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| Local perceptions of the different land types and resources
Table 16. Villagers’ perception on threats to forest and biodiversity (19 respondents)
Threat to forests and biodiversity
Number of respondents
perceiving threat
Logging 17
Forest fire 8
Slash-and-burn agriculture 6
War wreckage collection 6
Hunting 4
Extraction of forest products 3
Firewood collection 1
detectors and because it is difficult to use them on this kind of land, they clear the
grass with fire. When this is done during the dry season, the danger is high for the
fire to expand out of control.
People think that hunting activities can harm the forest’s wildlife. Although
hunting is forbidden, villagers often meet poachers in the forest looking for
endangered species (bear, tiger). The collection of firewood and other NTFPs is
considered less harmful to the forest habitats.
People’s knowledge and perception of the threats to forest and biodiversity
are similar to those reported by Le Trong Trai et al. (2001), even if we found
that the ranks attributed to those threats are quite different. For example, the Le
Trong Trai et al. (2001) affirm that Khe Tran people perceive NTFP collection
and timber cutting as the most pernicious ongoing threat to the forest, but our
survey shows local people rank logging and forest fire as the most serious threats.
To some extent, the discourses of local people may be influenced by the official
vision and discourse on threats. Villagers try to follow the communal, district and
provincial rules as much as possible and this effort may influence their perception
of land management. We think that this behaviour helps villagers to emphasize the
struggle for their rights over the lands around Khe Tran.
These factors, according to villagers, in addition to the ‘open access’ to the
forest for outsiders (because of limited FPD personnel to control access) have
increased the threat to local biodiversity. Local people’s involvement in the
management of the reserve could be a way to reduce some of the threats. During
one of the meetings some villagers expressed their interest to become more directly
involved in the management of the surrounding natural forest and they hoped that
it might bring them some benefits, e.g. employment and even some timber for
their daily needs. If they were to become part of the nature reserve management,
it could help achieve a win-win situation.
6.8. People’s hopes for the future of their forest and life
Villagers gave many answers to our questions on the future of their forest and life
during personal interviews. Their aspirations are presented in Tables 17 and 18 .
The main answer given by villagers asked what they would do if the forest
degraded or disappeared is to reforest the area. They think they will always