CARD 017-06 Milestone 10 report-English.doc-5/28/2010 1 Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development CARD Project Report 017/06 VIE Sustainable community-based forest development and management in some high poverty areas in Bac Kan Province MILESTONE 10 CFM Dissemination Strategy and Implementation Prepared by Forest Protection Department of Bac Kan Province Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry and CSIRO Plant Industry January 2010 CARD 017-06 Milestone 10 report-English.doc-5/28/2010 2 Table of Contents 1 Executive Summary 3 2 Introduction of CFM models to other villages 3 3 Numbers and proportion of potential community members participating 4 4 Evaluation of adoption of CFM models and financial impacts at community level 5 CARD 017-06 Milestone 10 report-English.doc-5/28/2010 3 1 Executive Summary Milestone 10 focuses on dissemination of CFM activities to other villages in the project two communes of Van Minh and Lang San. The main activities included: • Introduction of CFM models to at least 10 villages • Numbers and proportion of potential community members participating • Evaluation of adoption of CFM models and financial impact at community level. 2 Introduction of CFM models to other villages The CFM models developed by this CARD project have attracted wide interest from neighbouring villages both within the two target communes of Van Minh and Lang San as well as other communes in Na Ri district. Initial introduction of CARD project CFM models to other villages has been implemented through local workshops and study tour specifically conducted for villagers of the other 18 villages in the two target communes of Van Minh and Lang San (cf. MS 9 report, November 2009). This was followed by visits of TUAF staff to some of these villages to further discuss what activities that could be initiated. Key villagers of other 18 villages who attended the project workshops and meetings have expressed interest to replicate the CFM models already in place in the four pilot villages. Main areas of particular interest were: • Acquiring red book for village CF lands • Training in seedling nursery and plantation development • Provision of quality agricultural crop and tree seed • Provision of village development fund However, under the current structure and budget of this CARD project it was not feasible to use the project own fund to implement all the above proposed tasks. Nevertheless, with assistance from Na Muc and Khuoi Lieng pilot villages, one village nursery garden and ten household nursery gardens have recently been established in Na Ngoa and Pac Ban villages (Van Minh commune). Improved-variety soy bean seed harvested in the pilot-village agroforestry models was supplied to these two new villages. Although experienced villagers from pilot villages are busy with their own farm work, more nursery gardens are expected to be set up in other villages in the coming months. Dissemination of CARD project CFM models to other 18 villages in Van Minh and Lang San communes has been boosted by the support from IFAD project and Na Ri District People’s Committee. In fact Na Ri District People’s Committee also want to see adoption of CARD CFM models to all other communes in the district with IFAD funding support. CARD project staff have already started to work with IFAD project staff to replicate CFM models in all villages with clearly defined community forest. Information from additional village surveys in other villages (cf. Baseline Surveys of Eleven Neighbour Villages, August 2008) has been used for preparing appropriate CFM activities, in particular LUP and LA. However, a major issue that needs to be resolved as a matter of priority is to define the unclear boundaries of community forest in these villages, without which it is not possible to apply for “Red Book”. CARD 017-06 Milestone 10 report-English.doc-5/28/2010 4 The process to obtain Red Book is lengthy and outside help (e.g. IFAD and government - commune and district agencies) is necessary. There are no problems with the forest lands which have been allocated to households. Most of the households in the 18 villages are interested to invest in forestry development and requested training in seedling establishment and agroforestry models. Training activities are expected to be included in the IFAD project plan. CARD CFM models will also be adopted by CARE International project in 18 villages of Thanh Van and Mai Lap communes of Cho Moi district in Bac Kan province. The project has recently commenced in January 2010 with an emphasis on replication of CFM models developed by CARD project. As a preparation for the adoption, 70 people comprising CARE project staff and key villagers visited CARD project sites in Van Minh and Lang San in November 2009. TUAF staff facilitated and assisted during the visit. In addition to above dissemination, the implementation of this CARD project has been shown on Na Ri and Bac Kan television programs on five occasions. This reflects the interest of the public and values of this CARD project in promoting sustainable forest management and local livelihood improvement. 3 Numbers and proportion of potential community members participating The table below shows the number of households and household forest area in ten other villages in Van Minh and Lang San communes. Commune Village No. of Households Natural forest area (ha/hhd) Plantation forest area (ha/hhd) Agricultural land (ha/hhd) Na Dụ 37 10.14 1.04 0.52 Na Reng 28 10.59 0.33 0.43 Pac Lieng 14 4.99 0.04 0.36 Khuoi Tuc 18 14.21 0.64 0.42 Na Piet 28 9.04 1.16 0.67 Van Minh Pac Ban 22 2.26 0.44 0.66 Cho Moi 76 0.44 0.52 0.24 Phieng Bang 44 0.19 0.69 0.24 Na Riec 50 4.97 0.66 0.53 Ban Ken 44 0.20 0.87 0.33 Lang San Na Hiu 13 7.65 0.41 0.64 It is not feasible at this stage to confirm the exact number of households who want to participate in CFM. Initial surveys however indicated that the majority, if not all, of the households would participate. The on-going activities being implemented in the four pilot CARD 017-06 Milestone 10 report-English.doc-5/28/2010 5 villages and the positive feedback to date have convinced these communities the benefit from CFM activities. Like other village communities in Bac Kan province, forestry activities are now recognised as a means of income generation for households. Household forest land area is general large compared to agricultural land. With outside support such as IFAD project there is great opportunity to the allocated forest land for income generation activities including forestry development. The project has provided the model for uptake of CFM developing achievable approaches to CFM starting with LUP/LA. Appropriate technologies have been developed and applied by the four pilot villages to include nursery skills, agroforestry models, a range of skills development and understanding of the benefits of improved germplasm for both tree and agricultural crops. 4 Evaluation of adoption of CFM models and financial impacts at community level The adoption of CARD CFM models has been demonstrated as discussed in the Section 2 above. The extent of the adoption has exceeded expectation, especially with the confirmed support from donors such as IFAD and CARE International. CARD CFM models will be replicated not only in the two project communes of Van Minh and Lang San in Na Ri district but also in other communes and districts in Bac Kan province. With the publicity being generated through occasional visits to project sites by interested parties and televisions, it can be expected that the models will also be introduced to communes and districts in other provinces. The success of this CARD project should be judged by the sustainability of CFM models in the four pilot villages after the completion of this CARD project at the end of March 2010. There is sufficient evidence to indicate that this is achievable. Key village members now have good understanding of the concept of CFM and the importance of participation through many training activities and study tours, and participation in agroforestry models. Commune leaders have shown genuine interest in the project activities, and attended project meetings and discussion with village communities. Cooperation between local communities and local authorities is good. Continuing support from local authorities is crucial to successful adoption. It is not feasible to accurately quantify the financial impact at community level at this early stage of project implementation. There are both direct and indirect financial benefits. Direct benefit includes payment from participation in CFM activities such as forest protection and low interest of loan from the project development fund. Indirect benefit includes access to share of village-nursery seedlings and increased knowledge in nursery and forest plantation development. . management in some high poverty areas in Bac Kan Province MILESTONE 10 CFM Dissemination Strategy and Implementation Prepared by Forest Protection Department of Bac Kan Province. 01 7-0 6 Milestone 10 report-English.doc-5/28/2 010 1 Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development CARD Project Report 017/06 VIE Sustainable community-based forest development and. models already in place in the four pilot villages. Main areas of particular interest were: • Acquiring red book for village CF lands • Training in seedling nursery and plantation development