ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I am pleased to have an opportunity to write my acknowledgements to many people
involved in the research, without whom this study would have never happened
First and foremost, I would like to express my deep sense of gratitude to respected
supervisor Assoc.Prof.Dr. Phung Van Khoa from Faculty of Forest Resources and
Environmental Management, Viet nam National University of Forestry for his continuous
support, patient guidance and enthusiastic encouragement throughout my research project. His
guidance help me in all time of research and writing this thesis.
My sincere thanks also goes to various people for their contribution to this project; Mr.
To Manh Tien- Deputy manager of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Lao
Cai province; Mr. Pham Hong Giang UN-REDD Programme Coordinator in Lao Cai
province; Mr. Tran Quang Dai- staff of Forest Protection Department in Lao Cai province
who devote their time to help me during the field survey. Special thanks to local people in
Ban Cam commune for providing me helpful information in this study
Finally, I own my gratefully thank to family and friends for their endless love,
supports, and encouragements during the process of doing research and going field works.

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ........................................................................................................... i
TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................... ii
LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................... iv
LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................... iv
CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 1
CHAPTER II. GOAL AND OBJECTIVES ............................................................................... 3
2.1. Goal and objectives ............................................................................................................. 3
2.1.1. Goal .................................................................................................................................. 3
2.1.2. Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 3
CHAPTER III. METHOD .......................................................................................................... 4

3.1. Data collection method ........................................................................................................ 4
3.1.1. Secondary data collection ................................................................................................ 4
3.1.2. Structured interview and Semi-structured interview ........................................................ 4
3.1.3. Indirect interview .............................................................................................................. 5
3.2.

Data analysis .................................................................................................................... 5

3.2.1. Descriptive statistics ......................................................................................................... 5
3.2.2. SWOT analysis model ....................................................................................................... 6
CHAPTER IV. NATURAL - SOCIAL CONDITION AND INFORMATION ABOUT BAN
CAM COMMUNE ..................................................................................................................... 8
4.1. Natural condition ................................................................................................................. 8
4.1.1. Geographic location ......................................................................................................... 8
4.1.2. Topographic ..................................................................................................................... 9
4.1.3. Temperature regime ......................................................................................................... 9
4.1.4. Rain regime, humidity ...................................................................................................... 9
4.1.5. Soil condition .................................................................................................................... 9

ii


4.1.6. Wind ................................................................................................................................ 10
4.1.7.

Fog ............................................................................................................................. 10

4.2. Social conditions ............................................................................................................... 10
4.2.1. Human population .......................................................................................................... 10
4.2.2. Cultural level .................................................................................................................. 10

4.2.3. Education ........................................................................................................................ 11
4.2.4. Infrastructure ................................................................................................................. 11
4.2.5. Agriculture production ................................................................................................... 11
CHAPTER V. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ...................................................................... 12
5.1. Forest status ....................................................................................................................... 12
5.1.1. Forest status in 2015 ...................................................................................................... 12
5.1.2. Forest status in 2018 ...................................................................................................... 14
5.1.3. Forest management status .............................................................................................. 15
5.2. Impacts of the natural and socio-economic factors on the pilot forest in the project areas ........ 18
5.2.1. Impacts of natural factor on the pilot forest in the project areas................................... 18
5.2.2. Impacts of socio-economic factor on the pilot forest in the project areas ..................... 19
CHAPTER VI. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................... 27
REFERENCE ............................................................................................................................. 1
APPENDIX ................................................................................................................................ 3

iii


LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. SWOT analysis .......................................................................................................................7
Table 2. Summary of socio-economic characteristics of Ban Cam commune ........................... 10
Table 3. Area of forest types and forest land in Ban Cam commune on February 20th, 2015 . 12
Table 4. Area of forest types and forest land in Ban Cam commune on September 25th, 2018
............................................................................................................................................................... 14

Table 5. The benefits that the program gives people ..................................................................... 23

LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1. Geographic location in Ban Cam commune, Bao Thang district, Lao Cai province .. 8
Figure 2. Organize structure of Forest Protection Department in Lao Cai............................... 16

Figure 3. Map of forest inventory in 2015................................................................................ 18
Figure 4. Educational level of household heads in Ban Cam commune .................................. 19
Figure 5. Area of forest land in 2015 and 2018 (hectares) ....................................................... 20
Figure 6. Area of land without forests planned for forestry and production forest in 2015 and
2018 (hectares) ......................................................................................................................... 21

iv


CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION
Climate change is one of the most serious issue that the world is facing today. Climate
change has impacted directly to human and the forest protection. The fourth Assessment
report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicated that the forestry sector,
mainly through deforestation, accounted for about 17% of global greenhouse emissions. In
many developing countries, carbon dioxide gases mostly come from deforestation, forest
degradation, forest fire and slash and burn practices. Obviously, moving people out of the
forest is not always the viable solution to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. Hence, the
goal of scientists is finding out the way to guarantee the life of people who living near the
forest. Many countries are launched the program: “Reducing emission from deforestation and
degradation” (REDD). That is a mechanism designed to provide financial rewards for
ensuring the forest land is going to provide continuing benefits. REDD+ strategies go beyond
deforestation and forest degradation, it include the role of conservation, sustainable
management of forest degradation of forest carbon stocks in reducing emission.
Viet Nam has made clear its position on climate change mitigation and indicated its
interest in REDD to the UNFCCC Secretariat in February 2008. Viet Nam is one of nine
countries initially identified for country programming under UN-REDD Programme. The
Government of Viet Nam, the UN-REDD National Programme and the World Bank will
coordinate their support in getting ready for REDD+. Since 2009, many activities have been
implemented in Viet Nam to get the country ready for the future REDD+ mechanism. In
2010, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development established the National REDD+

Network and REDD+ Working Group to create awareness of the REDD+ mechanism and
built capacity at national and provincial levels to coordinate activities by ministries, other
international agencies and organizations. The National REDD+ office was established in 2011
to coordinate and manage the process of developing tools to implement Viet Nam’s National
REDD+ Program. The various partners are rapidly moving the country forward to make

1


REDD+ a reality in the country. The UN-REDD Vietnam Phase II program, processes by
Vietnam Administration of Forestry from 2013 to 2015, was applied to six pilot provinces of
Lao Cai, Bac Kan, Ha Tinh, Binh Thuan, Lam Dong and Ca Mau.
Ban Cam is the commune of the region where people mostly live the poverty line. It is
about 37 km far from toward Bao Thang district, about 15 km far from Lao Cai city following
the South West direction. It is one of area has natural condition, geographical location, and
other social conditions convenient for the implementation of REDD+ activities.
Once REDD program are fully functioning, forest land will be allocated to local
people, especially ethnic minorities by government. In order to provide forest managers with
useful data and information to improve the forest management activities based on the results
of the REDD+ project, I conduct this study: “ASSESSING THE RESULT OF THE PILOT
REDD+ PROJECT IN BAN CAM COMMUNE, BAO THANG DISTRICT, LAO CAI
PROVINCE”.

2


CHAPTER II. GOAL AND OBJECTIVES
2.1. Goal and objectives
2.1.1. Goal
To improve the results and impacts of the pilot REDD+ project in Vietnam and to

provide a scientific basic for proposing solutions for sustainable forest management in Lao cai
province.
2.1.2. Objectives
• To characterize the pilot forest in the project areas.
• To analyse the impacts of the natural and socio-economic factors on the pilot forest
in the project areas.
• To analyse the results of the pilot REDD+ project.
• To propose solutions for improving the pilot REDD+ project in the project areas.

3


CHAPTER III. METHOD
3.1. Data collection method
3.1.1. Secondary data collection
The research collected documents which related to policies in study site, published
documents, papers of previous researches were reviewed form the publications and files of
different agencies such as Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Lao Cai,
People's Committee of Ban Cam Commune, and UN-REDD Vietnam Webpage. This method
helps study has an overview of the research topic. The information collected from this method
including but not limited to:
 Natural and socio-economic conditions in study areas;
 Relevant documents, policies, management and protection of forest resources in the
study area, the projects on forest planning such as UN-REDD Programme, Poverty and
Sustainable Development Impacts of REDD+ Architecture (Vietnam), provincial REDD+
Action plan of Lao Cai.
3.1.2. Structured interview and Semi-structured interview
With a view to accessing the awareness and behavior of local community of the
REDD+ program and the result of the pilot REDD+ project through benefits (economy,
society, environment) of the REDD+ program that brings to local people in Ban Cam

commune, Bao Thang district, Lao Cai province. The research conducted survey
questionnaire with a designed questionnaire from (Appendix 1) which was used to interview
hamlets and randomly selected them of 30 households in total of 6 hamlets.
 Closed question: question with answers available (Yes or No) or some options. These
questions are used to assess awareness and participation of community in REDD+ project.
 Open questions: questions that request respondent to give the answer by themselves
without available answers to take more information.

4


 Designing questionnaire: to assess objectively and accurately and accurately, part of
group questionnaire was designed to answer for each separate content , including:
 Part I. Respondent information
 Part II:

Information on participation in the management, protection and

development
 Part III: Effectiveness of a REDD+ Project
Identify beneficiaries are individuals or households have taken part in forest protection.
After the come to families to get information by indirect interview the local people.
3.1.3. Indirect interview
The interviews are focus on local people that concern about REDD+ project as the
following steps:
- Step 1: Respondents: They are people in Ban Cam commune
- Step 2: Content: respondent information, closed question and open question in
questionnaire (Appendix 1).
- Step 3: Location: Ban Cam commune
- Step 4: Feasibility:

o Choose respondents randomly and ask them to interview
o Give them questionnaire and guide them to answer question in there
o Take back the questionnaire and check it out.
3.2. Data analysis
3.2.1. Descriptive statistics
Descriptive statistic are used to describe the basic features of the data in a study. They
provide simple summaries about the sample and the measures. Moreover, from the data,
simple graphics would be analyzed, provide the basis of virtually every quantitative analysis
of data.

5


3.2.2. SWOT analysis model
SWOT analysis is a strategic planning technique used to help a person or organization
identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to business competition or
project planning. It is intended to specify the objectives of the business venture or project and
identify the internal and external factors that are favorable and unfavorable to achieving those
objectives.
This method analyzes sustainable development purpose. Combining the result from
interviewing key managers/ official of local government and local people give out the
opportunity (O), Threat (T), Strength (S) and the Weakness (W) of the pilot REDD+ project
and then give out the solutions for better management.
Steps in SWOT Analysis
- Step 1: Finding information
SWOT analysis involves the collection and evaluation of key data. Depending on the
organization, these data might include population demographics, community health status,
sources of healthcare funding, and/or the current status of medical technology. Once the data
have been collected and analyzed, the organization’s capabilities in these areas are assessed.
- Sept 2: Classification

Data on the organization are collected and sorted into four categories: strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Strengths and weaknesses generally stem from factors
within the organization, whereas opportunities and threats usually arise from external factors.
Organizational surveys are an effective means of gathering some of this information, such as
data on an organization’s finances, operations, and processes.
Strengths: Information about strengths of the organization and trengths are significant
forest-related mitigation potential and local people.

6


Weaknesses stop the organization from performing at its optimum level such as
limited knowledge of the people that is cause of not effective of the propaganda and economic
restrictions lead to reduced conservation efficiency.
Opportunities refer to favorable external factors that an organization can use to give
it a competitive advantage. For example, focusing to raising awareness of each hamlet leader
and local people action.
Threats refer to factors that have the potential to harm an organization. For instance,
limited access to science and technology applied to produce low productivity
Table 1. SWOT analysis

7


CHAPTER IV. NATURAL - SOCIAL CONDITION AND INFORMATION ABOUT
BAN CAM COMMUNE
4.1. Natural condition
4.1.1. Geographic location
Ban Cam is a poor commune located in the North of Bao Thang district, Lao Cai
province with total area of 42.14 km2. It is far from Lao Cai city following the South West

direction about 15 km.
- The East and South East borders with Phong Hai town of Bao Thang district
- The West and South West borders with Ban Phiet commune
- The North borders with Muong Khuong district

Figure 1. Geographic location in Ban Cam commune, Bao Thang district, Lao Cai
province
8


4.1.2. Topographic
There are high rocky mountains on the North and North East of Ban Cam commune.
The average elevation is about 600 meters above sea level with slope ranges from 20o to 25o.
Therefore, this commune contains various kind of forest such as natural forest, protection
forest, and upstream forest. Ban Cam commune has stream which start from the high
mountain in North and North East, provides portable water for local people.
4.1.3. Temperature regime
The cold and dry in the winter, hot and rainy in the summer in Ban Cam is due to the
tropical monsoon climate type. The annual average temperature of region is from 24oC to
25oC, the highest temperature is 36oC (June – July), the lowest temperature is 10oC -15oC
(December – January). Especially, Ban Cam experienced many days with the temperature
suddenly dropped into below 10oC, hindering the agriculture activities of local people.
4.1.4. Rain regime, humidity
The average precipitation is from 1,400 mm to 1,600 mm and mostly in summer. The
rainfall accounts for 80% of annual rainfall. In summer, the highest rainfall can reach from
200 to 350 mm per day, which result in the fact that it mostly has soil erosion in the summer.
The dry season lasts from October to March with a total rainfall about 20% of the annual
rainfall, leading to the lack of water in Nam Tang hamlet and Ban Lot hamlet.
4.1.5. Soil condition
Soil in Ban Cam commune is mainly generally reddish brown soil, below altitude of

900 meters (3,000 ft), is a fertile land suitable for the annual and commercial crops, covered
with organic humus as a result of decomposing the leaves of vegetation on a daily basis. Ban
Cam also has mika, white clay mines, etc. for forestry products, there are valuable and rare
wood types such as iron wood, special of iron wood, etc. Besides that, there is big deposit of
neohouzeaua, strong reed and mixed wood types.

9


4.1.6. Wind
The wind direction is mainly North West. The average wind velocity in a year is
2.7m/s, the highest wind velocity is 11m/s. Annually, Western winds appear in March and
April, which carries heat and dry so it affects the growth of the species.
4.1.7. Fog
Fog is commonly found throughout the province, it may be very thick in some places.
In cold weather, in high mountains and valleys without windy, there is frost frog lasting 2 to 3
days.
4.2. Social conditions
4.2.1. Human population
The population in Ban Cam commune to March 2018 is:
Table 2. Summary of socio-economic characteristics of Ban Cam commune
Total areas

4,200 ha

Population (2018)

4,479

Population growth rate


1.21%/year

Ethnic minorities

Dao, Giay, H’Mong, Nung
(Data from Ban Cam commune People’s Committee)

Ban Cam commune include 13 different ethnic groups and this is a commune of several
ethnic minorities groups such as Dao, Giay, H’Mong and Nung. The households in Ban Cam
commune are 1,027 households, the total labours are 2,296 labours. There is 87% of the total
894 households depend on agriculture (data collected 2018), 642 households are allocated
forest lands for agricultural and silvicultural activities. The natural population growth ratio is
1.21%/year.
4.2.2. Cultural level
Generally, the local people still have low cultural level so it hard to find out labor
source for industrial, medicals, education.
10


4.2.3. Education
Education network is being improving, the local government invested to increase
education quality, increase awareness of local people about important of education, education
activities are maintain and improve, all communes have school and nursery school, many
commune also build school in small village, the ratio of student come to school from age 6 to
14 is 88%. However, still about 10 to 13% primary school student are above age of student
4.2.4. Infrastructure
In recent years, Ban Cam witnesses the development of some construction such as
electricity, school, clinic, market.
4.2.5. Agriculture production

The particular production is rice and maize of which cultivated area is just over 350
ha, with the total production of about 1,500 tonnes (data collected). Besides that, there is 35
ha of planting Camellia sinensis, 166 ha of fruit trees in this 30,611 chickens: 1,444 ducks and
2773 gooses.

11


CHAPTER V. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
5.1. Forest status
5.1.1. Forest status in 2015
According to forest and forestry land survey data dated February 20, 2015, Ban Cam
commune People's Committee when the pilot REDD+ project has not been implemented.
Total area of forest and forestry land is 2,475.0 hectares including forest land area of 1,979.6
hectares, accounting for 79.9% and land without forests planned for forestry is 495.4 hectares,
accounting for 20.1%. The area of forest land categories in the region is shown in Table 3
Table 3. Area of forest types and forest land in Ban Cam commune on February 20th,
2015
The planned area for forestry

Total
Forest types

1

area

Total

(ha)


(ha)

Land outside

Watershed

Production

the forests

protection forest

forest

planned area

(ha)

(ha)

(ha)

2

3

4

4


6

Total area

2,475.0

2,445.6

1,512.0

933.6

29.4

I. Forest land

1,979.6

1,979.6

1,333

646.6

-

1. Natural forest

1,741.2


1,.741.2

1,316

425.2

-

1.1. Timber forest

1,523.7

1,523.7

1,188.7

335

-

1.1.1. Rich forest

-

-

-

-


-

1.1.2. Average forest

616.35

616.35

484.35

132

-

1.1.3. Poor forest

712.35

712.35

584.35

128

-

1.1.4. Forest restoration

195


195

120

75

-

1.2. Bamboo forest

85

85

-

85

-

5.2

5.2

-

5.2

-


238.4

238.4

17

221.4

-

495.4

466

179

287

29.4

1.3. Mixed forests of
bamboos and timber
trees
2. Forest plantation
II. Land without
forests planned for

12



The planned area for forestry

Total
Forest types

area

Total

(ha)

(ha)

Land outside

Watershed

Production

the forests

protection forest

forest

planned area

(ha)


(ha)

(ha)

forestry
1. Land with forest
plantations not yet

9

-

-

-

9

109

109

109

-

20.4

70


70

70

-

-

305.6

285.2

285.2

-

1.8

1.8

1.8

-

constituting forest
2. Bare land without
regenerated timber trees
3. Bare land with
regenerated timber trees
4. Agricultural land

5. Other land in forestry

-

(Source: Ban Cam commune People’s Committee)
In 2015, the planned area for forestry has 2,445.6 hectares which account for 89.25%
of the total area of agricultural land (2,740.07 hectares) in the commune.
- The total area of forest land is 1,979.6 hectares in which:
 1,333 ha of protection forest including 1,316 hectares of natural forest; 17 hectares
of forest plantation.
 646.6 hectares of production forest including 425.5 hectares of natural forest and
221.4 hectares of forest plantation.
- Land without forests planned for forestry is 466 hectares in which:
 179 hectares of bare land is in the planning of protection forest;
 287 hectares of bare land is in the planning of production forest.
- Land area outside the forest planned area is 29.4 hectares, accounting for 9.8% of
the total forest land area.

13


5.1.2. Forest status in 2018
Under the guidance of the local REDD + program management, situation deforestation
is not more frequent, so the area of forest has increased significantly. Data of the status of
forest types and forest land are showed in the below table:
Table 4. Area of forest types and forest land in Ban Cam commune on September 25th,
2018
The planned area for forestry
Forest types


Total area
(ha)

Total
(ha)

1

Land outside

Watershed

Production

the forests

protection forest

forest

planned area

(ha)

(ha)

(ha)

2


3

4

4

6

Total area

2,340.48

2,340.48

1559.99

780.49

-

I. Forest land

2,268.54

2,268.54

1554.67

713.87


-

1. Natural forest

1,923.15

1,923.15

1,519.17

403.98

-

1.1. Timber forest

1,785.16

1,785.16

1,433.2

351.96

-

1.1.1. Rich forest

-


-

-

-

-

1.1.2. Average forest

-

-

-

-

-

468.45

468.45

420.97

47.48

-


1,316.71

1,316.71

1,012.23

304.48

-

36.3

36.3

25.15

11.15

-

101.69

101.69

60.82

40.87

-


345.39

345.39

35.5

309.89

-

71.94

71.94

5.32

66.62

-

68.35

68.35

1.95

66.4

-


1.1.3. Poor forest
1.1.4. Forest
restoration
1.2. Bamboo forest
1.3. Mixed forests of
bamboos and timber
trees
2. Forest plantation
II. Land without
forests planned for
forestry
1. Land with forest
plantations not yet
constituting forest

14


The planned area for forestry
Forest types

Total area
(ha)

Total
(ha)

Land outside

Watershed


Production

the forests

protection forest

forest

planned area

(ha)

(ha)

(ha)

2. Bare land without
regenerated timber

-

-

-

-

-


3.58

3.58

3.36

0.22

-

0.01

0.01

0.01

-

-

-

-

-

-

-


trees
3. Bare land with
regeneration timber
trees
4. Agricultural land
5. Other land in
forestry

Source: Ban Cam commune People’s Committee)
The status of forest types and forest land to 2108 show that:
The total forest land is 2,268.54 ha, comprising 1,923.15 ha of natural forests (84.77%)
and 345.39 ha of plantations (15.23%). Protection forests are maintained to protect water
streams and soils, prevent soil erosion and mitigate natural disasters. Production forests have
the main purpose of supplying timber and non-timber forest products (NTFPs), but in addition
provide environmental protection. There are 71.94 hectares of land without forests planned
for forestry area including 5.32 hectares of protection forest, 66.62 hectares of production
forest. In 2018, Ban Cam commune has 1,559.99 ha of protection forests (66.65%) and
780.49 ha of production forest (33.35%).
5.1.3. Forest management status
a. Organize structure of Forest Protection Department
At the provincial level, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development advises
provincial People's Committees on forest management and protection. In the Department of
Agriculture and Rural Development has Forest Protection Branch and Forest Protection
Branch which is responsible for the state management of forest protection and management.

15


At the district level, the Economic Division advises the District People's Committee on state
management of forest management and protection.

At the commune level, established forest protection team or board include representatives of
government, police, military, veterans, and villages that have responsibility for allocating,
contracting, management and protection of forests for communities / households to participate
in planting, tending, management and protection. The status of the forest management
organization is shown in the figure below:

Provincial People's
Committee
Department of Agriculture and
Rural Development
District People’s
Committee

Forest Protection Branch,
Forest Division

National park, Forest
Management Board,
District Forest Protection
Unit

Economic
Commune People’s
Committee
Forest Protection
Team

Allocated
Households


Contracted
households

Community

Figure 2. Organize structure of Forest Protection Department in Lao Cai
The figure 4 shows the lack of synchronized management system and organizational
system in organizing the implementation of activities of protecting and developing forest. The
investment for afforestation is incommensurate with the actual demand. Forest management
units lack the conditions to perform the task such as lack of patrol equipment, lack of budget,
lack of professionally knowledge of personnel and have not been satisfactory in terms of
remuneration so forest protection and development activities have not been effective.

16


b. Forest management status
Prior to the handover of the community forests, the forest condition was too poor with
presence of dead trees, soft woods and bushes. People participation to address these problems
hardly took place back then. Ignorance of the people deteriorated the forest conditions and
forest products and services were on decline. Uncontrolled grazing was the primary cause of
forest degradation that resulted in poor regenerations and soil erosion. Illegal hunting was
rampant in the forests and control of poaching was not an easy task back then. Likewise,
forest fire used to be a common phenomenon mainly during the summer. Lack of monitoring
and law enforcement allowed smugglers to freely enter the forest where the consideration of
environmental sensitivity of the forest was totally absent. Due to the poor quality of the forest,
water sources were drying in a fast pace leaving the people with lesser access to drinking
water. Similarly, incidents of erosion within the forest and nearby the settlements were on rise
creating chaos among locals. Consequently, the preservation and management program have
been inefficient.

In January 2015, the negative impacts of human to forest were happening gradually, but
better than previous time. Abundant labor put 1,979.6 hectares of forest land into the REDD +
program for piloting. With the objective of contributing to the successful implementation of
the Sustainable Forest Protection and Development Plan through activities to reduce
deforestation and forest degradation in the commune. Hence, it is more stringent in forest
protection and the area of artificial regeneration after shifting cultivation is significantly
rising. Every year, people are planting trees and supplemented the forest in some areas such
as plots 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 in sub-area 35; plots 8, 9, 10, 14 in sub-area 33.

17


Figure 3. Map of forest inventory in 2015
5.2. Impacts of the natural and socio-economic factors on the pilot forest in the project areas
5.2.1. Impacts of natural factor on the pilot forest in the project areas
Ban Cam is commune with more than 65.24% of the hill land area. Commune has high
rocky mountains on the North and North East of Ban Cam commune. The average elevation is
about 600 meters above sea level with slope ranges from 20o to 25o. Therefore, this commune
contains various kind of forest such as natural forest, protection forest, and upstream forest.
Ban Cam commune has stream which start from the high mountain in North and North East,
provides portable water for local people. Ban Cam Commune is in the tropical monsoon
climate, the characteristic climate type of such as: hot and humid tropical monsoon and heavy
rainfall, the annual average temperature about 24oC to 25oC, average annual rainfall about
1,400 mm to 1,600 mm. Thus, we can see that Ban Cam commune has very good natural
conditions to implement of REDD+ activities.
18


However, this area has some disadvantages about climate. In winter, Bạn Cam
experienced many days with the temperature suddenly dropped into below 10oC and the dry

season with total rainfall about 20% of the annual rainfall, leading to the lack of water. In
summer, the rainfall accounts for 80% of annual rainfall, which result in the fact that it mostly
has soil erosion. This hindered the produce results of agriculture and forestry.
5.2.2. Impacts of socio-economic factor on the pilot forest in the project areas
The interview result about the educational level of local people is recorded in the
figure below:

Educational level of household heads in Ban Cam
commune

0

10

Primary school

20

30

Secondary school

40

High school or above

50

60


Illiterate

Figure 4. Educational level of household heads in Ban Cam commune
The figure 4 shows the chart of the education levels of 30 surveyed respondents in Ban
Cam commune. It was clear that most people in this commune stopped their study in primary
or secondary school level. These figures accounted for more than two-thirds of all household
heads that were interviewed in field trip. The illiterate people still appeased 6% in those who
had the age of higher than 65 years old. In fact, several in this survey had graduated college
schools but some of them did not participate to REDD+ programs. This leads to a low level of
awareness about the protection and development of forests by a large number of local people
and they are not aware of the real value of the forestry economy.
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According to survey data, the income level of people is very low, which average
income is 27,000,000 VND/ person / year. Besides, the commune has abundant labor
resources and the number of people in the working age is high, and people depend on
agroforestry. Therefore, local people are actively participating in REDD+, 85% of people
participate in forest management in the pilot area. When local people participate in the REDD
+ program, they have been more stable in terms of livelihoods and economics, so the
deforestation is no longer occurring. These bring the advantages of forest management and
protection.
5.3. The results of the pilot REDD+ project.
5.3.1. Forest changes from 2015 to 2018
According to collection results show that current forest land area is 2,268.54 hectares,
increase 288.94 hectares compared to 2015, equivalent to 14.60%. The different of forest land
between two years are shown in the below figure:

1.785,16
1.523,70


238,4
85
Timber forest

36,3

Bamboo forest
2015

5,2

345,39

101,69

Mixed wood and
bamboo

Plantation forest

2018

Figure 5. Area of forest land in 2015 and 2018 (hectares)
- The total area of natural forest increased 181.95 hectares compared to 2015,
equivalent to 10.45%. Timber forest is the main forest type of natural forest area which has
highest increasing 261.46 hectares, equivalent to 17.16%. And mixed wood and bamboo got a
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raise 96.49 hectares that it increased 19 times more than in 2015. This shows that the REDD+
program has great impacts on conservation and sustainable development of forest. The
program has continuously actively propagated to improve awareness and responsibility for
forest protection through monitoring everyone out into forest areas need protection.
- However, the area of bamboo forest decreased 57.29% compare with 2105.
Transformation of cultivation is the main reason for this such as households cut down bamboo
species to get access of NTFPs or pineapple but this way also brings more income for local people.
- 345.39 hectares is current plantation forest, rise 107 hectares compare to 2015,
equivalent to 45%. To have a good result like this, hamlet leaders was important in
propaganda. They were the person who effect strongly to the participation of local people. In
the survey, just over a quarter of total surveyed respondents were approved to REDD+ by the
propagation of their hamlet leader. In fact, hamlet leader is the person who was considered a
role model of local in a place, so people had a tendency to follow what their leader said. On
the other hand, the own decision were important.
Compare land without forests planned for forestry and production forest between two
years are shown in the figure 3:
933,6
780,49

495,4

71,94
Land without forests planned for forestry
2015

Production forest
2018

Figure 6. Area of land without forests planned for forestry and production forest in 2015
and 2018 (hectares)

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