Sustainable management of natural forest through improving awareness and building capacity to improve the rights and legal status of ethnic minority communities to natural forest in central Vietnam (2012-2014)
Community forests exists as part of local traditions, linking people’s interests with the community’s spiritual and religious beliefs and playing a vital role in the life and culture of ethnic minorities. To promote interests of the community and their role in the sustainability of natural forest, the Government of Vietnam has been allocating forests to the community for long-term management and use since the 1990s. Some community-based forest management models, implemented in different regions with assistance from the Government of Vietnam and international organizations, have gained significant successes.
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The process of institutionalization and implementation of policies, however, has faced many difficulties and challenges. The community’s legal status is not clear for the State has not recognized its legal rights and responsibilities as a real forest owner. The (system of) policies on people`s rights to access, manage and use forest remain(s) different from reality so these policies have not really come to life. People have little access to public services, credit funds and investments of the government or other organizations. Besides, they have not been fully aware of their rights to and responsibilities for their allocated forests.
Since 2011, C&E has cooperated with RLS Vietnam in a pilot project to build the community’s capacity for managing and protecting forest in Thua Thien Hue and Quang Nam. This pilot has demonstrated an effective sustainable forest management model which can assist the community in fulfilling their rights and responsibilities while maintaining their life and culture. This proven model can be replicated in other natural forest regions with high rates of poor ethnic minorities. Moreover, with support from local authorities and communities, C&E has continued implementing ”Sustainable management of natural forest through improving awareness and building capacity to improve the rights and legal status of ethnic minority communities to natural forest in central Vietnam (2012-2014)” project.
The project aims at raising awareness and enhancing the community’s capacity to access and utilize rights and social resources for development, sustainable livelihoods and local natural resources management. The project also advocates to integrate the model into local programs and other NGOs working for social and environmental sustainability and development.
In the framework of the project, three guide books which are (1) Community forest management method: A rights-based approach, (2) Teamwork and planning skills for community forest management groups and (3) Methods for environmentally friendly use of forests have been developed to facilitate the attainment of these concrete goals.
We hope that the three guidebooks will be useful for local communities and relevant stakeholders to enhance and raise awareness and capacity for community-based forest management.