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Biodiversity and Local Perceptions |
2001). Generally the main conflicts occur in the Central Highlands (conflicts
over land allocation to Kinh people, problems of traditional land management
and of shifting cultivation), and ethnic minority groups often are not well
perceived by the Kinh. Nevertheless, the GoV has recently made efforts to
recognize the situation and vulnerability of minority groups and has developed
a policy of integration of these groups into the more global economic life,
through development and infrastructures programs (ADB 2005). We found it
relevant to work with a local community belonging to a minority group that
was already mixed with the main Kinh group. The fact that this community
has been forbidden to practice its traditional shifting cultivation activities,
and encouraged to follow the more sedentary mode of agriculture, was one
more reason for us to study its perception and priorities for natural resource
management, and how it manages its relationships with other village groups
and government authorities at commune, district and provincial levels.
2. A second important reason was the presence of a future nature reserve in the
village’s vicinity. This reserve, decided on after the discovery of Edward’s
Pheasant in the mountains of Phong Dien district, is planned for 2010 (BirdLife
International et al. 2001) and has great potential for local communities’
involvement, although at this time people from Khe Tran and other villages at
the limit of the reserve are forbidden to pursue any extractives activity inside
the future core zone. Yet our survey could provide valuable information on the
way local people envisage their possible participation in reserve management
and for negotiations among all stakeholders.
3. Last, most of the projects in Phong Dien district focus on mines and
infrastructure, while few seek to gain experiences in land use planning
(some projects have developed activities in community forestry, but mainly
plantation forests). Results from our activities can be used for comparison
with similar projects undertaken in other districts of Thua Thien Hue, or even
other provinces of Vietnam.
5.2. People from Khe Tran
5.2.1. History of the people from Khe Tran
Prior to 1967, Khe Tran village was situated around the upstream portion of the O
Lau and My Chanh rivers (see Figure 4). The villagers practiced shifting cultivation
in this hilly area. They were displaced by war to A Luoi district and even Laos PDR.
In 1971, the GoV informed them that their homeland was safe and that they could
re-occupy it. The village leader and a few other villagers returned to Tam Gianh,
a place situated 2 km from the actual settlement, upstream on O Lau river, and the
remaining refugees followed soon after. The displaced Khe Tran villagers settled
there for five years, before moving on to Khe Cat village, where they remained
until 1978. Finally, they re-occupied their former homeland, the upstream part of
O Lau river. In 1992, encouraged by the government to settle closer to the main
road, some villagers moved to Khe Tran lowlands (the lower part of O Lau river