Rubber and pulp plantations represent a double threat to Hainan's natural tropical forests

• Published in: Journal of environmental management Vol. 96; no. 1; pp. 64 - 73
• Main Authors: Zhai, De-Li, Cannon, Charles H., Slik, J.W. Ferry, Zhang, Cui-Ping, Dai, Zhi-Cong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 15.04.2012; Elsevier; Academic Press Ltd
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biodiversity; Biological and medical sciences; Birds; China; Conservation; Conservation of Natural Resources - methods; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Ecosystem; Environment; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Eucalyptus; Forest policy; Forest products; Forestry; Forestry - methods; Forestry industry; Forests; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; General forest ecology; Generalities. Production, biomass. Quality of wood and forest products. General forest ecology; Government policy; Habitats; Hevea; Industrial forest; Lowland deforestation; Management; Natural resources; Nature conservation; Plantations; Protected area; Pulp and paper industry; Rain forest; Rainforests; Remote sensing; Remote Sensing Technology; Rubber; Trees; Tropical Climate; Tropical forests; Watersheds; China; Hainan China; China, People's Rep., Hainan; China, People's Rep; Eucalyptus; Industrial forest; Lowland deforestation; Hevea; Protected area; Government policy; Deforestation; Policy; Government; Tropical forest; Woody plant; Environmental management; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Myrtaceae; Euphorbiaceae; Spermatophyta; Rubber; Lowland
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2011.10.011

Hainan, the largest tropical island in China, belongs to the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot and harbors large areas of tropical forests, particularly in the uplands. The Changhua watershed is the cradle of Hainan's main river and a center of endemism for plants and birds. The watershed contains great habitat diversity and is an important conservation area. We analyzed the impact of rubber and pulp plantations on the distribution and area of tropical forest in the watershed, using remote sensing analysis of Landsat images from 1988, 1995 and 2005. From 1988 to 1995, natural forest increased in area (979–1040 sq km) but decreased rapidly (763 sq km) over the next decade. Rubber plantations increased steadily through the study period while pulp plantations appeared after 1995 but occupied 152 sq km by 2005. Rubber and pulp plantations displace different types of natural forest and do not replace one another. Because pulp is not as profitable as rubber and existing pulp processing capacity greatly exceeds local supply, considerable pressure exists on remaining upland forests. We recommend for future management that these plantation forests be reclassified as ‘industrial’, making a clear policy distinction between natural and industrial forestry. Additionally, the local government should work to enforce existing laws preventing forest conversion on marginal and protected areas. ► Both rubber and pulp plantations replace natural forests, including protected areas. ► Rubber and pulp displaced different natural forests, lowland and upland respectively. ► Pulp plantations also expanded on steep slopes, despite an existing ban. ► These two plantation types pose separate threats to natural forest. ► Plantation forests should officially classified as industrial, not natural forests.