and their existing practices and knowledge. In this regard, farmers should be
encouraged to experiment with ideas and techniques and to take an active role in
on-farm research, for in this way they are more likely to identify practical
constraints and solutions in relation to existing SCT and innovations. Farmer
managed field trials can complement or supplement experimental trials on SCT;
nevertheless, in contrast to common research approaches, in farmer managed trials,
local stakeholders should be encouraged to take an active role in project planning
and implementation, too. Using this approach, the credibility of a soil conservation
field trial is built on the basis of both local and scientific expert knowledge being
used. Important to mention in this context is a set of basic requirements which have
to be acknowledged: (1) active participation of non-scientists requires scientists not
to be biased, either in a positive, i.e., take local knowledge for granted, or a negative
fashion, i.e., they do not believe farmers’ viewpoints, (2) views of time and space
often vary between farmers and researchers, and; hence, a common understanding
of perception and terms has to be established at the early stages of a project,
(3) social and cultural norms and values have to be shared, in order to reduce the
misunderstandings and bias that often arise between local stakeholders and outside
researchers. To assure the accomplishment of the above stated points, the participative methods described in Chambers (1994) or Checkland (2000) may be used.
Ultimately, the incorporation of farmers in the overall research process may lead to
a common, participatory technological development in which local stakeholders
and scientists join hands to combat the increasing threats of soil degradation and
soil erosion caused by land use change and land use intensification.
7.5.3 Conclusion
This section has provided a brief overview of the heterogeneity of science- and
farmer-based approaches used to estimate the effectiveness of SCT in monitoring
soil degradation patterns. Common in all approaches is the proven usefulness of SCT
in the context of the mountainous areas of Southeast Asia, and taking into account the
suggestion for further studies to be conducted in this field of research. Based on the
lessons learned and the experiences of farmers in Thailand and Vietnam, the project
‘Sustainable natural resource conservation and fostering rural development through
adapted SCT in the uplands of Vietnam using a participatory approach’, as funded by
the Energie Baden-Wu ¨rttemberg (EnBW) Rainforest foundation, showed that empirical scientific knowledge and the local knowledge provided by farmers and extension
workers can build a platform for addressing the soil conservation challenges currently
faced by mountainous areas in tropical Southeast Asia, and in particular north-east
Thailand and north-west Vietnam.
7 Soil Conservation on Sloping Land: Technical Options and Adoption Constraints
259
encouraged to experiment with ideas and techniques and to take an active role in
on-farm research, for in this way they are more likely to identify practical
constraints and solutions in relation to existing SCT and innovations. Farmer
managed field trials can complement or supplement experimental trials on SCT;
nevertheless, in contrast to common research approaches, in farmer managed trials,
local stakeholders should be encouraged to take an active role in project planning
and implementation, too. Using this approach, the credibility of a soil conservation
field trial is built on the basis of both local and scientific expert knowledge being
used. Important to mention in this context is a set of basic requirements which have
to be acknowledged: (1) active participation of non-scientists requires scientists not
to be biased, either in a positive, i.e., take local knowledge for granted, or a negative
fashion, i.e., they do not believe farmers’ viewpoints, (2) views of time and space
often vary between farmers and researchers, and; hence, a common understanding
of perception and terms has to be established at the early stages of a project,
(3) social and cultural norms and values have to be shared, in order to reduce the
misunderstandings and bias that often arise between local stakeholders and outside
researchers. To assure the accomplishment of the above stated points, the participative methods described in Chambers (1994) or Checkland (2000) may be used.
Ultimately, the incorporation of farmers in the overall research process may lead to
a common, participatory technological development in which local stakeholders
and scientists join hands to combat the increasing threats of soil degradation and
soil erosion caused by land use change and land use intensification.
7.5.3 Conclusion
This section has provided a brief overview of the heterogeneity of science- and
farmer-based approaches used to estimate the effectiveness of SCT in monitoring
soil degradation patterns. Common in all approaches is the proven usefulness of SCT
in the context of the mountainous areas of Southeast Asia, and taking into account the
suggestion for further studies to be conducted in this field of research. Based on the
lessons learned and the experiences of farmers in Thailand and Vietnam, the project
‘Sustainable natural resource conservation and fostering rural development through
adapted SCT in the uplands of Vietnam using a participatory approach’, as funded by
the Energie Baden-Wu ¨rttemberg (EnBW) Rainforest foundation, showed that empirical scientific knowledge and the local knowledge provided by farmers and extension
workers can build a platform for addressing the soil conservation challenges currently
faced by mountainous areas in tropical Southeast Asia, and in particular north-east
Thailand and north-west Vietnam.
7 Soil Conservation on Sloping Land: Technical Options and Adoption Constraints
259