{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.015023474178403756, 'fraction_numerical': 0.003755868544600939, 'mean_word_length': 5.70440251572327, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
THE DEFORESTATION DISCOURSE OF SOUTHWEST CHINA: ISSUES OF STATE LEGITIMACY AND STRATEGIES OF BLAME

Abstract Devastating flooding on the Yangtze River in 1998 purportedly caused by upstream deforestation led to radical changes in the way forestry is practiced on the Tibetan Plateau. This paper takes a critical look at how the causes of this deforestation were framed by Chinese government officials, many Chinese academics and the state-led media. It outlines a dominant “deforestation discourse” which identified irrational past regimes, primitive and overpopulating mountain-dwelling ethnic minority peasants and corrupt local officials as responsible for deforestation. This paper argues that this discourse holds a dominant position because it frames deforestation as a cultural, ethical and biological problem instead of a political, economic or social one. While this discourse has many valid elements, its failure to fully engage the political, economic and social context of deforestation has left out important information for environmental policy-makers