Creating sustainable communities in China: the case of Nong Jia Le in Anji,

China

Julie Newton

Overview

• Sustainability in China• Eco-tourism• Sustainable livelihoods approach• Eco-economy of Anji• Nong Jia Le: Experiencing rural life• NJL & sustainable livelihoods• Moving forward

Sustainability in China• 3 factors affecting China’s

sustainability (Ho, 2006)– SIZE– SPEED– SCARCITY

• “pollute first, clean up later” attitude

• Greening of State & Society– But doesn’t mean

sustainability being pursued

• Little on Sustainable Communities– Eco-demonstration

programme– Eco-towns

“China faces internal dilemma of how to reconcile economic growth with ecological sustainability” (Ho & Vermeer, 2006).

Tianjin eco-town

Transformation of countryside• New Socialist Countryside movement (2005)• Marketisation and modernisation of rural

countryside– Rise of township and village enterprises (TVEs)

Integrated rural/urban development

Challenges for sustainability

InnovationECOTOURISMNong Jia Le

Ecotourism• No widely agreed

definition, but agreement that includes:– Travel to natural

environment– Environmentally & socially

responsible travel, generates funds to support conservation, provides benefits for host community

• 3 features: – nature-based– environmental & cultural

education– sustainably managed

(Blamey, 2001)

“responsible travel to natural areas which conserves the environment and improves the wellbeing of local people” International ecotourism society (2010)

Ross & Wall (1999)

Ecotourism in China • Sheng Tai Nu You: “tourism that is not based on

exploiting or harming the local environment ecology or society” (Wang et al, 2009).

• 2009: Chinese Ecotourism Year• National Ecotourism Development Plan (CNTA,

2008) mission of ET:“advocating the harmony of the environment and the economy, strengthening construction

of ecological environment, improving education, constantly meeting the demand of ecotourism, and ensure sustainable tourism development. Goals include the development of Chinese tourism industry into a green industry with sustainable development”

• Types of ecotourism: forest recreation, wetland bird watching, desert exploration, prairie excursions and countryside experiences

Sustainable Livelihoods Framework

• Livelihood =comprises the capabilities, assets and activities required for a means of living.

• A livelihood is sustainable when it can cope with and recover from stresses and shocks, maintain or enhance its capabilities and assets – while not undermining the natural resource

base (Chambers & Conway, 1992)

DFID (1999)

Source: Anji Comprehensive Plan 2006-2020

Land use layout of Anji in 2005Land use layout of Anji in 2005

Anji Eco-economy• Target: “most beautiful

countryside in China” through integrated urban-rural development

• Endogenous ecological development– Local eco-economy: bamboo

processing, local food, eco-tourism, and local energy

– Local government as enabler: provide physical infrastructure/eco-awards

– Regenerate villages and independent/viable communities

– Each village has own economic niche

Achievements:•Diversified industrial and service sector base•Reduced income disparities between urban and rural •680,000 tourists, generating Y62.4 billion (Anji Statistical Bureau, 2008)

Nong Jia Le: rural ecotourism• “Experiencing Life in Rural Area”

– Nong = agriculture/ rural– Jia = family/home– Le = activities

• Involves:– Staying in rural accommodation overnight– Eating local food– Rural experiences (working on farm, pick your own, outdoor

activities)

marketed as ecotourism

RICH natural resource base

Combination of capital assets

Natural capital: natural resource stocks (land, water, wildlife, biodiversity, environmental resources

Social capital: social resources which people draw on (networks, membership of groups, relationships of trust, access to institutions)

Human capital: skills, knowledge, ability to work, good health, physical capabilities

Physical capital: basic infrastructure (transport, shelter, water, energy and communications) and production , equipment which enable people to pursue livelihoods

Financial capital: Financial resources (savings, credit, regular remittances, pensions)

Governance: starring system, training, NJL committees, marketing

Tourist season

Bamboo products

Local food products

Increased income

Increased standard of living

Social dimensions

Local food economy

ECOTOURISM

NJL: contributions towards sustainable communities

• Multiple livelihood strategies

– one element of broader livelihood portfolio

– stimulated local economic development & improved living standards

– Local food economy

• SLF highlights opportunities and tensions

• Not linear: dynamic, inter-linkages between different components

• Sheds light on meso level processes

• Need a combination of livelihood assets to be successful

Moving forward• Governance:

– Interaction between provincial, county, town and village level

– Interaction between tourist board and environmental protection bureau

• Social justice: Who can engage in NJL?, Who can mobilise key capital assets?

• Broader sustainability questions:– Is NJL changing attitudes/values towards environment?-

Is this leading to sustainable behaviour change?– Sustainable management: competition within and

between villages – Cultural attitudes towards nature and people/nature

interactions

Thank you

For more information:www.brass.cf.ac.uk

Julie Newton: newtonj2@cardiff.ac.ukAlex Franklin: franklina1@cardiff.ac.uk

Newton, J. & Franklin, A. (2011) “Delivering sustainable communities in China: using a sustainable livelihoods framework for reviewing the promotion of “ecotourism” in Anji”, Local Environment