Hand-made paper was exclusively used for the sacred Dongba scripts and rituals. During 1950-1980, the technique of handmade paper had been disappeared. In 1980s and 1990s, some papermakers recovered the technique, and product paper to meet the need of the development of tourism. The Dongba paper is provided to local artists, boutiques, and tourists, but in fact, in the market, the paper is substituted by different handmade paper from other ethnic minorities nearby. It is necessary to teach the young generations the technique of papermaking and to contact with the techniques of other minorities to meet the different requirement of qualities. It may also promote the livelihood of local village. On the other hand, the raw material strinbush (including Wiekstroemia lichiangensis, Wikstroemia delavayi) is from nature, and local people had no knowledge on planting, so it is necessary to have the experiments of planting. It is a solution for the promoting handmade paper and reducing of the material in nature.

This project aims to enhance the capacity of local villagers of Daju in Lijiang to have a sustainable livelihood with papermaking and the management of natural resource; and enhance the dialogue between the local people and scientists, CBIK and relevant stakeholders. The main approaches are

(i) the application of PRA in surveys that aim to understand the knowledge of papermaking and the resources management and the role of papermaking in the livelihood system; and build a bridge between the old and young generation to learn the technique.

(ii) experimentation by ethno-botanist and local people is to plant the raw material and enhance the resources management.

Promotion of traditional papermaking in Daju

Nursery and innovative experiments in Daju

Exchange between ethnic papermakers home and abroad