A complex adaptive systems perspective of forest policy in China

- A complex adaptive systems approach is used to understand China's forest policies.
- Policy development should view forests as socio-ecological systems.
- Natural disturbance should be considered as part of the system.
- Complex adaptive systems approach provides a way forward for sustainable forest management.

The world's forests have historically been managed as systems in which environmental health is compromised for the sake of economic efficiency and growth. China's forest policy framework has generally followed this paradigm as large-scale deforestation over the 20th century led to landscapes that, while economically productive, were made vulnerable to natural disturbances. However, in recent decades China has experienced substantial forest reforms that aim to protect important forested lands while simultaneously increasing timber outputs from plantations. Multiple green growth oriented programs have been in place to attain these objectives with the anticipation that rural poverty can be alleviated and the vulnerability towards natural disasters can be avoided. A growing body of research demonstrates the success of these reforms for improving the lives of landowners while also increasing the country's forest cover. However, these reforms have brought upon substantial change to the relationship within and between social, economic and ecological properties of the nation's forest system, and consequentially its ability to respond and adapt to change in the future. The objective of this paper is to describe the relationship between forest policy and environmental change in China during the last century using a complex adaptive systems framework. This approach demonstrates the coupled nature of policies and forest dynamics that need to be considered in future policy development. China's green growth directed policies and practices must embrace a perspective of constant change and the inevitability of perturbations and disturbances. In this way, China can begin to consider how to build resilience into its policies and management strategies so that the overall system maintains a level of flexibility that allows it to adapt to unforeseen economic and ecological change.