The large-scale expansion of rubber plantations in southern India: Major impacts and the changing nature of drivers

Abstract

Abstract This study investigates the major environmental and socio-economic impacts of an increase in the area of rubber plantations and the changing patterns of drivers of land use changes by combining geospatial technologies and socio-economic methods. Using a combination of geospatial techniques and socio-economic methods, we mainly analysed the rate of increase in area under rubber plantations, major impacts of land use changes and the changing drivers of land use changes. Our results shows that the area under rubber plantations has increased significantly within the study area, with the area under rubber plantations increasing from 30–74% of the total area within five decades. Impact assessment of land-use changes based on household surveys showed significant improvement in socio-economic conditions of the farmers however at the expense of severe environmental degradation. Our results also indicate that while areas under rubber plantations continue to increase, the drivers of land use changes have changed over time. Furthermore, it has been observed that in the past many interventions prioritized social and economic development and placed less emphasis on the ecological stability of the region. Perceptions of farmers revealed that the effects of ecological fragility already affected the economic robustness of the whole area. Therefore, we conclude that government interventions to support additional rubber cultivation should also focus on ecosystem stabilization in order to minimize the risk of an ecological catastrophe that would significantly affect the economic prosperity of the region.