From information giving to mutual scenario definition: stakeholder participation towards sustainable rubber cultivation in Xishuangbanna, Southwest China.

Rubber farmers in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Southwest China, which is part of the “Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot”, have experienced a massive increase of their income through the introduction and intensification of monoculture rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) plantations. This robust economic growth is coupled with dramatic losses of ecosystem functions and services during recent decades. Only recently a call for “sustainable rubber cultivation management” has been spread. The Sino-German project “SURUMER: Sustainable rubber cultivation in the Mekong region” is looking for an integrative, applicable, and stakeholder-validated concept for sustainable rubber cultivation. Aiming at solving problems of the complex rubber-dominated land use situation in Xishuangbanna region, a practice-tested methodology is developed for enhancing collaborative learning within the project and beyond, of practitioners, scientists from different disciplines and other stakeholders. The objective of this paper is to present the concept on stakeholder involvement of SURUMER – an iteration of discourse instruments and communication measures –, as well as its stepwise development after internal and external evaluations. Preliminary results with respect to their strengths and weaknesses are discussed as well as the consequences for further process adjustment – including potential and limitations under the specific working conditions. Three key stakeholder groups have been identified so far, namely innovative rubber farmers (often the village heads), regional decision-makers (prefecture administration and rubber companies), and provincial politicians. In the first project phase, methods of participation tended to be more passive, such as information on the project (exhibition, newsletter), informal talks, workshops and village meetings. Qualitative empirical communication research has been conducted including a baseline stakeholder analysis and an in-depth analysis of stakeholders’ problem perception, their interests (goal conflicts and synergies), and their formal and informal communication networks. In the future, more active participation is intended; a transdisciplinary research setting which supports co-learning processes. One of its main elements is participatory scenario development including discussions of the economic and ecologic trade-offs of land use different strategies – its operationalization under Chinese conditions a Sino-German research consortium being a challenge to process management.