From innovation to adaptation: lessons from 20 years of the SHIFT forest management system in Sanming, China

Abstract

This study follows the 20-year period of a forestry innovation—the share-holding integrated forestry tenure (SHIFT) system—its adoption, diffusion, adaptation and transformation in Sanming Prefecture, Fujian Province of the People’s Republic of China. Our research suggests that the adoption of this innovation in forest management institutions and technologies tends to follow the familiar “s” curve. However, the prevailing patterns in the social, economic, cultural, and biophysical environments that encouraged the adoption have changed overtime as it moved to an adaptive phase. The need for flexibility and resiliency in forestry strategies is necessary if the goals and objectives promised by innovation are to be sustained. SHIFT was initiated as an innovative rural development program of “private-like” forest management, where villagers became shareholders in the community forestry operation and obtained employment through a system of tenure contracts. SHIFT has proven to be an effective system for the regeneration and protection of Sanming’s forests. Changing conditions in the social, economic, cultural, and biophysical environments of Sanming have undermined the value of the shareholding system and the benefit distribution of tenure contracts. However, villager confidence in the SHIFT system remains positive as direct dividend benefits have been replaced by those accrued through the harvest of non-timber forest products and a new household tenure contract to supply individual household forest product needs.