MIGIS—an effective tool to negotiate development interventions relating to forestry

Abstract

Deforestation caused by the felling of trees for firewood is a major cause of environmental degradation in some villages in Luchun County, Yunnan Province. This is of particular concern in the headwaters of major rivers such as the Black River where increased runoff, erosion, and sediment yield impact on the millions of persons living downstream. While the links between forest clearance, the ability of the land to sustain production, and the sustainability of communities are understood, the pressures of having to survive today often cutweigh consideration of the consequences for tomorrow. The real challenge for these communities is that they recognise their situation and negotiate a practical solution rather than wait the intervention and support. It is essential therefore that the changes which have taken place are documented and their future impact illustrated. This information must then be portrayed in a manner that makes it accessible and comprehensible to all, even to those who are illiterate. For this reason the use of graphics offers considerable merit over textual and numerical analyses. This paper explores the use of MIGIS (an acronym for community based planning which integrates the techniques of PLA and GIS) to facilitate a negotiated, bottom-up approach to afforestation with the Hani farmers of Luchun County, Yunnan in southwest China.

Keywords

MIGIS / Deforestation / Sustainability / Firewood / Environmental degradation / Participatory Learning and Action / S757 / A

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