Expansion of Rubber Tree Plantation in Northern Laos : Economic and Environmental Consequences

摘要: Rubber trees have been planted in the Northern Province of Laos since mid-1990s, with tapping beginning early 2000s. Consequently, livelihoods upland northern rapidly moved away from subsistence shifting cultivation to rubber tree plantations. As a result, total area plantations has drastically increased 342 ha 1990s more than 25,000 2009. This paper reviews factors that accelerated rapid expansion plantation and its economic environmental consequences identifies key issues for future studies. The Land Forest Allocation (LFA) program played direct role shaping landscape Laos, but demand natural China response stagnation Chinese domestic supply was most important factor behind Laos. Therefore, under current likely market conditions, investment smallholder production appears financially profitable. However, this study found gains came losses food production, soil quality degradation, deforestation. it is necessary thoroughly analyze behaviors understand their labor allocation decisions different livelihood activities, including forest extractions along tract, achieve goal promoting as strategy alleviate poverty an instrument eliminate conserve forests.