Naxi Women: Protection and Management of Forests in Lijiang, China

Abstract

After a brief introduction to the research sites, this article describes Naxi patterns of forest ownership, the role of community forest guards, community rules governing forest use and management, management of the public mountain, traditional spiritual beliefs related to forest management, and the impact of social and policy factors on local forests and livelihoods. Within this context, the Naxi women’s relationship to forests is then discussed, covering changes in women’s role in firewood collection and sale, the narrative of a Naxi woman forest guard, and the transformation from women-dominated to men-dominated society under the Confucian system introduced by Han Chinese. Lastly, some conclusions are offered on the condition and prospects of forest use and management in the two areas.