Natural resource extraction and rural livelihoods in Southeast Asia

Abstract

Climate change, natural resource degradation, and poverty are major challenges of this century. Especially the livelihoods of poor rural households in low- and middle-income countries are at risk. At the same time, these households are highly dependent on natural resources to meet their basic needs. Against this background, this thesis investigates the importance of natural resource extraction for rural livelihoods as well as the interrelationship of extraction with other livelihood strategies by using the example of Southeast Asia. After a brief introduction to the topic in Chapter 1, Chapter 2 analyzes the impact of remittances on environmental income. Chapter 3 focuses on the interrelationship between farming efficiency and environmental resource dependence. Chapter 4 investigates the importance of natural resource extraction for ethnic inequality, and Chapter 5 examines the role of extraction in the context of Covid-19. The overall results of this thesis emphasize that natural resource extraction is still an important component of rural livelihoods in Southeast Asia. The findings claim for improving rural infrastructure, the access to markets and education, particularly for the most disadvantaged people. Additionally, a collective and sustainable natural resource management with clear and enforced access rights is needed.