Relocating Plants from Swidden Fallows to Gardens in Southwestern China

Consequences of Swidden Transitions for Crop and Fallow Biodiversity in Southeast Asia

“…Many of the species that grow and are managed in swidden fallows provide food, medicines, and building materials that support swiddening households and communities and are frequently marketed in towns and cities in both mainland and insular Southeast Asia (Kunstadter 1978;Mertz 2007;Burgers 2007;Fu et al 2003;Sturgeon 2005). In the first years of the fallow, species of planted vegetables and other crops often remain despite the growth of spontaneous vegetation (e.g., Tayanin 2007).…”

“…In the village of Pa Pae, the majority of species of the altogether 295 food plants, 119 medicinal plants, 44 plant species used for weaving and dyeing, and the 27 fuel plants were derived from fallow swiddens (Kunstadter 1978;Kunstadter et al 1978a, b). In one Akha-Hani village in China's Yunnan province, researchers found that 76 species of useful plants were harvested from 7 hectares of swidden fallows of varying ages (Fu et al 2003). In West Kalimantan, data gathered in 11 swidden fallows belonging to residents of one village showed that the vegetation of older, tree-dominated fallows also had considerable economic value; more than half the individual trees and at least 30% of the tree species were found to be economically useful (Lawrence et al 1995;Vandermeer et al 2002).…”

“…In West Kalimantan, data gathered in 11 swidden fallows belonging to residents of one village showed that the vegetation of older, tree-dominated fallows also had considerable economic value; more than half the individual trees and at least 30% of the tree species were found to be economically useful (Lawrence et al 1995;Vandermeer et al 2002). Researchers have suggested that intensely managed fallows represent a promising way to increase incomes, improve diets, and increase labor productivity among swidden cultivators (Mertz 2007;Burgers 2007;Fu et al 2003;Colfer 2008;Colfer et al 1997;Cairns 2007a, b, c). The elimination of fallows when swiddening is replaced by permanent croppingespecially by monocultural plantations of export crops-may markedly downgrade diversity, and with it nutritional status, health, and incomes of smallholder households, as swidden fallows often function as "safety-nets" for the rural poor (Burgers 2007;Mertz 2007;Johns 2007;Sturgeon 2005).…”

“…2 Map of land use in Tee Cha village of Mae Hong Son province, Thailand elaborate homegardens that harbor many upland crops formerly found in swidden fields (Fu et al 2003) and actively rescuing valued biodiversity from former swidden fields and fallows. Headwater and other conservation forests, including holy hills and sacred forests, are other venues for such preservation (Pei 1993).…”

“…Hmong, Lahu, and Akha-Hani farmers in northern Thailand, are increasingly managing elaborate home gardens that harbor many upland crops formerly found in swidden fields (Fu et al 2003). In one Hmong village in northern Thailand, some farmers who have lost their swidden plots have begun to cultivate the margins of their crop fields (edges) with useful spontaneous species as well as traditional crops from former swidden fields (Rerkasem, unpublished data).…”