Biodiversity conservation and cash crop development in northern Thailand

Abstract

This study examines some of the implications of increased cash croppingfor wildlife in the highlands of northern Thailand. Through in-depth study of twoHmong villages and interviews in several others, information was collectedregarding cash crop adoption patterns, comparisons between various cash crops interms of inputs and yields and trends in land use change and hunting behaviour.The results show that the newer cash crops, cabbage and carnations inparticular, have greater abilities to support larger human populations per unitland area and thereby reduce pressure for increased land clearing. However,strong concerns remain regarding the chemical inputs used on thesecrops. Since the adoption of cash cropping, hunting frequency has declined. Interviewees provided seven reasons, withthe time requirements for cash crop tending being the main one. Hunting isstill practiced but largely for social rather than economic reasons. Oneexception is the regular hunting of small animals by opium addicts. Others nowhave sufficient money to be able to buy meat. Hunters span all economic classes.Hunting now plays a reduced social role in the society. In general, the youngergeneration has reduced knowledge of the forest environment. No support was foundfor the hypothesis that cash cropping had reduced village regulations onhunting, as few such regulations exist amongst the Hmong. This study suggeststhat there may be advantages to biodiversity conservation from cash cropping inthe highlands of SE Asia and confirms the much broader scope that conservationscientists must embrace in order to understand all the factors that mightinfluence biodiversity in a region.