Interactions between cattle raising & reforestation in the highland socio-ecosystem

of Nan Province, Northern Thailand: A companion modelling process

to improve landscape management

By

Pongchai Dumrongrojwatthana, Guy Trébuil

Christophe Le Page, Nantana Gajaseni

CU-Cirad Project, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

,

The need for co-management of renewable natural resources in Thailand

• Past administrative system:

• Centralized, bureaucratic & many often old sector agencies

• Decentralized management at sub-district level

since mid 1990s (Lakanavichian, 2006)

• New Tambon Administrative Organization (TAO) system • New Tambon Administrative Organization (TAO) system

• Still young: Need to improve dialogue & communication

• Increased complexity of interactions between

bio-physical & socio-economic dynamics

• Multiple stakeholders & decision making levels: how to coordinate?

• Rapidity of change: Requires adaptive management

• Urgent need for innovative approaches to support joint

management of resources & adaptive capacity of actors2

Forest conservation, farming & land use conflicts

• Specific government policies &

top-down enforcement:

• Recent increase in conservation areas

• Numerous reforestation schemes

• Expanding farm land in up- & highlands

National Parks in northern Thailand

55

Changes in the national park and wildlife sanctuary areas27

Designated park

Under declaration process

Source: Annual statistical reports from the Royal Forestry DepartmentSource: www.rfd.go.th

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004

Year

Are

a (

x1000 s

q.

km

)

National Parks

Wildlife Sanctuaries

Frequent land use conflicts

3

2

7

12

17

22

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Year

Are

a (M

illion h

a)

Whole country forest cover Whole country farm land

Northern region forest cover Northern region farm landWhole country forest cover Whole country farm land

Northern region forest cover Northern region farm land

– A Hmong ethnic village

•Cropping & extensive cattle raising

•1961: ~50 Households (HH)

•2007: 170 HH (~1,300 cap.)

– NKU & NNP forest agencies

DoiDoi TiewTiew forestforest--farm land interfacefarm land interface

Nan Province

4

46% reduction in size (84,126 ���� 45,331 ha)

Nanthaburi National Park (NNP)

Nam Khang Headwater Research & Development Unit (NKU)

Nanthaburi National Park

4 reforestation units

2 contrasted perceptions

and no dialogue

5

Doi Tiew village Doi Tiew village

Forest

Grazing land

My cattle

Nam Khang Unit & National Park

Reforestation

plots

Grazing land

Objectives:

- To understand interactions between cattle raising & reforestation

- To improve communication & coordination between foresters & herders 6

Literature

review- LUCC along forest-farmland interface

- Cattle raising and forest

vegetation dynamics

- Collaborative modelling

Conceptual

modelling

Design of a

Land-use

change

analysis

Ecological study

on the effects

of cattle raising

Farming and

cattle raising

sub-system

analysis

Identification and definition of

the land use conflict at study site

Computer

Agent-Based Model

and exploration

of scenarios

1 23

4 6

Conceptual framework

Participatory gaming

and simulation field

workshops

Design of a

Computer-assisted

Role-Playing Game

Validation andenrichment with

local stakeholders

Laboratory based

Field based

Research activities:

of scenarios

Improved awareness of interdependence

dialogue, shared learning, conflict mitigation

and family of models for further use at

this site and elsewhere.

5

Corresponding research objective

6

7

4 different types of farmers

71

50

60

70

80

US

D

Income from livestock

Income from crops

Income from other sources

Livestock assets

Annual income & cattle asset of Doi Tiew farmers

Diversity of farmers & other concerned stakeholders

8

0 1 244 2

138

1

12

20

17 18

30

0

10

20

30

40

50

Type A Type B Type C Type D

x100 U

SD

2 key forest management agencies: NKU & NNP

Diversity of farmers & other concerned stakeholders

Nam Khang Unit (NKU)

Nanthaburi Nat. Park (NNP)

Sob Khun Royal Project

Type B farmers

Type C farmers

Type D farmers

(aff

ecte

d b

y t

he

issue

at

sta

ke

)

Village headman (type D)

TAO representative (type B)

Sob Sai Ref. UnitDoi Kard Ref. Unit

9

Relative importance & influence of stakeholders (Grimble & Wellard, 1997) on the problem

Direct actors: Government agencies

Farmers Traders

Influence (can influence the outcome of the issue at stake)

Imp

ort

an

ce

(aff

ecte

d b

y t

he

issue

at

sta

ke

)

Low High

Political parties representatives

District government representatives

Sub-district Department of Livestock Development

TAO president

Researchers

The ombudsman of Thailand representative

Type A farmers

Heifer International, Thailand

Provincial government representatives

Indirect actors:

Government and Non-government agencies

Cattle traders

19

80

Year

19

90

1977

1988

Forest management effects on farm land

dynamics & vice versa (Hypothesis 1)

NKU: 1990

- Forest management activities led to shifting of farm land to southern area (Dumrongrojwatthana, 2009)

- Leading to more encroachment & forest

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1988 2003

Thousands

Are

a (

ha)

Dense forest

Secondary ordegraded forest

Shrubby fallow

Grassy fallow

Rainfed field crop

Orchard

20

00

1999

2003

NNP: 1996

encroachment & forest degradation (Delang, 2005)

10

Are

a (

x1

00

0 h

a)

Effect of cattle grazing & reforestation

on forest regeneration (Hypothesis 2)

- Cattle grazing accelerates forest regeneration through reduction of grass volume & risk of bush fire

40

60

80

100Grazed fallows

Perc

enta

ge

. . . Pl4_G4 . Pl6_G2 . . . . . . . . . . .

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Time (Year)

risk of bush fire (Harnsoda, 2004)

11

0

20

Fa_G1y Fa_G3y . Fa_G7y . . . Fa_G15y .

Tree Sapling Seedling Grass Herb (non-grass)

Fa_G10y Fa_G12yFa_

G2yFa4y_

G8mo

Fa_

G1y

Fa_

G3y

0

20

40

60

80

100

Fa1y Fa2y Fa3y Fa4y . Fa6y Fa7y . . . . . . . . . .

Tree Sapling Seedling Grass Herb (non-grass)

Non-grazed fallows

Perc

enta

ge

Tree Sapling Seedling Grass Herb (non-grass)

LandUnit

Paddock

-cattleDensity-totalForage

-label-size

ReforestationPlot

-size-age

Farmer

-myCattleStatus-id

Forester

+reforestation()

Herd

-numberInHerd-newbornRate

Merchant

Cattle

-status

myCattle myOwner

myFarmer

myPaddock

0..*

0..* 1

graze

0..* 1..*

negotiate

1

1..*

-sale

-buy

1..*

0..*

First conceptual model of Doi Tiew case

Secondary forest

Dense forest

Perennial Crop

(10 yr)

(1 yr)

Burned land

(1 yr)(8 yr)

Annual field crops

-grazingLevel

-type-age

-totalForage0..*

1..*

0..*1..*

UML class diagram showing attributes & interactions

between actors & resources

Vegetation state transition diagram (proposed by researchers) showing the

dynamics influenced by human activities

Secondary forest

Shrubby fallow(4 yr)(6 yr)

(1 yr)(1 yr with High cattle Intensity: >1 LSU/ha)(3 yr w

ith m

oderate cattle

intensity: <

1 LSU/ha)

Vegetation transition due to reforestation

Vegetation transition due to forest fire

Vegetation transition due to crop land preparation

(8 yr)

(5 yr)

(10 yr )

1 Livestock Unit = 300 kg

Vegetation transition due to natural succession

Chrom. fallow

Grassy fallow

Sensitizing exercises & co-designing the conceptual model

– 2 small groups: 4 foresters & 5 herders (2 clans)

– first co-validation the vegetation state transition diagram

13

Explaining the gaming features & how to use them

Year 1

Year 2

…Herders indicate next vegetation state in recording sheet for different scenarios

Additional vegetation state suggested by stakeholders

63 2

Vegetation dynamics influenced by:

1

1

1

1

1

Natural (no cattle + no fire)

Reforestation+ low cattle intensityReforestation

Dense forest Upland

riceMaize

Litchi

1Secondary forest

1

High cattle intensity + no fireLow cattle intensity + no fire

1

1

Fire

Shared representation of vegetation successions

Added by foresters

4 3

26

2313

1

11

5

1

1

4

5

Chromolaena fallow

1

4

2

3

5 Imperata

fallow

Thysanolaena &

Imperata fallow

Shrubby fallow

Chromolaena &

Imperata fallow1

1

State transition diagram for coding agent-based model (ABM) under CORMAS (COmmon-pool Resources & Multi-Agent Systems) simulation platform

14

Note: Based on interview information, high cattle intensity is greater than 1 livestock unit (equivalent to 250 kg of body weight) per ha, Cattle in reforestation area in this highlands is low intensity.Numbers indicate duration of the transition in years

1 cell ( 3.2 ha) 1 pictogram

Total: 154 cells

Left RightActual land use

Adapted landscape visualization: spatial interface, heterogeneity & symmetry

- Simplified spatial distribution of main land use types- Symmetric virtual landscape to compare 2 different management strategies 15

1st Gaming & simulation workshop

• To better understand the situation

– To improve understanding of vegetation dynamicsThrough sharing different farmers’ & foresters’ perceptions

16

– To better understand villagers’ & foresters’ decision-

making processes & practices regarding cattle & land

management

• To stimulate collective learning & adaptive

management to face future uncertainties

Herders: Decide paddock area &

herd size, negotiation with foresters

Successive steps of a round of playForesters: Locate reforestation plots

5 rounds herd size, negotiation with foresters

to locate cattle in reforestation plots

17

Foresters: Negotiate with herders to

access land for new reforestation plots

Update cattle status, calves, draw chance

card of cattle losses, update herd size

5 rounds

Symmetry initial landscape

Updated vegetation state by model & herder’s decisions Updated vegetation state &

Updated vegetation state by model for 4nd roundDense forest

Secondary forest

Shrubby fallow

Chromolaena fallow

Chromolaena&Imperata fallow

Thysanalaena&Imperata fallow

Imperata fallow

Upland rice

Maize

Litchi

River

Legend:

Dense cover

Grassy cover

Crops

Shrub cover

Herb cover

Herders’ decisions in 1st round

model & herder’s decisions in 2nd round

Updated vegetation state &herder’s decisions in 3nd round

18

Communication, co-learning, negotiation

Init.Decisions in year 2

• Herders &

foresters

can manage the

same landscape

• Former players

help new comers

• Trust building (Dumrongrojwatthana,

Decisions in year 1

PooledPooled

IndividualIndividual

Beginning of year 5

19

(Dumrongrojwatthana,

2009)

Decisions in year 4Decisions in year 3

Dense forest

Secondary forest

Shrubby fallow

Chromolaena fallow

Chromolaena&Imperata fallow

Thysanalaena&Imperata fallow

Imperata fallow

Upland rice

Maize

Litchi

River

Legend:

IndividualIndividual

movemove

Plenary discussion:

• Herders: Request

to test new cattle

raising techniques

(Seasonal paddock

rotation & ruzi

(Brachiaria ruziziensis)

pasture

• Foresters:

proposed land for

experimental plot

Plenary discussion & debriefing

• Players’ representative explain their strategies & management ideas

20

• Players’ representative explain their strategies & management ideas

• Discussion on next steps of the process & further collective management:

• Herders: ready to try paddock rotation & Ruzi pasture (Brachiaria ruziziensis)

• Foresters: proposed 10ha plot for a joint experiment in the field

– Simulation tool integrate request from 1st WS:• Herders: paddock rotation & Ruzi pasture (Brachiaria ruziziensis)

• Foresters: proposed plot for joint experiment

– Objectives:

• To better understand villagers’ & foresters’

Doi Tiew 2nd Gaming & simulation workshop

• To better understand villagers’ & foresters’

perceptions & decision-making regarding new

cattle & land management techniques in relation to

seasonal variations

• To facilitate the emergence of a joint action plan

between foresters & villagers

– To further increase mutual trust

– To set up a collaborative forest-grazing land management mechanism

21

1 cell = 3.2 ha 1 cell = 1.6 ha

Park boundary

Spatial interface: From 12 to 6 herders

New vegetation

state: Ruzi pasture

Tool flexibility: Modifying features, rules on the go

22

Experimental plots from

NKU foresters

Time management: from yearly to seasonal time step

Foresters

Herders

Making decision for WET seasonWET season: Reforestation

S1 : 3 rounds S2 : 4 rounds

2nd WS: successive steps in a round of play

: 20 rai (2cells) of Ruzi

(Avail. for 6 cattle/yr)

: 10 rai (1cell) of Ruzi

(Avail. for 3 cattle/yr)

Pay inputs

(1 cattle card)

for

for

Ruzi investment: Start in 2nd round

Update cattle status (Fat, normal, thin)

End of dry season:

sale/buy, cattle loss/death

23

The 2nd workshop gaming and simulation room Doi Tiew school, January 2009

24

0

20

40

60

80

1 2 3

Are

a (

x1

0 r

ai)

Year

Right-sub group

0

20

40

60

80

1 2 3

Are

a (

x10

rai)

Year

Left-sub group

Herders manage cattle individually

Advantage of collective management

Year

Forest Shrubby fallow Other fallow Crop Ruzi

Year

Forest Shrubby fallow Other fallows Crops Ruzi

0

20

40

60

80

1 2 3 4

Are

a (

x1

0 r

ai)

Year

Forest Shrubby fallow Other fallow Crop Ruzi

Right-sub group

0

20

40

60

80

1 2 3 4

Are

a (

x10 r

ai)

Year

Forest Shrubby fallow Other fallows Crops Ruzi

Left-sub group

Year

Forest Shrubby fallow Other fallows Crops Ruzi

Year

Forest Shrubby fallow Other fallows Crops Ruzi

Herders manage cattle collectively

Reaching agreement on a joint action plan

- Increased diversity of stakeholders : New herders, technician & NNP rangers

- Herders’ interest in establishment of ruzi pasture: Need to conduct collaborative research on pasture management

26

Land : 10 ha & fencing by foresters

Forage seed: Provided by District Livestock Development officer

Cattle: Animals provided by 3 herders

Diversity of knowledge during the ComMod process

AnanK

AS

ASL

CSH

CYA

ESS

JS

LiSH

LpSH

LSH LwSL

NS RS

SSL

SSSThSH

TKTSH

TSS

WSH

YK

YSLYSS

Empirical/ IndigenousTechnicalInstitutionalComMod/ ScientificComMod traineeAcademic (students)

Types of knowledge

Empirical/ IndigenousTechnicalInstitutionalComMod/ ScientificComMod traineeAcademic (students)

Types of knowledge

40%

60%

80%

100%HerdersHerders

Livestock Livestock developerdeveloper

NKU managerNKU manager

27

BK

CD

ChD

CK

CLPGT

IT

JN

JU

KI

KK

KR

KS KT

KW

MT

NG

NS

PA

PDPP

PrU

RP

RSS

SJ

SKSrP

St1

St2St3

St4

St5

SuK

SuP

ThoP

ThP

TN

TP

TunN

TW

US

VS

WN

WSS

0%

20%

40%

Knowledge

sharedPercentage of time spent sharing each kind of knowledge

Sob Khun Sob Khun Royal ProjectRoyal Project RangerRanger

NKU foresterNKU forester

StudentStudent

15

20

25

30

35

40

Nu

mb

er

of

part

icip

an

ts

100

Dynamics of stakeholders’ participation

Building shared representation

Dissemination of results

Agreement on collective management action plan

Shared learning & discussion, prepare herders to ABM

0

5

10

1st Sensitizing &

testing on

vegetation state

transition diagram

1st Gaming &

simulation

workshop-Day1

1st Gaming &

simulation

workshop-Day2

Dissemination of

results from 1st

workshop

Final validation of

vegetation state

transition diagram

2nd Sensitizing &

testing on new

gaming features

and tools

2nd Gaming &

simulation

workshop

3rd Gaming &

simulation

workshop-Day1

3rd Gaming &

simulation

workshop-Day2

Activities

Nu

mb

er

of

part

icip

an

ts

Researchers (first group) Researchers (1st G&S workshop-D1)

Researcher (2nd senitizing & testing activity) Research assistants (first group)

Research assistants (1st G&S workshop-D1) Research assistants (2nd senitizing & testing activity)

Sob Khun Royal Project Officials Livestock Development Official (Observer)

Nam Khang Reforestation Unit Officials (first group) NKU (2nd senitizing & testing activity)

Nanthaburi National Park Officials (first group) NNP (2nd G&S workshop)

Farmer (first group) Farmer (1st G&S workshop-D1)

Farmer (dissemination activity)28

Conclusions & perspectives

• It is possible to build a shared representation of a complex socio-ecological system with herders & foresters & use it to mitigate their conflict

• 2D simplified virtual landscape co-designed with actors was able to support collective decision making

• Simulation tools facilitated a collective reflection on • Simulation tools facilitated a collective reflection on existing practices & stimulated creativity

• Next steps:

– Collaborative research on the sustainable use of pasture

– Out-scaling: inside Doi Tiew village & other sites

– Transfer approach & adapt tools for teaching & training purposes

29

Thank you for your attention!

More about Companion Modelling=> http://www.commod.org

Acknowledgements• Tropical Ecology group, Chulalongkorn University

• Stakeholders at Doi Tiew village, Tha Wang Pha District & Nan

Provincial office

• The Challenge Program on Water & Food (CPWF) of the CGIAR

• Cirad & The French Embassy in Thailand

• The Commission on Higher Education (CHE) of the Royal Thai

Government

31

Government

• The Science for Local Area Project,

Chulalongkorn University