Conflict or coexistence? Synergies between nature conservation and traditional tea industry development in Wuyishan National Park, China

Traditional agricultural industries in protected areas (PAs) provide opportunities for both nature conservation and the wellbeing of local residents. However, knowledge about the synergies between nature conservation and traditional agricultural industries is still limited. This research takes the t...

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Main Authors: Bojie Wang, Siyuan He, Qingwen Min, Xiao Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2022.991847/full
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author Bojie Wang
Bojie Wang
Siyuan He
Qingwen Min
Qingwen Min
Xiao Yang
Xiao Yang
author_facet Bojie Wang
Bojie Wang
Siyuan He
Qingwen Min
Qingwen Min
Xiao Yang
Xiao Yang
author_sort Bojie Wang
collection DOAJ
description Traditional agricultural industries in protected areas (PAs) provide opportunities for both nature conservation and the wellbeing of local residents. However, knowledge about the synergies between nature conservation and traditional agricultural industries is still limited. This research takes the traditional tea industry in Wuyishan National Park as a case to identify and examine the synergistic mechanism between forest conservation and industrial development, why traditional agricultural industries are necessary to the regional economy, and how they secure local livelihoods as well as achieve conservation goals. We conducted literature research and semi-structured interviews with Wuyishan National Park Authority, local government administrations, enterprises and small-scale farmers. The results were obtained through a two-stage mixed method of grounded theory and system dynamics. The findings revealed that: (1) Traditional agricultural industries in PAs were resilient and adaptable in the face of external changes, in which traditional culture and ecological awareness played an important role. (2) Small-scale agri-industries were vulnerable to external shocks, but they also have advantages in terms of moderate agglomeration and standardization, risk perception and response, and market-based diversification of production. (3) The synergetic process of traditional agricultural industries and conservation is mainstreaming biodiversity by cooperation among the government, the park agency, and local people. Thus, we suggested that the local government should work together with the PA management agencies to re-evaluate the existence of traditional agricultural industries for their necessity in the regional economy and the feasibility of improving local livelihoods.
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spelling doaj.art-07f61aef44a24483bc87dd5a7d20a1872023-01-13T04:29:24ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems2571-581X2023-01-01610.3389/fsufs.2022.991847991847Conflict or coexistence? Synergies between nature conservation and traditional tea industry development in Wuyishan National Park, ChinaBojie Wang0Bojie Wang1Siyuan He2Qingwen Min3Qingwen Min4Xiao Yang5Xiao Yang6Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaTraditional agricultural industries in protected areas (PAs) provide opportunities for both nature conservation and the wellbeing of local residents. However, knowledge about the synergies between nature conservation and traditional agricultural industries is still limited. This research takes the traditional tea industry in Wuyishan National Park as a case to identify and examine the synergistic mechanism between forest conservation and industrial development, why traditional agricultural industries are necessary to the regional economy, and how they secure local livelihoods as well as achieve conservation goals. We conducted literature research and semi-structured interviews with Wuyishan National Park Authority, local government administrations, enterprises and small-scale farmers. The results were obtained through a two-stage mixed method of grounded theory and system dynamics. The findings revealed that: (1) Traditional agricultural industries in PAs were resilient and adaptable in the face of external changes, in which traditional culture and ecological awareness played an important role. (2) Small-scale agri-industries were vulnerable to external shocks, but they also have advantages in terms of moderate agglomeration and standardization, risk perception and response, and market-based diversification of production. (3) The synergetic process of traditional agricultural industries and conservation is mainstreaming biodiversity by cooperation among the government, the park agency, and local people. Thus, we suggested that the local government should work together with the PA management agencies to re-evaluate the existence of traditional agricultural industries for their necessity in the regional economy and the feasibility of improving local livelihoods.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2022.991847/fullprotected areas (PAs)traditional agricultural industriesnational parkWuyishansynergy
spellingShingle Bojie Wang
Bojie Wang
Siyuan He
Qingwen Min
Qingwen Min
Xiao Yang
Xiao Yang
Conflict or coexistence? Synergies between nature conservation and traditional tea industry development in Wuyishan National Park, China
Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
protected areas (PAs)
traditional agricultural industries
national park
Wuyishan
synergy
title Conflict or coexistence? Synergies between nature conservation and traditional tea industry development in Wuyishan National Park, China
title_full Conflict or coexistence? Synergies between nature conservation and traditional tea industry development in Wuyishan National Park, China
title_fullStr Conflict or coexistence? Synergies between nature conservation and traditional tea industry development in Wuyishan National Park, China
title_full_unstemmed Conflict or coexistence? Synergies between nature conservation and traditional tea industry development in Wuyishan National Park, China
title_short Conflict or coexistence? Synergies between nature conservation and traditional tea industry development in Wuyishan National Park, China
title_sort conflict or coexistence synergies between nature conservation and traditional tea industry development in wuyishan national park china
topic protected areas (PAs)
traditional agricultural industries
national park
Wuyishan
synergy
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2022.991847/full
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