A Commodity Chain Analysis on Commercial Timber Profits in Southern Collective Forest Region in China

This article analyzes the factors shaping commercial timber profit distribution in China＇s Southern Collective Forest Region （hereinafter SCFR）. The article first describes the setting and distribution of a national harvest quota and analyzes its equity impacts on farmer households. Based on access mapping of the commercial timber commodity chain, profit distribution and mechanisms for controlling and maintaining access to profit are analyzed for different actors along the chain. The data show that farmers do not benefit to a great extent from the commerce, even if they are endowed with rights to manage and harvest forests and freely sell commercial timber in the region. There are a number of institutional and non-institutional factors that determine the extent of benefits farmers and other actors along the timber commodity chain can seek. Under current arrangements, the devolution of forest property in the SCFR does not ensure that farmer households benefit from commercial timber marketing. In order to stimulate farmers＇ enthusiasm for forest rehabilitation and management, beyond the devolution of forest property, it is firstly necessary to take effective measures to improve farmer access to commercial timber profits.

A Commodity Chain Analysis on Commercial Timber Profits in Southern Collective Forest Region in China

commodity chain, commercial timber, southern collective forest, China