Indigenous community forest management of Jinuo people's swidden agroecosystems in southwest China

Abstract

According to their traditional classification, the Jinuo's community forests consisted of watershed forest, auspicious forest, sacred forest, shellac forest, village/clan boundary forest, fire protection forest, burial forest and swidden fallow forest. Every type of forest was managed through traditional regulations. The village or clan headman and his assistant were the representatives to implement the traditional management system. Because it was popular with local villagers and there was strict punishment of offenders, the management system was effective. In recent years, the constantly changing forest management policies has not helped either to preserve biodiversity, or to develop forestry. Instead, forest ecosystems have been destroyed. After studying the community forests in the Jinuo community, the authors strongly recommend that the indigenous forest management system be strengthened. Modern forestry policy itself cannot implement sustainable, productive forestry and conserve biodiversity unless it is combined with the indigenous management system of the community.