English 2.28MB - Center for International Forestry Research
English 2.28MB - Center for International Forestry Research
English 2.28MB - Center for International Forestry Research
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Decisions on land use in Vietnam are often only based on biophysical and economical<br />
assessments, with little consideration <strong>for</strong> the local people’s opinions or perspectives. This can<br />
lead to conflicts over natural resources management, unsustainable land use and decisions<br />
that are unfair to local people. In the landscape surrounding Khe Tran, a village in Central<br />
Vietnam lives a Pahy minority group. The driving <strong>for</strong>ce in this area has been different land<br />
use policies, resulting mainly from a government ‘top down’ approach, and the consequent<br />
changes in local <strong>for</strong>est status.<br />
The major activities <strong>for</strong> local livelihoods have shifted from swidden agriculture and high<br />
dependency on natural <strong>for</strong>ests, to more sedentary activities. Khe Tran is now situated in the<br />
buffer zone of a planned nature reserve and the government has encouraged the villagers<br />
to plant economic crops in the bare hills around the village. The people’s dependence on<br />
<strong>for</strong>est resources has significantly decreased, and most of the local knowledge about natural<br />
<strong>for</strong>ests may soon be lost. The main land covers around the village are now Acacia and rubber<br />
plantations, bare lands, and lands <strong>for</strong> agriculture.<br />
Local knowledge and perspectives are rarely taken into account by state institutions<br />
when implementing land allocation projects or making decisions on natural resource<br />
management and land use at the landscape level. There is opportunity to better in<strong>for</strong>m<br />
development agencies and involve local level stakeholders so that more sustainable<br />
decisions can be made. This book reports on what Khe Tran villagers find important in<br />
terms of environmental services and resources in their landscape. Our approach integrates<br />
multidisciplinary activities - through human and natural sciences- and explains the relative<br />
importance of landscape components, products and species <strong>for</strong> local people. It aims to<br />
better articulate local people’s priorities <strong>for</strong> the future, their hopes and values as well as<br />
their relationship with the conservation area.<br />
VIETNAM
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