CARD 017-VIE06 MS12 Completion Report-English.doc-7/14/2010 1 Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development Collaboration for Agricultural and Rural Development Sustainable community-based forest development and management in some high poverty areas in Bac Kan Province (Project No: 017/06 VIE) MILESTONE 12 PROJECT COMPLETION REPORT (1 July 2009 – 30 April 2010) Prepared by Forest Protection Department of Bac Kan Province Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry and CSIRO Plant Industry April 2010 CARD 017-VIE06 MS12 Completion Report-English.doc-7/14/2010 2 Table of Contents 1. Institute Information 3 2. Project Abstract 4 3. Executive Summary 4 4. Introduction & Background 5 5 Progress to Date 5 5.1 Implementation Highlights 5 5.2 Smallholder Benefits 9 5.3 Capacity Building 9 5.4 Publicity 9 5.5 Project Management 10 6. Report on Cross-Cutting Issues 10 6.1 Environment 10 6.2 Gender and Social Issues 10 7. Implementation & Sustainability Issues 10 Issues and Constraints 10 Options 10 Sustainability 10 8 Next Critical Steps 11 9. Conclusion 11 Appendix I. Logical framework - Project Progress against Proposed Objectives, Outputs, Activities and Inputs 12 CARD 017-VIE06 MS12 Completion Report-English.doc-7/14/2010 3 1. Institute Information Project Name Sustainable community-based forest development and management in some high poverty areas in Bac Kan Province Vietnamese Institution Department of Forest Protection, Bac Kan Province Vietnamese Project Team Leader Mr Hoang Van Hai Australian Organisation CSIRO Plant Industry (from 1 July 2008) Australian Personnel Mr Khongsak Pinyopusarerk (Joint Team Leader) and Mr Brian Gunn Date commenced March 1, 2007 Completion date (original) March 31, 2010 Completion date (revised) April 30, 2010. The completion date was extended to cover CARD CFM workshop held in Na Ri Reporting period 1 July 2009 – 30 April 2010 Contact Officer(s) In Australia: Team Leader Name: Khongsak Pinyopusarerk Telephone: 61-2-6246 4851 Position: Research Scientist Fax: 61-2-6246 4564 Organisation CSIRO Plant Industry) Email: khongsak.pinyopusarerk@c siro.au In Australia: Administrative contact Name: Rebecca Wright Telephone: 61 2 6242 1544 Position: Project Support Officer Fax: Organisation CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems Email: Rebecca.wright@csiro.au In Vietnam Name: Mr Tran Van Dien Telephone: +84-280-851822 Position: Director, Department of International and Scientific Cooperation Fax: +84-280-852921 Organisation Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry Email: tranvandientn@gmail.com CARD 017-VIE06 MS12 Completion Report-English.doc-7/14/2010 4 2. Project Abstract 3. Executive Summary The project has been completed satisfactorily, with all the relevant project components completed by the end of March 2010. This report, however, covers the period July 1, 2009 to April 30, 2010 to include a final activity on CARD CFM workshop held in Na Ri district, 20- 21 April. Mr Brian Gunn made a one-week visit to Vietnam in October 2009 to work with TUAF team and compiled information for preparation of MS 9 report. Mr Khongsak Pinyopusarerk visited to Vietnam for this CARD and other projects in October 2009, March and April 2010. The first two visits were to review progress of field work in Na Ri and assist TUAF team members in preparation of project reports. He attended the CARD CFM workshop in Na Ri in April. The project continued implementation of CFM plans in the four pilot villages (forest protection, village nursery, tending plantation, etc). In addition, considerable effort has been made on dissemination of project activities and results to 18 neighbouring villages, in particular support of seed for nursery establishment in the villages which expressed the interest. Progress and achievements of these activities since July 2009 were covered in previous three milestones reports (MS9, 10 and 11). In addition, two major reports were prepared, one on Cost-Benefit Analysis, and the other on Repeat Socio-economic Survey of Pilot Villages. In collaboration with CARD PMU, a community forestry management workshop and field day was organised in Na Ri on 20-21 April 2010. xx people from various CARD projects, provincial departments and some donor agencies attended. This workshop was very successful with active discussion and exchange of ideas on CFM among participants. Participants agreed that the current government guidelines on CFM should be simplified for more efficient implementation. The project aims to empower ethnic minority people in four pilot villages in Van Minh and Lang San Communes, Na Ri District, Bac Kan Province, to manage their allocated Community Forests. This will be achieved through capacity building activities at community and government levels, and technical and institutional support, in participatory forest land use planning, land allocation and extension services as part of community based forest management. The project will help to improve local livelihoods of disadvantaged men and women through equal access to forest land, better resource management and sharing of benefits. New systems will help to minimize forest land degradation and support forest development and conservation. Newly-developed information systems, experiences and training methods will be shared with other villages, Communes and relevant parts of the Province and northern mountainous regions through numerous information dissemination methods. CARD 017-VIE06 MS12 Completion Report-English.doc-7/14/2010 5 4. Introduction & Background The background to the project has been fully described in previous Milestone Reports and need not be repeated in full here. In summary, the Project Goal is ‘Sustainable improvement in livelihood security of disadvantaged forest-dependent people in northern mountainous areas, through empowerment of access to forest and forest land, influence over forest land management, conservation of the natural resources and development of relevant skills’. The project will contribute to achievement of the Goal by developing CFM through: (i) ensuring equal access of forest-dependent households to the common forest; (ii) building capacities within the forest user groups to effectively represent themselves; (iii) strengthen extension services to enable them to be responsive to the needs of the forest dependent people; (iv) provide skills to communities to enable them to develop and manage their allocated forest resources in a transparent and equitable manner and raising awareness of and providing training in forest and land policy issues and good forest governance; (v) promoting sustainable forest and natural resource use to reduce food shortages by strengthening agroforestry, sustainably producing timber and non-timber forest products (NTFPs), and training in improved forest management skills; and (vi) promoting the active involvement of women. These broad objectives are reflected in the formal Objectives within the project Logical Framework, and progress against each item in the Logical Framework is noted in the last section of this Milestone Report. All the participatory and other activities outlined in the project Logical Framework will be undertaken in ways which are appropriate for the local cultural context, and of course development of successful CFM models will depend heavily on utilising all the indigenous knowledge of both men and women. During these activities, the participants will be encouraged to indicate the gaps in their skills and knowledge, and to participate in remedying these deficiencies. Simple indicators of baseline and subsequent competencies will be devised which suit the participants. 5 Progress to Date 5.1 Implementation Highlights This report covers the period July 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010, a period of 9 months. Visit of Brian Gunn CSIRO scientist Brian Gunn travelled to Vietnam in October 2009 to work with TUAF team in Thai Nguyen to prepare MS 9 report. MS9 was a major progress report with many activities and such visit was deemed necessary for preparation of a comprehensive report. Visit of Khongsak Pinyopusarerk Khongsak Pinyopusarerk made three visits in October 2009 and March and April 2010. The visit in March was to refine the repeat survey report prepared by TUAF team. He also visited CARD 017-VIE06 MS12 Completion Report-English.doc-7/14/2010 6 to some new villages Na Ri and inspected nurseries in new villages and the agroforestry model on household land in Na Muc. Another visit in April was to attend the CARD CFM workshop held in Na Ri during 20-21 April. 5.1.1 Continuing Implementation of CFM Plans in four pilot villages Village nurseries Seed of Acacia mangium (from CSIRO Australia) and local Mo (Manglietia conifera) was supplied to the four pilot villages for seedling establishment. Development of seedlings was progressing well because villagers now have good experience in raising and caring for the seedlings. Unfortunately, both Van Minh and Lang San communes experienced very severe drought since the end of 2009. The drought situation was much worse in Lang San to an extent that villagers did not have water for household consumption. As a result, nurseries in Ban Sang and Todooc of Lang San commune were abandoned after in operation for a few months. In Van Minh commune, villagers in Na Muc and Khuoi Lieng were able to maintain their nurseries. Fig. 1. Mo and acacia seedlings in Na Muc village nursery (March 2010) Agroforestry models The area has already been ploughed and sowing of crop seed (corn and soy bean) would take place after a few rains. Survival of the planted trees in the agroforestry models was generally good but growth was affected by competition with corn crop last season. Buffalo grazing will need to be monitored closely to avoid or minimize further damage. The project continues to support a household agroforestry model in Na Muc village. This agroforestry plot is located near the major village road and easy to access whole year round. CARD 017-VIE06 MS12 Completion Report-English.doc-7/14/2010 7 Fig. 2. Private household agroforestry plot in Na Muc supported by CARD project. Land already prepared for sowing new crop seed. Forest protection Community forests in both communes have been better protected since project implementation with significant reduction in the number of incidents of illegal harvest of timber. Routine patrols by participating household members and increased awareness of local communities are main factor contributing to the decrease. 5.1.2 Repeat survey of four pilot villages The survey was conducted in February 2010 and full report was provided with the MS11 report. The aim of this survey was to determine the changes in the status of community forest management in the project area. Based on many indicators, the interventions of CARD project have markedly contributed to positive change in the management of community forest. From the interviews, local people all recognize there have been marked changes in community forest over the past three years. The active changes are expressed by some basic indicators such as enrichment of community forest, decrease of illegal cases of forest exploitation, increased compliance with the Law of Forest Protection, especially newly planted forest area. While other indicators have not changed or remain the same such as income from community forest development, village’s income, household’s income and running water supply sources. Income from plantation will not be realized for several more years until the harvest rotation. However, villagers can generate annual income from sale of nursery seedlings due to increasing demand. 5.1.3 Dissemination of Results Support to neighbouring villages Following a dissemination workshop in June 2009 for 18 neighbouring villages in Van Minh and Lang San communes (Ref MS8), CARD project received many requests for support of good quality seed from some these villages. Fore each village which expressed interest, 500 grams each of Mo and acacia seed were distributed through commune leaders. In Na Ngoa, CARD 017-VIE06 MS12 Completion Report-English.doc-7/14/2010 8 villagers agreed to set up one community nursery. In Pac Ban, villagers preferred to establish their own individual household nurseries. In this case, the seed was divided equally among households. In Na Ngoa, all 29 households participate in one community nursery. Led by village head Mr Tuan, villagers make a roster for daily maintenance (weeding and watering). The system appears to work well (see Fig. 3). Fig. 3. Na Ngoa village nursery with a roster for daily maintenance by each household In Pac Ban where individual household nurseries have been established, many households did not have adequate knowledge and experience to germinate acacia seed and care of the seedlings. Fig. 4. A household nursery in Pac Ban village Village leaders in Na Ngoa and Pac Ban requested CARD project to organise training courses in nursery propagation and plantation establishment. CARD 017-VIE06 MS12 Completion Report-English.doc-7/14/2010 9 Support to donor projects Personnel of donor projects such as IFAD, CARE International and Upland Development Program (Germany) have on several occasions visited CARD project sites in Na Ri. They have also had discussions with the TUAF team in order to replicate CARD CFM model. CARD team will provide technical support to these projects. 5.1.4 Production of Extension Materials After consideration of the priority needs, CARD team of TUAF will soon prepare two extension materials: “Technical guidelines for village nursery”, and “Technical guidelines for establishment and maintenance of forest plantations”. The guides will use simple language easy to understand and with many illustrations. 5.1.5 CARD Workshop In order to introduce CFM models developed by different projects and to foster linkages and cooperation among projects and organisations in the forestry sector, CARD Program supported a two-day workshop on CFM at Na Ri district on 20-21 April which was attended by 80 people from many CARD projects, provincial agencies, AusAID and CARE International. The program consisted of one day for presentation and discussion and one day for field visit to village nurseries and agroforestry model supported by CARD CFM project. Mr Tran Van Dien made a presentation on behalf of CARD CFM project. His presentation was well received and generated discussion on issues such as CF land allocation, forest development, village development funds. Most CFM projects had a component in forest land allocation and shared similar experience in the complicated process. 5.2 Smallholder Benefits • Individual households and household groups have organised themselves to continue raising seedlings using their own resources. The villagers have become self motivated to grow their own trees and identified the opportunities for income generations which has been a focus of the project. • Villagers have also responded to the benefits of acquiring genetically superior seed that they will benefit from improved financial returns from increased wood yields. • Households have continued to take advantage of the village development funds for economic development and to purchase essential items as part of tree planting activities. 5.3 Capacity Building There were no formal training activities during this reporting period. However, hands-on training was provided as part of on site visits to village nurseries and CFM agroforestry models. Some technical advice on nursery establishment was provided to neighbouring villages such as Na Ngoa and Pac Ban in Van Minh commune. 5.4 Publicity This CARD CFM project is well known to MARD authorities, international donors interested in CFM and rural development and neighbouring provinces. Project activities were shown on Bac Kan TV station and mentioned on local radio station. CARD 017-VIE06 MS12 Completion Report-English.doc-7/14/2010 10 5.5 Project Management Mr Hoang Van Hai, Deputy Director of Bac Kan Forest Protection Department continued to be the Vietnamese project leader with technical support from Mr Tran Van Dien and staff from Thai Nguyen University. Overall the project was well managed. Regular contact has been maintained between Australian and Vietnamese personnel by email and telephone throughout the reporting period. Australian team of Khongsak Pinyopusarerk and Brian Gunn visited the project sites on several occasions. 6. Report on Cross-Cutting Issues 6.1 Environment There were no environmental issue rising out of activities during this reporting period. 6.2 Gender and Social Issues Gender balance among the villagers participating in community meetings and receiving training in the course of the project has been identified as an issue requiring close attention throughout the project. Women have always been encouraged to participate in all project activities. 7. Implementation & Sustainability Issues Issues and Constraints No major obstacles to the successful implementation of the project. However, the issue of future supply of good quality seed needs to be addressed. Villagers have requested further support for good seed. Options Not applicable – the project is concluding. Sustainability High level of sustainability is very probable as demonstrated by the on-going participation of households in CFM activities such as forest protection, village nursery gardens and establishment of plantation on CF and household lands. The latter two activities have already been taken up by some neighbouring villages. Chairmen of both communes have given assurance of continuing support and monitoring of CFM activities and would maintain the management structures (i.e. CFM board, forest user groups, etc). Future funding support from IFAD will ensure further sustainability. [...]... Note: In order to reflect the progress in this reported, developments undertaken between July 2009 and March 2010 (project completion date) are shown in italics Previous progress is shown in normal print Project Title: Sustainable community-based forest development and management in some high poverty areas in Bac Kan Province Project No: 017/06 VIE Vietnamese Implementing Institution: Department of Forest. .. Forest Protection of Bac Kan Province PROPOSAL PROGRESS REPORT Narrative Narrative Performance Indicator Assumptions/Risks Information required OBJECTIVE 1 Initiate project through gaining acceptance of the concepts and practices of CFM among the people in four pilot villages (Na Muc, Khuoi Lieng, Ban Sang and To Duoc) in Van Minh and Lang San communes in Na Ri district, Bac Kan province, and among the relevant... management in Na Ri and other areas in northern Vietnam Staff of TUAF and Bac Kan province have also benefited from the capacity building program and participation in the project implementation which will be useful for other similar projects 11 CARD 017-VIE06 MS12 Completion Report-English.doc-7/14/2010 Appendix I Logical framework - Project Progress against Proposed Objectives, Outputs, Activities and Inputs... 1.4 Numerous meetings held As above Report on Baseline Survey Sighting of examples of Guidelines 1.1 Report on inception meeting 1.2 PCC established and functioning 1.3 Number of site meetings and records of baseline data collected 1.4 All meetings held, and awareness of CFM indicated by number of villagers male and female declaring 12 CARD 017-VIE06 MS12 Completion Report-English.doc-7/14/2010 access... of community development funds, and favourable verbal reports on the participatory management of the funds Continue CFM implementation - Protection of CF forest - Maintain plantations - Re-sow crop seed in A/F models - Establish village nurseries - Workshop on evaluation and dissemination of agroforestry models held 2 0-2 1 April2010 at Na Ri district was extended to other CFM projects and CARD projects... improvement in target beneficiaries, with appropriate measures of understanding of: (i) CFM attitudes, technical practices and sustainability; (ii) nursery operations; (iii) sustainable harvesting of non-wood forest products; and (iv) use and sustainability of the Community Forest Development Funds 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5 and 6.8 Done Activities 6.6, 6.7 and 6.9 have been completed as reported in Milestone. .. nurseries, establishing timber and NTFP species, sustainable harvesting, agroforestry, etc); and (iii) other income-generating activities (Sep 07/Feb 10) 4.2 Establish different agroforestry and Star Anise plantation models for income generation (Mar 08/Feb 10) 4.3 Establish four nurseries (one in each pilot village) (Oct 07/Feb 10) 4.4 A workshop on evaluation and dissemination of agroforestry and Star Anise... Producing and distributing guidelines and training materials for practical CFM (Mar 07/Feb 10) ACTIVITIES Number of villages and Communes which have been exposed to various forms of extension activities about CFM That all the necessary the human, financial and other resources are maintained to sustain continued extension efforts That appropriate training (and re-training) in suitable extension methods... 5.1.1 Objective 5.5 Highlighted promotional material using both TV and various forums within Bac Kan Province involved in a community nursery with a roster of daily maintenance (watering, weeding) by each household In Pac Ban village 20 of total 23 households has own small nursery There is a strong interest in plantation development CARD project activities were shown on local TV network and radio station... total 80 people (Mar/Apr 08) 6.6 One 4-day study tour for 20 pilot villagers to income generation activities (Mar 08) 6.7 Four 2-day training for 20 people per village on forest laws (Apr/May 08) 6.8 Four 2-day training for 20 people per village on forest development (Apr/May 08) 6.9 Four 3-day training on sustainable harvest of forest products (Jun/Jul 08) 6.10 One 4-day study tour for 20 key villagers . shown in italics. Previous progress is shown in normal print. Project Title: Sustainable community-based forest development and management in some high poverty areas in Bac Kan Province. Project. and Inputs 12 CARD 017-VIE06 MS12 Completion Report-English.doc-7/14/2010 3 1. Institute Information Project Name Sustainable community-based forest development and management in some. awareness of and providing training in forest and land policy issues and good forest governance; (v) promoting sustainable forest and natural resource use to reduce food shortages by strengthening