Authors

Xinyang Li, Jinlong Liu, Ryo Kohsaka*

Paper Information

Journal
: Trees, Forests and People
DOI
: 10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100618

Abstract

The commercialization of non-timber forest products beyond in-house consumption is a strategy for alleviating rural poverty and forest degradation. With the implementation of the ecological civilization program, the Chinese government has explored the value realization mechanism of sustainable ecological products, and many successful cases of agricultural product commercialization have emerged. Focusing on the matsutake (Tricholoma matsutake) of Shangri-La as an example, this study applies both qualitative and quantitative analysis of semi-structured interviews, participatory observation, secondary data collection, and statistical analysis for the dynamics of the matsutake (Tricholoma matsutake) commodity chain construction in the southwest plateau of China to obtain unique insights into contemporary rural China. Specifically, the interrelationships and functional logic of diverse participants in the core process of commodity management were analyzed. We found that the upstream and downstream participants in the matsutake commodity chain are subject to institutional constraints, such as land tenure and non-unified standards, and that markets are crucial to matsutake’s trading in Shangri-La. Certain participants along the commodity chain have inefficient information sources, while middlemen have greater autonomy in the matsutake (Tricholoma matsutake) transaction process and a larger profit margin. Additionally, the involvement of the government and non-governmental organizations impacts the preservation of natural resources and the creation of a stable market order, but policies and funds tend to be short-lived. To improve the commodity chain sustainability of non-timber forest products in plateau areas, it is necessary to consider social and cultural factors, ensure the equity of different participants in the commodity chain, and protect traditional local knowledge related to natural resource management.

Fig1.Commodity chain research framework Adapted from Matias et al. (2018).

Fig2.Possible matsutake (Tricholoma matsutake) commodity chain pathways.

Fig3.Interview with local mushroom pickers.

Funding Sources

The work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant numbers 71973145], JST SPRING [grant number JPMJSP2108] and KAKENHI (Balancing Tourism and Conservation in Era of Climate Change and Shrinkage: Land Use Maps as a Boundary Object JP22H03852, JP21K18456 [Rep: Ryo Kohsaka]).