MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF FORESTRY STUDENT THESIS FOREST MANAGEMENT AT THE BUFFER-ZONE OF CUC PHUONG NATIONAL PARK Major: Natural Resources Management Code: D850101 Faculty: Forest Resources and Environmental Management Student: Nguyen Huu Dung Student ID: 1353091031 Class: K58A Natural Resources Management Course: 2013- 2017 Advanced Education Program Developed in collaboration with Colorado State University, USA Supervisor: Assoc Prof BUI THE DOI Ha Noi, August 2018 ACKNOWLEGMENTS This study would not have been possible completed without the supporting of many people Many thanks to my supervisor, Assoc Prof Bui The Doi, who read my numerous revisions and helped sense of confusion, for his patience, motivation, enthusiasm, and immense knowledge His guidance helped me in all the time of research and writing of this thesis I could not have imagined having a better advisor and mentor for my study My sincere thanks also goes to Ms Dinh Thi Van from forestry board of Cuc Phuong commune and Mr Nguyen Manh Cuong from Science and International Cooperative Department of Cuc Phuong National Park for having the enthusiastic attitude in providing data, their consultation and introducing to each villages in the interview Furthermore, I would also like to thank the participant in my interview for answering the question of local people in Cuc Phuong commune Finally, I must express my very profound gratitude to my friend as a partner Ms Vu Thi Anh Hong from Vietnam National University of Forestry for her supporting with snapped photos, collecting data and making note for highlighted information in the interview Author Nguyen Huu Dung i TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEGMENTS i TABLE OF CONTENTS ii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS iv LIST OF FIGURES v LIST OF DIAGRAM v ABSTRACT vi INTRODUCTION LITERATURE REVIEW GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: 3.1 Goals 3.2 Objectives 3.3 Scopes: STUDY METHODS 4.1 Selection of study site 4.2 Data collection 4.2.1 Secondary data 4.2.2 Primary data 4.3 Data analysis 12 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS 13 5.1 Natural condition and socio-economic characteristics 13 5.1.1 Natural condition characteristics 13 5.1.2 Socio-economic characteristics 17 5.2 Forest management situations 26 5.2.1 Planting and protecting forest situations 26 5.2.2 Some main issues existed in forest management 28 ii 5.3 Solutions 32 Suggestions for future research and conclusion 39 REFERENCES APPENDIX iii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviations Full letter CIFOR Center for International Forestry Research CP Cuc Phuong CPNP Cuc Phuong National Park FAO Food and Agriculture Organization FSC Forest Sustainable Certification GHGs Green House Gasses MARD Ministry of Agriculture Rural Development NP National Park NRs Natural Resources NTFPs Non-timber forest products PRA Participatory Rural Appraisal Rs Rupees SFM Sustainable Forest Management SPSS Statistical Package for the Social Sciences SUF Special-use forest UNFF United Nations Forum on Forests USD United State Dollar VND Vietnam dong iv LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: The average temperature measured at CP hydro-meteorological station (2009-2017) 14 Figure 2: The average humidity measured at CP hydro-meteorological station (2009-2017) 15 Figure 3: Total rainfall measured at CP hydro-meteorological station (2009-2017) 16 Figure 4: Population structure of CP commune 2009 and 2017 18 Figure 5: Gender comparison of CP commune between 2009 and 2017 19 Figure 5: Labor structure of CP commune in gender comparison 20 Figure 6: Total estimation value in breeding of CP commune in 2017 21 Figure 7: The changing of some agriculture crops area in 2009 and 2017 23 Figure 8: Total estimated value of some main agriculture crops in CP commune 2017 24 Figure 9: Total income of some sectors in CP commune 2017 25 Figure 10: Total area of some forest types managed by CP commune 26 Figure 11: Households living standard structure of CP commune 2017 29 LIST OF DIAGRAM Diagram 1: Relationships between natural resources and local people activities 32 v ABSTRACT Sustainability has emerged as an important factor of forest management in the buffer zone, which has a great number of discussions on sustainable forest management However, basic factors in the specific differences have not been explored It means each local region has differences in natural condition and socio-characteristics It leads to the difference in strategies of forest management This study sought to determine those differences which were in the scope of the research CP commune has also those specific differences with approximately 86% of Muong ethnic, 17.2% of poor households with 570 residents having risk hungry before harvested season (CP commune, 2017) In addition, 91.4% of the buffer zone residents participated in forest exploitation [20] From those data, this study used Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools and interview methods to approach local people, and for the most important goal to assure that the varied voices of the community are heard [15] This study revealed some characteristics of socio-demographic (gender, number of labors), socio-economic (agriculture, handicraft industry, forestry and services) of CP commune It aims to take a fully understanding in forest management towards sustainability strategies For approaching interview and PRA method, further researches would have some ideas for proposing a strategy in finding forest management models This study suggested for some topics in community forest management to encourage local people in participatory forest management The significance of this study would be considered as a basis for planners and managers in the trend of sustainable forest management vi INTRODUCTION Vietnamese has a locution that: “Forest is gold, ocean is silver” To be honest that forests are credibly important to human life by its significances It is not only economic aspects but also many positive effects to environmental matters For examples: reducing GHGs and climate change, providing oxygen, and so on Therefore, sustainable forest management has become a big concern, and more and more complicated Especially with forest in the buffer zone in which the local people was living and having impacts on its resources [28] In fact, the optimum solutions for forest management are more effectiveness, the balance with negative impacts of local people on natural resources at buffer zones are essential Recent research results indicated that the vulnerable people in many communes, villages and remote areas, who live nearby the forest was overusing forest resources and destroying the nature More than 1.6 billion people around the world depend on forest at varied degrees for their livelihoods: not just for foods but also for fuel, livestock grazing areas and medicinal products [2] At least 350 million people live inside or close to the dense forests, largely dependent on these areas for subsistence and income, while about 60 million indigenous people are wholly dependent on forests [7] In the forested landscapes of India, people depend on the forest for a variety of forest for products such as food, fodder, agriculture and housing It was estimated that 100% people near forest depend on forest resources for firewood house construction materials and non-timber forest products; occupied approximately 32% of total income from forest This dependence has resulted in forest resources degradation [1] In Vietnam, there are numerous researches on forest management such as Do Anh Tuan (2001) [6], Nguyen Thi Phuong (2003) [21], Pham Quang Huy (2006) [28] All of results from these authors indicated that local people who lived in buffer zone has either negative and positive impacts on forest resources by many ways such as exploitation for timber, fuel-wood, cultivation activities, and also in socio-economic aspects Therefore, it is strongly believed that forest management at the buffer zone has become extremely necessary In spite of the numerous functions of forest management strategies, forest ecosystems in general and forest resources in particular are gradually degrading in quality under threats as a result of growing population and expanding consumption of forest resources [7] To be honest that we cannot deny that at the buffer zone of national park, traditional cultivation and overexploitation happened and so many negatively consequences of local people who lived in buffer zone So that sustainable forest management is the best management plan in this case and the most important point is that to improve local people‟s livelihoods and living standard.Established in 1962, Cuc Phuong National Park (CPNP) is the first and largest national park in Vietnam With large areas, CPNP with 22,200 hectares belongs to three provinces: Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa (Appendix 4) With 1,944 flora species; 2,000 vegetative species; 71 animal species; 319 bird species; 33 reptile species; 16 amphibian species, etc CPNP has become the most important biodiversity home in Vietnam Eco-tourism is a potential in CPNP With a large area, Cuc Phuong is a virgin tropical forest situated at 80 km southwest of Hanoi, a buffer zone of 6,550 which located in 14 communes in four districts of three provinces A recent survey of the buffer zone found it to be inhabited by 1,737 families with 8,560 people of whom 3,690 were the main labors Almost 90 percent of the families belong to the Muong minority Agriculture is dominated by low productivity, extensive rice farming and annual production averages less than 250 kg of paddy rice per person Especially in the upland areas of the zone, degraded land is increasingly the norm More than 50 percent of the families suffer food shortages during at least one to three months of the year About 20 percent of the families still practice a seminomadic lifestyle and often enter into the protected area of the park to hunt illegally, harvest wood for fuel and construction or to gather other forest products, both for subsistence and as cash crops [31] From those characteristics of national park, with a big number of populations, traditional cultivation, and having low education level caused by generality of ethnic minority, it leads to be probably complicated in forest management In addition, total coverage of CP forests were approximately 75.2 % [20] and whole territory of Vietnam was 41.45% accorded to Decision no 1187 / QD-BNN-TCLN announcing the status of forest nationwide in 2017 Therefore, having 91.4% local people at the buffer zone of CPNP who participated in exploitation and hunting in forest Traditionally, the Muong lived in mountainous limestone country, primarily in the narrow valleys, within a distinct territorial area They engaged in shifting slash and burn agriculture in forest clearings, hunting and timber cutting, and some irrigated rice growing in valleys The forest clearings were used to grow cotton, cassava, maize and some pumpkins and gourds [23] The Muong today also engage in animal breeding, mostly small animals such as pigs and poultry Buffaloes are raised for meat, as well as being used as draught animals The Muong diet is traditionally supplemented with bamboo shoots, mushrooms, wild tubers and vegetables and sometimes meat from forests [3] In order to deal the issue, this research is to identify activities that local people are implementing with the forest and to propose the managers had a deeper look into forest management strategies in future On the other hand, there is no specific study on the community's participation in forest management in the buffer zone of CPNP There are no reasons to prevent people from participating in forest protection and management Wishing to understand the current status of forest protection and management in the buffer zone of CPNP, from that to suggest solutions are in order to attract local communities to protect forest resources Thus reduce the pressure of communities living in the buffer zone to the national park Hence the topic: “Forest management at the buffer-zone of CPNP” has been implemented  To maintain and develop the value of biodiversity, forest protection capacity; protection of the ecological environment That could archive objectives for raising the value of local forest products and reduce the illegal forest products in the both domestic and world market From this, CP commune forestry board enhanced their leadership in organizing a commune ranger forces from local people who having forest indigenous experiences This could be archived the both aims which were efficiency in forest management and improve incomes for those objects who were participated in forest exploitation Besides, CP commune committee‟s security forces coordinated with CPNP rangers should organize the inspection and patrol to detect the smuggling of forest products According to Article 13, Decree No 119/2006 / ND-CP of October 16, 2006 of Government on organization and operation of forest ranger, As a connection role for promoting and supporting between local government and communities to enforce forest protection and management policies and laws, forest rangers have been identified as an indispensable factor in national parks and nature reserves in the development process and implementation of the co-management model of SUF PanNature (People and Nature Reconciliation) had been implemented from 2010 to 2013 in Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve, Hoa Binh province that had from to patrollers from local people Through the implementation and operation, the locality patrolling force showed their superb abilities for intermediate roles in community forest management [25] It was also a lesson for CP commune in forest management Furthermore, in order to meet the practical requirements while not having specific policies, Decision No 08/2001 / QD-TTg of January 11st, 2001 and Decision No 178/2001 / QD-TTg of March 11st, 2001 can be applied September 2003 by the Prime Minister on the regulation of the management of three forest types and benefit sharing policies to address the exploitation and use of forests and benefit from community forests These documents stipulate that for protection forest which is natural forest, it will be allowed to exploit and make full use 38 of tangerine, pestilent plants, where density is too thick to be exploited with the intensity not exceeding 20% Bamboo forests, when they meet the protection requirements (with over 80% cover), are allowed to exploit with maximum intensity of 30% and exploit bamboo shoots If protection forests are planted forests invested by the State, they may exploit subsidiary trees and pruned trees when the density of dense forests is higher than the prescribed density, exploited with the exploitation intensity not exceeding 20% For production forests being natural forests, these documents stipulate the exploitation of products exploited in the process of nurturing, enriching and thinning the forests, to make full use of standing dead trees and timber extraction Finally, the forest ranger forces should be drastic in patrolling and strictly penalize with the object who had been contrary to the law And further, CPNP should take advisory for CP commune in tourism services and to propose a planning for CP becoming a forestry commune The solution could be attended to improve CP commune‟s infrastructures and to archive socio-economic development aims Suggestions for future research and conclusion Although the local resident‟s views are critical for analyzing forest management situations in CP commune, but people couldn‟t deny the role of CPNP management board and host residents [35] Such information would lead to a better understanding of the responsibilities in forest management and help the relevant authorities formulate effective plans and policies [27] This study took the natural condition, socio-economic characteristics for the strength and weakness which was considered as a valuable material for managers in socio-economic development and indirect for sustainable forest development strategies so on For the second objective of this study, it explained evaluation of local people impacts and some limitation and issues existed in forest management that considered as internal and external issues The internal could be some difficulties in economic and leading to limited awareness of both local 39 people and forest management of government Besides, the external issues were demand of forestry products market, those goods were profitable and with lack of drastic handing in forest management, illegal exploiting would be continued and difficult to control The final objective, this study proposed some solutions for SFM in CP commune which based on socioeconomic development foundation and enhance community participation in forest management In order to further understand “why” and “how” the CPNP resident‟s react to forest management in a particular manner (that is, why and how residents perceive a specific impact as positive or negative) The further study should collect data and analyze those data in SPSS application It is necessary to analyze additional data using qualitative methods in order to collect more insightful and comprehensive information It aims to analyze the factor and impacts on forest management in CP commune for more convincing Moreover, the spatial cope of this study could be considered a limitation of topic The research instrument and conceptual framework developed and tested in this research can be expanded and tested in other geographical locations to identify and examine other variables and factors that may influence the resident‟s abovementioned opinions Such information will be useful in providing more comparative results and findings in this topic In conclusion, the answer could solve the forest management successfully which was socio-economic development, improving local living standard and locality awareness [34] And in order to archive those aims, the strategy should be appropriated to natural conditions and socio-economic characteristics Thus, Forestry Organizations of Government support the village community to self-manage forest resources sustainably which based on cooperation between members of the community as well as between the community and the local government organization And let us reflect: “No matter what future direction resident attitude research takes, the most important goal must be to assure that the varied voices of the community are heard.” [15] 40 REFERENCES Atrayyee Banerjee and Chowdhury Madhurima (2013) Forest degradation and livelihood of local communities in India: A human rights approach, Scientific research Authur Ebregt and Pol De Greve (2000) Buffer zone and their management B Rugendyke and Nguyen Thi Son (2005) Conservation costs: Nature-based tourism as development at Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam Chandra Shekhar Silori and Ruchi Badola (2000) Medicinal Plant Cultivation and Sustainable Development, Published By: International Mountain Society, http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1659/02764741%282000%29020%5B0272%3AMPCASD%5D2.0.CO%3B2 D.A Gilmour et al, Buffer zone management in Vietnam IUCN,1999 Do Anh Tuan (2001) Influences of conservation institutions on livelihood of local communities and their attitudes towards conservation policy, A case study of Pu Mat reserve, Vietnam FAO (2010) FAO strategies for forests and forestry Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome Hoang Thanh Van and Tran Viet Khanh (2012) Impacts of natural conditions and resources on socio-economic in Tuyen Quang province Thai Nguyen university, scientific and technological journal no 65 (03) Hoang Thi Huong (2011) Community tourism development in Cuc Phuong National Park, student thesis (Vietnamese material) 10 J Mbairamadji, Ecosystemic (2009) Forest management approach to ensure forest sustainability and socio-economic development of forest dependent communities: Evidence from Southeast Cameroon 11 Jennings, J.N (1985) Karst Geomorphology 2nd ed Oxford, UK: Blackwell ISBN 063114031X: http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Karst_topography 12 Krejcie, R V & Morgan, D W (1970) Determining sample size for research activities Education and Psychological Measurement, 30,608 13 Madeline K Ball and David Seidman (2012) Dollar and sense a guide to financial literacy, Supply and demand 14 Markus Sommerauer (n.d) < markus.sommerauer@boku.ac.at > viewed 13th August 13, 2018 http://forestindustries.eu 15 McGehee, N.G., and Andereck, K.L (2004)“Factors Predicting Rural Residentsʼ Support of Tourism,” 16 Michael Tuckson (2011) New strategies to stop global warming, the article on How can we stop global warming?, updated 2011: http://www.stopglobalwarming- newstrategies.net 17 Moenieba Isaacs and Najma Mohamed (2000), Co-Managing the Commons in the ' New' South Africa: Room for Manoeuvre? 18 Nguyen Ba Thu (1995) Measures to build up buffer zone in Cuc Phuong National Park, in Proceedings of national conference on national parks and protected areas of Vietnam Hanoi: Agricultural Publishing House 19 Nguyen Ha Thanh (2013) Study on the status of exploitation and use of NTFPs by the Muong community in Cuc Phuong commune, Nho Quan town, Ninh Binh province 20 Nguyen The Cuong et al (2017) The report on planning and operating CPNP, CPNP 21 Nguyen Thi Phuong (2003) Impacts of local people on forest resources of Ba Vi National Park, MSc thesis 22 Nguyen Thi Thu Hang ( 2015) Situation of deer farming and consumption in Huong Son district- Ha Tinh province: 23 Nguyen Tu Chi (1972) A Muong sketch, ethnographical data, Vietnamese Studies, Number 32, Vol 24 Nguyen Viet Khoa and Tran Ngoc Hai (2008) Some techniques for planting some nontimber forest products Thai Nguyen university 25 Nguyen Xuan Lam and Nguyen Viet Dung (2013) Forest Rangers - an important element in the co-management model of special-use forests in Ngoc Son-Ngo Luong Nature Reserve, People and Nature Reconciliation (Pan Nature) Posted in Newsletter No 4041 / July 2013 by the Forest Sector Support Partnership Office (FSSP) 26 Oli Krishna Prasad (1999) Collaborative management of protected areas in the Asian region 27 Pham Hong Long (March 1, 2011) Perceptions of Tourism Impact and Tourism Development Among Residents of Cuc Phuong National Park, Ninh Binh, Vietnam ,Journal of Ritsumeikan Social Sciences and Humanities, Vol 3, March 2011 Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2094784 28 Pham Quang Huy(2006) Evaluate impacts of local people in Sang Moc commune, Than Sa Natural Reserve, Thai Nguyen on forest resources, Graduated student thesis 29 Pham Thi Trang (2014) Effects of local people in buffer zone on forest resources at Ba Vi National Park, Graduated student thesis 30 Poffenberger, M & McGean, B, (eds) (1993a) Communities allies: forest comanagement in Thailand Research network report Center for Southeast Asian Studies, University of California, Berkeley, California 31 S.A Dembler and N.N.Phuong (2011) Improving the lifestyles of people in protected areas of Vietnam 32 Schneider, J L., 2008 “Reducing the illicit trade in endangered wildlife: The market reduction approach” Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice 24(3): 274295 33 Sherry E (1999) Protected Areas and Aboriginal Interests At Home in the Canadian Arctic Wilderness 34 Tran Van Duy (2014) Environmental effects of tourism on Cuc Phuong National Park 35 Tran Van Hung (2010) A study on forest management participate of local community in Xuan Son National Park (Vietnamese material) 36 Wyler, L S and Sheikh P A (2008) International Illegal Trade in Wildlife: Threats and U.S Policy CRS Report for Congress, Congressional Research Service, USA 37 Vu Long (2006) Forestry Handbook Chapter forestry community (MARD) Some law material documents: 38 Decision no 59 QĐ-TTg /2015, Decision-No-59-2015-QD-TTg-promulgating- multidimensional-poverty-levels-applicable during 2016-2020 39 Decision no 1187 / QD-BNN-TCLN of MARD, announcing the status of forest nationwide in 2017 40 Circular no.38/2014/TT-BNNPTNT Guidelines to Sustainable Forest Management of MARD in 2014 41 Decision No 327-CT of September 15, 1992, master guidelines and policies to utilize unoccupied land, "Barren" hilly areas, forests, denuded, beaches and waterfront 42 Decision No 186/2006/QD-TTg dated August 14, 2006 of the Prime Minister promulgating the Regulation on forest management 43 Decree No 119/2006 / ND-CP of October 16, 2006 Organization and operation of forest ranger of Government 44 Decision no 24/2012/QD – TTg, June 1st, 2012, Government about investment policy off special-use forest development stage 2011-2020 45 Decree no 09/VBHN-BNNPTNT, July 6th 2017 of MARD, regulation on sanctioning administrative violations in forest management, forest development, forest protection and forest products management 46 Decision no 661 QĐ-TTg, July 29th 1998, on objectives, tasks, policy and organizations for the establishment off five million hectare of new forest 47 Decision No 08/2001 / QD-TTg of January 11st, 2001 Issuing the regulation on management of special-use forests, protection forests and production forests, which are natural forests 48 Decision No 178/2001 / QD-TTg of March 11st, 2001on the benefits and obligations of households and individuals assigned, leased or contracted forest and forestry land APPENDIX Appendix STT Thơn/ tổ dân phố Thơn đặc biệt khó khăn Thôn Nga x Thôn Nga Thơn Nga Thơn Đồng Bót x Thôn Đồng Quân x Thôn Đồng Tâm x Thôn Bãi Cả Thôn Sấm Thôn Sấm 10 Thôn Sấm x Appendix INFORMED CONSENT My name is Dung Nguyen Huu I am a graduate student at Vietnam National University of Forestry This survey is part of a study on forest management at the buffer zone in Cuc Phuong National Park The purpose of this questionnaire is to solicit your impression and your opinion about forest management at the buffer zone and their inter-relationship of the Park This survey consists of questions about policies, some programs for forest management and related information It included by your observation of effectiveness on forest management in the park, your attitude toward the natural resources and environmental issues The question should take between 15 and 3o minutes Your participation is absolute voluntary, and you are free not to answer any question (s) which you are not comfortable with during the interview We hope that the results of this study will provide important information to develop strategies for sustainable forest management at buffer zone in Cuc Phuong National Park Date: Time: Full name: Gender: male/female What type of stakeholders you belongs to: officials/ranger/ local people/ others What is your job? Where are you from? What activities did you participate in CPNP? a Tourism or nature walk around b Hunt animals c Others Do you believe your activities threat to CPNP? Why? What trend of labors in your village/commune/ district? Your main livelihoods depend on: How much income per month of your family? Some programs in forest management you known: 10 Did you get any profits from forest? Yes/ No 11 Have you known about any policies for forest management? Which? 12 Do you satisfy with those policies or management plans? Why? Yes/No 13 Do hunting and exploitation activities happen in CPNP? Which activities? Good or not? 14 What highest level of education you completed? d Less than elementary school e Secondary school f College degree g Other 15 Have any training programs or education lessons for local people per month, quarter, year? How many? 16 Have any programs or investments focused on improving living standard of local people? 17 How you used those invested money? 18 Why you need to protect forest? 19 What you think that you could get profits from sustainable forest management? 20 What is your village‟s specialties? How could you take for producing? 21 Would you like proposing some solutions for forest management? 22 Do you know about any case of violate in the forest? 23 Did you participate in planting or protecting forest? 24 Some restaurants in your commune sell foods from wild animals? How could they have it? That is all! Thank you for your time Have a good day! Appendix Relative position of Cuc Phuong commune with Cuc Phuong National Park : Provice boundary : Rivers and streams - - - : District boundary ▬▬▬▬ : CPNP boundary Legend (Biên tập từ nguồn: Cục Bản đồ, Bộ Tổng tham mưu Quân đội nhân dân Việt Nam, 1999) 1:125.000 APPENDIX ADMINSTRATIVE BOUNDARY AND TOPOGRAPHY OF CUC PHUONG NATIONAL PARK ... characteristics of socio-economic and natural conditions in Cuc Phuong commune of Cuc Phuong National Park - To analyze effectives and limitations of forest management in Cuc Phuong commune of Cuc Phuong National. .. 4.3 Data analysis Secondary data was gathered from officials of Cuc Phuong National Park and Cuc Phuong commune supports to the overview of forest situation, forest management, and some related... communities to protect forest resources Thus reduce the pressure of communities living in the buffer zone to the national park Hence the topic: ? ?Forest management at the buffer- zone of CPNP” has been