The main service functions and driving forces of rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) plantation ecosystem in China

Abstract

Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis Müll. Arg.) is a major economic crop grown in tropical areas. However, the various service functions of rubber plantations and their benefit to society, the economy and the environment are still unclear. Data on rubber planting areas, dry rubber and wood yields, carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacities, biodiversity, employment, and market prices for natural rubber and rubber wood were collected. Observations of land use patterns and functions were carried out. The results showed that the capacity of average annual carbon stock capacity of rubber plantations in China was 36.51 million tonnes. The accumulation values of carbon sequestration and oxygen release, 416.89 million tonnes and 304.42 million tonnes, respectively. A total of 849 plant species, 60 bird species, 5 species of ground beetle, 25 species of wild bees, 27 ant species, 10 termite species, 87 spider species and 38 hemipterous species were found in rubber plantations. The average annual dry rubber and rubber wood yields were 676,300 tonnes and 1.29 million m³. From 2000 to 2020, 14.20 million tonnes of dry rubber were produced and 27.02 million m³ of wood were harvested. The average annual output of dry rubber and rubber wood was US$1.86 billion, while total output value summed to US$ 39.08 billion from 2000 to 2020. Rubber cultivation and plantation operation activities employed an average of 1.11 million people annually. Land use management and natural disasters may affect the service functions of rubber plantations, which are carbon sequestration and oxygen release, maintaining biodiversity, providing dry rubber and rubber wood, maintaining water and conserving water sources, absorbing employment, changing unsustainable agricultural practices and habits of smallholders and ethnic minorities, and promoting transfer of technologies. In the future, on the basis of recognising and rationally weighing the various functions of rubber plantations and their main driving factors, smallholders are expected to maximise the social, economic and ecological functions of rubber plantations through effective crop management and utilisation of resources.