The Precious Resources of the Lashi Lake Region

Posted: 16 October 2002

A national forestry program, a nationally-protected wetland reserve, and a local watershed management committee have all been implemented in the Lashi Lake region of southern China to preserve the environment and culture.

by Kevin T. Pepper

In southern China, the Yangtze River, Lancang (Mekong) River and Lashi Lake converge in one of many crucial watersheds which contribute their resources to the mighty Mekong River that flows through five other countries before emptying into the South China Sea.

Throughout the Lashi region live thousands of people, the majority of whom belong to the Naxi and Yi ethnic minority groups, who have traditionally made their living by fishing the waters of Lashi Lake, growing potatoes and other crops, or employed as government loggers.

In 1998, China launched a national forestry program and effectively banned logging in 18 provinces over 12 years - a good environmental practice with severe social and economic implications. For the thousands of people who depended on the forests for employment, fuel wood, and other vital resources, the ban was debilitating. The government has provided a minimal grain subsidy for thousands of villagers who have very little food and no means of income, but no longterm assistance plan is on the table.

The government also declared Lashi Lake a nationally-protected wetland reserve, a measure taken to protect rare bird species that feed on the lake’s abundant fish supply. Hundreds of fishermen had no alternative form of employment, and suffered a dramatic loss of income. In addition, the government built a dike on the lake to divert water to Lijiang Town, a popular tourist attraction known for its canals. The expanded lake has flooded on numerous occasions, damaging crops and destroyed livelihoods for hundreds of villagers.

Oxfam America is supporting financial assistance and environmental awareness training to hundreds of families in the Lashi District. Microcredit projects, technical training, and capacity-building workshops are helping villagers become economically productive, while preserving and protecting a delicate ecosystem.

The program has also established a local Watershed Management Committee, created to address the range of interests represented in the watershed region. Members of the committee attended a workshop on local environmental concerns that contribute to widespread poverty. Issues ranged from massive deforestation and harmful agricultural techniques to the need for energy sources other than wood.

Confronting a severe food shortage, Oxfam has funded microcredit loans for villagers to purchase seeds and livestock, and helped farmers with technical skills and the successful cultivation of new crops. The government is encouraging families to plant trees, such as Sichuan pepper in the highlands and cherries in the lowlands, to earn extra income and prevent soil erosion.

Most recently, Oxfam helped clear a 10-mile road, connecting a Yi village high in the mountains to larger villages in the lowlands. Due to their remote geographic location, the villagers had been isolated from health care, educational opportunities, and a marketplace to sell their crops. They are now able to transport their potatoes to market and have access to the economic and political center of their region.

When the road was finished, Yi and Naxi came together to celebrate their new relationship, and invited various members of the village, township, and county government to join in their ceremony. They cut a ribbon upon completion of the road, their first joint success in reconciling previously competing interests, and the beginning of what promises to be a mutually beneficial relationship.