Stretching perspectives on rubber sustainability: ecological, economic, and social dimensions of tropical \nagriculture expansion and voluntary sustainability initiatives
Year: 2023
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Agricultural expansion is a major source of tropical deforestation. In particular, \nexport commodity crops are often associated with environmental and socioeconomic \nproblems in producer countries. This thesis focused on natural rubber, applying a \nmulti-disciplinary lens to study the potential for aligning ecological, economic, and \nsocial sustainability goals. Using quantitative spatial analyses methods, I identified \nstrong trade-offs between biodiversity and economic interests for future rubber \nexpansion in Africa, Asia, and New Guinea. There is little room for new plantations \nin the most suitable areas for growing rubber that do not also threaten vulnerable \nspecies. Next, I used a spatio-temporal economic model to study the interactions \nbetween market prices, agricultural rents, rubber expansion, and protected areas \nduring the latest rubber price boom and bust cycle in mainland Southeast Asia. \nAgricultural rents, incorporating changes in market prices, explained much but not all \nof the rubber expansion patterns across all countries in the study, highlighting the \ninfluence of socio-political variables in land-use changes. Protected areas hindered \nrubber expansion, but even the strictest reserves could not fully prevent encroachment \nespecially in the most suitable and accessible lands. Lastly, I examined the process \nand implications of more inclusive and participatory stakeholder engagement in a \nmulti-stakeholder sustainability initiative for rubber. Using document analysis, I map \nout the evolution of inclusiveness in the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural \nRubber (GPSNR). The qualitative case study highlighted changes in membership \ncomposition, geographical representation, governance of decision-making, and the \nquality of smallholder participation. I documented gradual improvements in each \ncomponent of inclusiveness, but challenges remain around equity of pricing and full \nparticipation of smallholders. This thesis offers a diverse contribution of perspectives, \ndemonstrating how deforestation, agricultural demand, and equitable livelihoods are \ninextricably linked and emphasising the importance of multi-disciplinary approaches \nin theory and practice.
Author: Wang Mei Hua, Maria
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7015431890