Quang Nam is one of the provinces with large forest area compared to other regions of Vietnam. By 1/1/2012, the total forested area of Quang Nam is about 517 thousand hectares with coverage at 48.6%, of which natural forest is approximately 394 thousand hectares, accounting for 76.2% of the forested area and 37.8% natural forest (1,043 hectares). Since the 2003 Land Law and the 2004 Law on Forest Protection and Development, the community is recognized as legal entities which are granted forestland rights.
After 10 years of policy implementation, Quang Nam is one of the most proactive provinces in Vietnam achieving great efforts. About 249 communities were allocated with over 160 thousand hectares of forest and forestland. Yet, due to various reasons, such allocated forest and forestland area has yet merely been done on paper, while even the allocation record is yet completed.
In fact, in most locations in the province have been temporarily allocated up to about 45 thousand hectares for local communities, accounted for 28% of the total projected area of allocation). During this provisional allocation, forest protection is not effective as expected, forests remain unprotected and abused. This situation is causing many challenges for livelihood and spiritual lives of ethnic groups in the province.
‘Propaganda’ forest and forestland allocation
Dong Giang is a mountainous district in Quang Nam province. Its total natural area is about 81,263 hectares of which about 65,650 ha is forestland, accounting for 13% of the forested area. With specific conditions in the mountainous area, livelihoods of most ethnic minorities are closely attached with forest and forestland. However, forest and forestland allocation to households and communities in Dong Giang remain relatively modest.
During the 2006 - 2008, Dong Giang held temporarily allocated forest and forestland to 35 communities with about 16,307 hectares and 1,727 households with about 2,880 hectares. So far, most of the forest area, about 46,463 hectares, accounted for 71% are managed by the A Vuong Management Board of Protection Forest, Song Kon Management Board of Protection Forest, Sao La Natural Conservation and Dong Giang Rubber Company which has 3 unit members. Currently, local people and communities are contracted by above organizations to protect forest. Only a few households participating in the CARBI project are certified over bare land areas for reforesting 'Sao Den' (
Hopea Odorata).
Forest and forestland after allocation
Although local communities have been temporarily allocated forest and forestland, but forest protection and management has not been effective. Main causes are due to (i) forest and forestland allocation have largely been undertaken in more-or-less ‘propaganda type’ and without consistent methods; (ii) the allocated forest and forestland areas are not suitable to customary livelihood and spiritual cultural practices of the communities e.g. too distant from residential areas and not associated with cultural forests; (iii) local communities are unable to cover costs for forest protection, (iv) benefit from forest policies are hardly implementing.
Mr. To Tai - Chairman of Dong Giang District Peoples' Committee, said: "The failure of the forest and forestland allocation shows that, the most importance is the allocation method. What should be protected if local people are not participated in forest and forestland allocation? Regarding forest benefit sharing which has been so far implemented; it must require consultations in which measurement of forest biomass is a must. With this requirement, how our local people are able to deal with? The cost will be higher than the money villagers obtained from timber sold from their forest if they hired consultants".
Livelihood space of the Co Tu ethnic in Ta Lu commune decreased
The course of socio-economic development, especially after transforming towards a market economy has had adverse impacts to resource management rights of the Co Tu ethnic communities in Ta Lu commune, Dong Giang district. Policy reforms in forest and forestland re-arrangement for different entities to manage and use have caused the decline in spaces for community resilience. In difficult economic conditions whilst higher demand for land uses to address pressures from population growth and also impacts of the market economy, natural forest areas near residential communities have almost been cleared or exploited to for production. These areas have been rapidly converted to dry fields or commercial plantations i.e acacia, cinnamon, etc.
Total natural area of Ta Lu is approximately 7,925 hectares, which includes mainly 6,645 hectares of forestland (accounted for 83.8%). According to land statistics of Ta Lu, by 1/1/2014 the area which has been used for agricultural production is only about 236 ha (average 0.88 ha / household), accounted for 2.97% of the natural area. Within this area, the land for paddy fields has only about 40 hectares (0.15 ha / household).
These fields are small-scale, scattered and produced one season per year in rainy season. Though, most of the natural forested area in the commune is managed by A Vuong Management Board of Protection Forest, Sao La Management Board of Natural Conservation and Song Kon Management Board of Protection Forest. Commune Peoples' Committees manage bare and shrub land and a small scattered area of natural production. Meanwhile, households manage and use shrub areas mixed upland fields, planted forest surrounding residential location. The competent authorities are now preparing procedures to grant use rights for families on this land. Families are also contracted with Management Boards of Protection Forest to protect forest.
Given the livelihood space narrowed while population in the area increased, households increasingly fall into the further lack of productive land to ensure livelihoods. The restriction on rights to access natural resources, especially forests and forestland, which are mainly managed by Management Boards of Protection Forest and Natural Conservation, is the key cause leading to the difficulties in lives of local inhabitants. In the villages of Ta Lu, usage of forest products is restricted as natural forests are far from where they live and is under the management of state organizations. Lack of productive land and lifestyle is largely based on shifting cultivation have led about 173/266 households in the commune (65%) in poverty.
Cultural space of the Co Tu ethnic in DhoRoong village shrunk
Currently, the area nearest the residential location of Co Tu community in DhoRoong village virtually has no natural forest. The sacred forests to practice the traditional culture and belief of the community are also shrunk dramatically.
The sacred forest of Co Tu ethnic in DhoRoong village, according to the traditional conception, is the divine abode of spirits. This forest is usually located in upstream and preserved through rituals. Yet, this forest is almost gone. This area is currently managed by Management Boards of Protection Forest and Natural Conservation. Some are already converted to swidden and commercial plantations even amongst families in the village. There is only a regenerated natural forest about 50 ha under community management and regularly patrolled by forest protection group of the village. So, instead of organizing in the sacred forests as the past, the rituals of Co Tu in worshiping forest and water spirits are now held in the 'Guol' - the community house. Values of the traditional community institutions of the Co Tu via the Council of Elders in DhoRoong village are at risk of being eroded.
"Numerous cultural practices of Co Tu ethnic communities have been broken. The Co Tu group can hardly resist to the impacts of socio-economic development programs and market mechanism or outer cultural infiltration. In fact, the traditional culture of the Co Tu has faced many challenges as it is influenced by outside cultures and market economy", shared by Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Quang, Vice Chairman of Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee.
The long traditional practice of every ethnic minority group has close relationships with forest and land based livelihood and cultural spaces. Therefore, the promotion of these values in management, protection and sustainable use of forest and land resources in ethnic minority areas is crucial. Experience in implementing a number of LISO projects on forest and forestland allocation shows that areas allocated to local communities which are associated with traditional management (i.e. sacred forest, community use forest and forest for water preservation) are often managed and use more effectively. When land and forest rights of local communities are confirmed, people would organize themselves voluntarily and responsibly manage the forests by customary laws and local knowledge for benefits of the entire community.
Cao Quang Agro-Forestry and Ecological Service Cooperative 
Worship Nature
