Natural rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) latex is an important industrial component, and demand is projected to increase with the growth of the global economy. Cultivation of rubber is also a potential path out of poverty for many smallholders. However, monoculture rubber negatively impacts biodiversity and adversely affects important ecosystem services, such as water quality and supply, soil fertility, and local climate. Moreover, the gains from rubber income and costs from impaired ecosystem services are unevenly distributed across the population.
Solutions may be applied at both plot and landscape scales. At the plot scale, the introduction of agroforestry practices, namely restoration and enrichment planting using high value timber trees between rows of rubber trees, can both serve to generate additional income for farmers and to repair ecosystem services. At a landscape scale, identifying low rubber yield areas, such as at higher elevation or on steeper slopes, and replacing these with alternative crops or forest restoration will enhance landscape diversity and connectivity.
The project will research how rubber expansion has impacted rural livelihoods, including incomes, access to resources and gender relations. In addition, we are investigating the effects of monoculture rubber on ecosystem services, including biodiversity and green house gas emissions. These data will support the development of ecosystem service models and enable us to examine different scenarios. Through a series of stakeholder meetings, we will identify factors limiting the uptake of green rubber practices and discuss potential policy interventions.
A major conference bringing together researchers, officials, affected communities and the private sector will be held in October 2016. See sustainablerubber.org/conference-2016 for more details.