Lessons for Protected Area Management in Vietnam: Outcomes of Local Ethnic Minority Participation in Forest Protection of Cat Tien National Park

Abstract

While protected areas are a measure for forest conservation, they pose a number of key challenges to local people’s livelihoods. One solution to the tension between conservation objectives and livelihoods in protected areas is involving local people in forest protection activities. The research examined the performance of one initiative, involving Forest Protection Teams (FPTs), on the livelihoods of local people and participating members, and on forest conservation. The research revealed that FPT activities had some benefits for team members but limited impact on local livelihoods. Additionally, most households stated that there was no detectable change in forest condition because of team members’ activities in forest protection. For FPT members to take greater ownership of forest protection outcomes and communication of these outcomes, the program needs to be designed and implemented in a more participatory manner.

Keywords:

• Forest protection
• forest protection team
• local views
• non-timber forest product (NTFP) reliance
• protected area policy

Acknowledgments

We would like to extend our gratitude to the University of New England for an International Postgraduate Student Scholarship, and the UNE School of Environmental and Rural Science for financial and other support for lead author. The authors would like to thank the Cat Tien National Park Management Board, the local authority officers in the study village and local people for their contribution and participation.