complicates the attainment of such a balance. In addition, natural resources in
upland areas are generally more prone to human-induced degradation than those
in the lowlands. For instance, the intensification of agriculture on erosion-prone
hills can easily lead to irreversible soil loss and permanently reduce productivity
(Clemens et al. 2010; Wezel et al. 2002b; Dung et al. 2008), plus land use changes
in mountainous areas can have secondary effects on lowland areas through water
and matter cycle adjustments in the hydrological system. Because of these factors,
there are usually no blanket solutions that can be applied to all locations, so instead,
potential solutions have to be developed that can be carefully adapted to local
conditions, in close participation with local people.
This book is based upon the findings of a long-term interdisciplinary research
project undertaken by the University of Hohenheim in collaboration with several
universities in Thailand and Vietnam over the period 2000–2014. Titled Sustainable Land Use and Rural Development in the Mountainous Areas of Southeast Asia,
or the Uplands Program, the project’s aims have been to contribute, through
agricultural research, to the conservation of natural resources and an improvement
in living conditions among the rural population in the mountainous regions of
Southeast Asia (see Heidhues et al. 2007). An important feature of the project has
been the very broad range of research carried out into various aspects of mountainous systems, including soils, water and matter cycles, plant production, pig husbandry and aquaculture, as well as farm management systems, markets, institutions,
societies and policies.
Conceptually, the research program builds on the concepts of sustainability,
interdisciplinarity and participation. By sustainability, we mean the capacity of
mountainous land use systems to maintain their economic, social and ecological
states, processes and functions, including maintaining their agricultural productivity and biodiversity levels, plus their provision of ecosystem services. Sustainability
in economic terms means that land use systems must not only be able to uphold
livelihoods in mountainous areas, but also adapt to changing economic and
environmental conditions, adopt new technologies and take into account demographic change. Thus defined, the research undertaken by the program has required
an interdisciplinary approach to be taken, in order to address sustainability in a
meaningful way.
Acknowledging the diversity of conditions in mountainous areas in general and
the accompanying need to adapt potential solutions on a local scale, researchers
agreed at the outset of the project to use participatory research methods wherever
possible and meaningful (Neef et al. 2006; Neef 2008). While in conventional
agricultural research, innovations are developed by researchers and then transferred
to extension services and farmers, participatory research tries to involve users at
every stage of the innovation process - from design through to implementation,
which is recognized to be a more efficient and more effective way of conducting
agricultural research (Hoffmann et al. 2007). Neef and Neubert (2011) noted;
however, that participatory methods are not equally suitable and appropriate for
every type of agricultural research; hence, the aim of the Program has been to
optimize rather than maximize the use of such methods.
4
P. Schreinemachers et al.
upland areas are generally more prone to human-induced degradation than those
in the lowlands. For instance, the intensification of agriculture on erosion-prone
hills can easily lead to irreversible soil loss and permanently reduce productivity
(Clemens et al. 2010; Wezel et al. 2002b; Dung et al. 2008), plus land use changes
in mountainous areas can have secondary effects on lowland areas through water
and matter cycle adjustments in the hydrological system. Because of these factors,
there are usually no blanket solutions that can be applied to all locations, so instead,
potential solutions have to be developed that can be carefully adapted to local
conditions, in close participation with local people.
This book is based upon the findings of a long-term interdisciplinary research
project undertaken by the University of Hohenheim in collaboration with several
universities in Thailand and Vietnam over the period 2000–2014. Titled Sustainable Land Use and Rural Development in the Mountainous Areas of Southeast Asia,
or the Uplands Program, the project’s aims have been to contribute, through
agricultural research, to the conservation of natural resources and an improvement
in living conditions among the rural population in the mountainous regions of
Southeast Asia (see Heidhues et al. 2007). An important feature of the project has
been the very broad range of research carried out into various aspects of mountainous systems, including soils, water and matter cycles, plant production, pig husbandry and aquaculture, as well as farm management systems, markets, institutions,
societies and policies.
Conceptually, the research program builds on the concepts of sustainability,
interdisciplinarity and participation. By sustainability, we mean the capacity of
mountainous land use systems to maintain their economic, social and ecological
states, processes and functions, including maintaining their agricultural productivity and biodiversity levels, plus their provision of ecosystem services. Sustainability
in economic terms means that land use systems must not only be able to uphold
livelihoods in mountainous areas, but also adapt to changing economic and
environmental conditions, adopt new technologies and take into account demographic change. Thus defined, the research undertaken by the program has required
an interdisciplinary approach to be taken, in order to address sustainability in a
meaningful way.
Acknowledging the diversity of conditions in mountainous areas in general and
the accompanying need to adapt potential solutions on a local scale, researchers
agreed at the outset of the project to use participatory research methods wherever
possible and meaningful (Neef et al. 2006; Neef 2008). While in conventional
agricultural research, innovations are developed by researchers and then transferred
to extension services and farmers, participatory research tries to involve users at
every stage of the innovation process - from design through to implementation,
which is recognized to be a more efficient and more effective way of conducting
agricultural research (Hoffmann et al. 2007). Neef and Neubert (2011) noted;
however, that participatory methods are not equally suitable and appropriate for
every type of agricultural research; hence, the aim of the Program has been to
optimize rather than maximize the use of such methods.
4
P. Schreinemachers et al.