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. Characterization of land types
Our objective in Chapters 7 and 8 is to report the results from the field team
activities, which were based on information provided by the village team. These
two types of activities, even though separated, were the result of tight collaboration
between all the team members.
7.1. Sampling of land types
Small amounts of repetition of particular land types within the 11 plots (Figure
15) restrict the possibilities for statistical analysis and broader generalization
but nevertheless the sample serves the purpose of better understanding the
valuation and perceptions of landscape based on quantitative data, e.g. species
identification. We will make some generalizations throughout the text, such as
reporting densities and basal areas per hectare, but we ask the reader to be aware
of limitations to broad quantitative characterizations of landscapes and their land
type comparisons.
The first plot was established in a 12-year-old rubber plantation, which was
created just one year after the resettlement of Khe Tran village. This area does
not suffer frequent flooding and it has experienced only minimum disturbance,
the most severe impacts being caused by strong winds. Although cattle grazing
is officially disallowed, some was evident during the fieldwork. Hunting is also
not allowed, and for other activities permission from owners (10 households) is
needed.
The Acacia plantation was eight years old, which is already the harvesting
age in plantations of many similarly fast growing species. When the forest was
young, the government prohibited the cutting of trees or branches, along with
cattle grazing. Any digging was also forbidden. Nevertheless everyone has
free access to the graveyard inside the plantation, which is to be honoured by
refraining from hunting in its proximity. In 1983 and 1999, when most of the