RECOFTC (Regional Community Forestry Training Center)
Kasetsart University
Bangkok 10903
Thailand
E-mail: corveer@mozart.inet.co.th