LOCAL FOREST GOVERNANCE AND PAYMENT FOR FOREST ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES IN LAM DONG PROVINCE, VIETNAM
Abstract
In order to evaluate the local governance of forest resources in Lam Dong in the Payment for Forest Environmental Service program, we interviewed, held group discussions with local people in the 2 communes Bao Thuan in Di Linh District and Da Chais in Lac Duong district, Lam Dong Province. We found that local people are, to some extend, different in their participation in forest governance. There are several related stakeholders that are directly involved in the local forest governance system, including forest owners (Protected are, special use forest, forest management board, State forest enterprises); forest protection department (local forest rangers); Commune People’s Committee and local communities. There are differences in the participation of those related stakeholders due to their rights and responsibilities in forest protection and management. We found that local people have not really participated in the local forest governance process. They are quite passive in the whole contracting process. The current benefit sharing mechanism does not really attract the participation and contribution from related stakeholders. The study suggests that, it is needed to revise the benefit sharing mechanism in order to attract the active participation of all related stakeholder especially local people for a sustainable protection and management of forest resources as well as improve the livelihood of local people. It is also important to have short-term livelihood improvement as well as long-term training to improve the capability of local people.References
Decree No. 135/2005/ND-CP on contractual assignment of agricultural land, production forestland and land with water surface for aquaculture in state-run agricultural farms and forestry farms.
Decision No. 178/2001/QD-TTg dated November 12, 2001 of the Prime Minister on the benefits and obligations of households and individuals assigned, leased or contracted forests and forestry land.
Decree 01/CP/1995/TTg of the Prime Minister on guiding land allocation through contracts for agriculture, forestry, and aquaculture purposes.
Lam Dong, 2013. Decision 18/QĐ-UBND dated 05/01/2013 by the provincial People’s Committee on approving the plan on forest protection and management from 2011-2020.
Resolution No. 30a/2008/NQ-CP dated December 27, 2012 on the Programme of Rapid and Sustainable Poverty Reduction in poor districts and the National Target Programme of Sustainable Poverty Reduction, amendments and supplements to policies for near poor households.
