Preserving GIAHS through connecting to the marketplace

Transcription

1 Preserving GIAHS through connecting to the marketplace The role of branding and technological adaptation Alia Malik, Co-Founder of Shangrila Farms,

2 A key way for GIAHS to be protected is through ensuring they economically sustainable for the communities Range of options include eco tourism, primary agricultural products, handicrafts, etc. Make more use of existing resources, through adaptations that reinforce the synergies of a GIAHS

3 These goods and services need to connect to the marketplace to be sustainable This happens through branding, marketing, advertising, certifications Often not easily accessible for these communities Through this connection there is a path to preservation and reinforcing GIAHS

4 Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture

5 Despite enormous progress in improved livelihoods for many in China, many rural places are left behind. In 2006, the typical rural person in Diqing Prefecture earned ten times less (2,287 RMB per year) than a typical city person (27,265 RMB per year) The area surrounding Shangri-La is home to more than 20 ethnic groups and a population of 1.5 million, half of which live along the narrow valleys of the highland mountain region It is also extremely biodiverse with a pristine environment Agriculture in the area is characterized by traditional subsistence farming (manure, almost no purchased inputs, mixed crop fields) Communities hollowed out as working age men and women leave to earn incomes working in cities, on mining and infrastructure projects

6 Complementary activity to support GIAHS: Honey One hive can generate 30 to 60 USD of income This makes a difference in areas where cash income for farmers is $330 per year. Experienced farmers can keep 100 hives and are able to sustainably harvest more honey per hive Other high value products Propolis, Royal Jelly, Beeswax, Bee Pollen

7 My grandfather kept bees when I was a little boy. But after he died, nobody at my family raised bees anymore. Now I worked as a driver in town for tourists. But if there is any good opportunity, I want to come back village and develop my career at home. Tashi, 30 year-old Tibetan driver, While driving our team to visit project sites

8 Traditional Log Bee Hives The Lisu people keep apis cerana cerana in log hives along the mountainsides. The log hives are made by hollowing out fallen trees with sharp instruments. This is done by hand, through chipping out pieces as they cut into the center of the log. When they finish they burn the inside to clean it up nicely. Then they merely set the log hives out for the bees to come inside during the spring of the year (March or April, depending on the altitude ). This technique relies on the presence of wild bees. In the US industrial agriculture and environmental conditions no longer support significant wild bee populations.

9 Disadvantages Difficulties producing store grade honey The brood (egg, larva, pupa) is often near the honey on the comb and can contaminate it easily. The pollen and moisture content is also quite often too high and stores are not keen to buy this honey. Difficult to separate honey from comb as standard models of extractors cannot handle the comb shape Not easy to manage Quantity of honey produced Whether the hive stays for the whole season Health of the hive

10 We want to protect the natural environment of Shangri-la, especially the Baima Snow Mountain area. But local people should get benefits from such protection, instead of excluding them from outside world or only causing inconvenience to their lives. It is why we are willing to support YMHF bee project in those villages we administrate. - Ms Shi Fangqin ( 施方勤 ), deputy director, Diqing Prefecture Baima Snow Mountain Protection Bureau

11 New technologies 1. Modern Bee Box Movable frames Queen excluder Hive management, mobility, store grade honey, less waste, easy to place in an extractor using centrifugal force

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13 Beekeepers in 2008 Trial Project

14 New technologies 2. Customized extractor Allowing more efficient honey extraction for traditional hives

15 Shangrila Farms A marketing platform for socially and environmentally responsible products

16 Supporting livelihoods that sustain GIAHS Intermediary groups to handle the marketing of the GIAHS products (such as Shangrila Farms) Promoting consumer awareness of and access to ethical purchases These systems remain viable when they can find a way to connect meaningfully with the modern economy and ecology From my experience, the best development model is not to give local people everything, but to teach them how to learn that by themselves. In other word, market is the very important guarantee for a successful development project. Professor Kuang Haiou, Eastern Bee Institute, Yunnan Agricultural University