Changes in indigenous natural resource utilisation regimes in Dong ethnic minority village in southwest China

Abstract

The past century has witnessed great changes and the loss of some recognized factors in agricultural systems in ethnic minority villages in China. Research on these changes can provide important guidelines for the development of sustainable management plans. We studied the changes of natural resource utilisation (NRU) regimes at the landscape level in modern Chinese history in a village of Dong nationality in southwest China. Information derived from historical documents and governmental data, as well as participant observations acquired from interviews with local farmers and field surveys, were used to reconstruct the traditional NRU regimes and agricultural calendar. Political, demographic, socioeconomic, and ecological backgrounds, were analysed to study the NRU regime changes. The results revealed that there were marked changes in NRU regimes. Traditional NRU regime changes with lifestyle changes of the Dong people. Gaoyou village preserves its traditional landscape well. Our research also provided some recommendations for future management plans and policy making.