MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
VIETNAM FORESTRY UNIVERSITY

STUDENT THESIS
SOCIAL – ECONOMIC ASPECTS IN NATURAL RESOURCES
MANAGEMENT IN NGOC SON - NGO LUONG NATURE RESERVE

Major: Advanced Curriculum in Natural Resources Management
Code: D850101
Faculty: Forest Resources & Environmental Management
Student: Nguyen Xuan Tung

Student ID: 145 309 2337

Class: K59B- Natural Resources Management

Course: 2014 - 2018

Advanced Education Program
Developed in Collaboration with Colorado State University, USA

Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr Tran Thi Thu Ha

Hanoi, September 23rd, 2018


Contents

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................................................................iii
LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................... iv
LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................... iv

1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1
2. Goals and objectives. .............................................................................................................. 3
2.1. Goal ..................................................................................................................................... 3
2.2. Objectives ............................................................................................................................ 3
3. Site description. ...................................................................................................................... 3
4. Methodology........................................................................................................................... 4
4.1. Collect existing data ............................................................................................................ 4
4.2. Collect primary data ............................................................................................................ 5
4.2.1. Structured interview ......................................................................................................... 5
4.2.2. Semi-structured interview................................................................................................. 5
4.2.3 Observation ........................................................................................................................ 6
4.2.4. Building a PR campaign. (July, 2017- July, 2018) ........................................................... 6
5. Data analysis process .............................................................................................................. 7
5.1. Accessing the awareness of local people ............................................................................. 7
5.1.2. SWOT analysis. ................................................................................................................ 7
6. Results and discussion ............................................................................................................ 7
6.1. General situation of social-economic aspects in Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve. 7
6.2. The Local’s livelihood ....................................................................................................... 11
6.3. The local’s participant, awareness, attitude and behaviors in management and using
natural resources. ...................................................................................................................... 13
6.4. Causes that effect to ineffective natural resources management ....................................... 18
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6.4.1. Causes from lead agency ................................................................................................ 18
6.4.2. Causes of people directly involved in natural resources management. ......................... 19
6.4.3. Causes by people not involved in natural resources management ................................. 20
6.4.4. Other causes ................................................................................................................... 21
6.5. Assessing the status of local’s natural resources management projects by SWOT analysis.
.................................................................................................................................................. 22

6.6. Solutions to improve natural resources management ........................................................ 24
6.6.1. Raising awareness on natural resources management .................................................. 24
6.6.2. The solution belongs to the natural resources management board ............................... 24
6.6.3. The solution belongs to the local people ........................................................................ 25
6.6.4. Natural resources management solutions ...................................................................... 25
6.7. PR program ........................................................................................................................ 26
6.7.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 26
6.7.2. Situation analysis............................................................................................................ 27
6.7.3. Goals and objectives ....................................................................................................... 28
6.7.4. SWOT analysis................................................................................................................ 28
6.7.6. Target publics ................................................................................................................. 29
6.7.7. Tactics............................................................................................................................. 29
7. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 34
8. Reference

ii


LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
NRsM: Natural Resources Management.
NTFPs: Non-timber Forest Products
SUFs: Special-Use Forests.
LURC: Land Use Rights Certificate
ODA: Official Development Assistance
PR: Public Relations

iii


LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Staffs’ information.
Table 2: Patrol routes.
Table 3: Explaining the terms regarding the dependence of local people on forest.
Table 4: Incomes of local people depend on natural resources, agriculture.
Table 5: Respondent’s description.
Table 6: The role of community in management and using natural resources.
Table 7: Local’s awareness about protection natural resources situation.
Table 8: Reasons for people not involved in natural resources management.
Table 9: SWOT analysis of natural resources management.
Table 10: SWOT analysis for PR program.
Table 11: WWWWWH analysis.
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: The geographic map of Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve.
Figure 2: Percentage about people awareness of the importance of natural resources.
Figure 3: Reasons leading to people not involved in natural resources management.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
To accomplish the final thesis in my university, in the first place, I would like to
express my sincere gratitude to my advisor Assoc. Prof. Dr Tran Thi Thu Ha for the
continuous support of my thesis, for her patience, motivation, inspiration and immense
knowledge. Her guidance helped me in all the time of research and writing of this thesis. I
could not have imagined that I have a better advisor and mentor for my final thesis. Thanks to
cooperating between Vietnam Forestry University and Colorado State University, I have an
opportunity to approach a reservoir of international knowledge and novel experience.
I would like to thank the Forest Protection Department, Department of Agriculture and
Rural Development, Management Board of Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Natural Reserve and
People's Committee of Hoa Binh province for creating all favorable conditions and supplying

all information and data in the process of studying this dissertation. Last but not least, this
thesis could have never been completed without the support of my close relatives, including
my folks and parents because of their encouragement and giving me the favorable conditions
during the entire process of doing research and going field works for having my work done.
Hopefully, in the future, you will achieve many vivid milestones in your career path.
Because my insight is restricted, this thesis may have several mistakes; I would like to
receive the comments from the teachers to help my thesis becoming more complete.

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ABSTRACT
Natural resources contain all natural components, namely land, air, water, energies and
minerals in Earth’s womb. Human could utilize the benefits of natural resources to meet the
demand for variety of human life. In positive side, social – economic development would
improve environment and costs for rehabilitation. However, if social-economic aspects
develop quickly, it has detrimental influences on the environment, such as environmental
degradation, climate change…When the environment is degraded, it will threaten to a range
of social-economic activities and quality of people life. Natural resources are special products
because people can not yield and most natural resources are created for long time in the past.
In general, natural resources are valuable, time-honored. Hence, it requires people have to
save and use effectively. Natural resources management is an interdisciplinary field of study
that considers the physical, biological, economic, and social aspects of handling natural
resources. It involves putting resources to their best use for human purposes in addition to
preserving natural systems. Natural resource managers’ duty include overseeing workers,
analyzing data, developing environmental plans and policies in accordance with state and
federal law and negotiating land and resources use contracts with landowners and
governments.
This study undertakes to assess social-economic aspects impact on natural resources
management and awareness, attitude, behaviour of local people in Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong

Nature Reserve. Determining factors that affect to awareness of local people on natural
resources management and proposing radical solutions to raise awareness of local people in
Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong region. The method I used to research, including collecting existing
data, collecting primary data, survey questionnaires. It has often been said that the study
announces many differences in knowledge, awareness, attitude and behaviour about natural
resources management depending on gender, age, occupation, monthly income, and education
level. Almost, people realize the importance of natural resources as well as natural resources
vi


management; however, they feel more incline to time-consuming to natural resources
protection and lead agencies which should shoulder the responsibility natural resources
management and protection. The thesis proposed some radical strategies to resolve these
issues as establishing environmental propaganda and education about natural resources
protection by social media, developing training courses about using sustainable exploitation
of NTFPs for local people, adding as criteria to assess the cultural family, guiding people join
in reforestation by the guidance from project staffs, local authorities staffs, and volunteers.

vii


1. Introduction
Society has always been developing increasingly and the most key ones is developing
economy. Hence, natural resources play a significant role in manufacture and economic
development in some fields, such as absorbing foreign investment, occupation, income for
government, currency values, encouraging to other majors. However, overexploitation makes
the natural resources have been becoming exhausted increasingly, not only in Viet Nam, but
also in many areas on the whole world. To prevent, using reasonably and effectively, people
need to know the importance of natural resources management and impacts of socialeconomic aspects to NRsM.
Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve was established on decision 2714 / QĐ UB

dated 28/12/2004 of People’s Committee of Hoa binh province, the total area is 16.800 ha,
including strict protection area is 12.717 ha, the ecological rehabilitation area is 4.073 ha, the
administrative service is 10 ha. Ngoc Son – Ngo Luong Nature Reserve is put near the Bu
Luong Nature Reserve of Thanh Hoa province to the west and Cuc Phuong National Park of
Ninh Binh province to the south. In 26/9/2005, the People’s Committee of Hoa Binh province
signed the decision no 40/2005/QĐ-UBND to establish Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Natural
Reserve’s Management Board under Forest Protection Management Board of Hoa Binh
province. Management Board went to operation officially in 1/2006 after for a long time to
preparation.
In 25/12/2005, the People’s Committee of Hoa Binh province signed decision no
2790/QĐ-UBND related to approve and sustainable development the Natural Reserves as
Hang Kia Pa Co, Phu Canh, Thuong Tien, Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong of Hoa Binh province from
2016 - 2020. According this decision, Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve has total area
approximately 19.254 ha in Tan Lac, Lac Son district of Hoa Binh province. There are 11.892
people living in 2.424 households in 7 communes. Muong ethnic group accounts for 90%, the

1


remaining is Thai and Kinh ethnic group. Of which, agricultural land occupies 16.800 ha,
divided into a strict protection zone of 7.223 ha and 7.623 ha for ecological rehabilitation
zone, 70.62 hectares for administrative services and the remainder for agricultural land and
different land stretches across 7 communes. Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve
establishment aims to protect the forest ecosystem and limestone landscape, to protect plants,
animals, genetic resources, to serve scientific research and ecotourism to contributing to
social-economic development in the region.
Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve is the largest nature reserve in Hoa Binh
province where remains primary forest on rocky mountain hugely and less impacted by
human. The place has been presenting for tropical rainforest closed evergreen forest type in
southwest of Hoa Binh province. It is widely accepted that some international and national

scientists assess Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve is one of the highest biodiversity
values of the Northwest as well as Vietnam, is an important link to Cuc Phuong National Park
to the Vietnam-Laos frontier. About animals, there are a total of 93 mammal species, 253 bird
species, 48 reptile species, 34 amphibian species and 27 fish species have been recorded in the
protection. Of these, nearly 60 animal species are listed in the Vietnam Red Book (2007), 7 in
Decree 32/2006/ND-CP and 9 in IUCN Red List (2012) in different levels of danger. About,
plants have 667 species of vascular plants belonging to 372 branch, 140 families, and 5 plant
species. It is noteworthy that the plants in the area, up to 50 species of native origins from
other places have been stable, that is fruit trees, ornamental trees and other type of trees.
For aforementioned reasons, Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve is always assessed
that it plays a significant role in preserving biodiversity of nation and international areas.
Thereby, in my thesis, I have been conducting the topic, named “Social-economic
aspects in natural resources management in Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve” to
evaluate life aspects impact on natural resources management, awareness, responsibility, in

2


participating natural resources protection of the locals who living around the natural reserve
area, managed strategies, livelihood policies. Subsequently, giving radical solutions is to
resolve circumstances as well as building the permanent cure to the locals around the nature
reserve could derive many maximum benefits from natural resources.
2. Goals and objectives.
2.1. Goal
The common goal in my thesis is to investigate and assess to social-economic aspects in
natural resources management in Ngoc Son – Ngo Luong Nature Reserve.
2.2. Objectives
The objectives of this thesis are as follows:
- To assess the locals’ livelihood depend on natural resources.
- To assess the participation of local people and local management board in management,

protection and using natural resources.
- To assess social – economic aspects impact on awareness, attitude, behaviours of the locals
in natural resources management.
- To building a PR program for indigenous people to improve protected activities, decrease
pressure on natural resources, and managing natural resources.
3. Site description.
The thesis was conducted in Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve which is located
on the southwest of Vu Ban town, Lac Son district to 12km and 70km to Hoa Binh city.
Geographical location of Ngoc Son, Ngo Luong: From 20 * 21 'to 22 * 36' North latitude;
From 105 * 00 'to 106 * 00 East Longitude.
Located in Ngoc Son, Ngoc Lau, Tu Do, one part of Tan My commune includes Bu,
Lat hamlet (Lac Son district) and Ngo Luong, Nam Son, Bac Son communes (Tan Dung
district). External buffer boundaries: In the Northeast, it borders on Pu Pin, Noong Luong

3


belong to Mai Chau district, Lung Van, Quyet Chien, Do Nhan, Lo Son, Gia Mo belong to
Tan Lac district, Phu Luong, Chi Dao, Dinh Cu, Huong Nhuong belong to Lac Son district
and Cuc Phuong National Park, Ninh Binh province.
In southwest, it borders on Lung Cao, Co Lung, Ha Trung, Luong Noi, and Ba Thuoc,
Thach Tuong, Thach Lam belong to Thach Thanh district, Thanh Hoa province.

Figure 1: The geographic map of Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve
Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve is located on the limestone mountain in the
southwest of Hoa Binh Province, which is the middle part of the Northwest, extending from
Cuc Phuong - Ninh Binh to Moc Chau - Son La, forming a boundary between the
mountainous northwest and the northern delta. Complicated-separation-terrain and the
limestone mountain are running to Northwest- Southeast.
4. Methodology

4.1. Collect existing data
Using this method is to gather available data in Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature
Reserve, including geographical location, forest area, social-economic aspects, awareness,

4


behaviors and attitude of the local people in NRsM. The data all will be collected by
“THÔNG TIN RỪNG ĐẶC DỤNG KHU BẢO TỒN THIÊN NGỌC SƠN -NGỔ LUÔNG
HUYỆN LẠC SƠN TỈNH HỊA BÌNH” by Management Board of Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong
Nature Reserve, “Khu Bảo tồn thiên nhiên Ngọc Sơn - Ngổ Lng tỉnh Hịa Bình: Để bảo vệ
được rừng cần cải thiện cuộc sống cho người dân” and Forest Protection Department,
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Hoa Binh province. Furthermore, I also
collected the data from newspapers, books, reference materials from university’s library.
4.2. Collect primary data
4.2.1. Structured interview
Using face to face interview method is to evaluate and find fundamental information
around Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve, such as age, sex, religion, education level,
main income, traditional family… as well as locals’ awareness about social-economic aspects
in NRsM, local’s authority support in management and protection in the natural reserve, role
of natural resources in locals’ life. I already selected 93 households randomly for interview
(about 100 respondents) in Bai Nha, Lang Chieng, Lang Khop, gatherd handful of specific
data. The gathered results from structured interview are to research on natural resources
situation of the local and assess the awereness, paticipation of local people in natural
resources management. Subsequently, giving radical solutions fits to natural reosurces
management of local situation.
4.2.2. Semi-structured interview
I conducted this method to interview 24 office workers in management board,
including managed staffs, managed board who have huge knowledgeable and experienced
working in Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve to ensure the precise data. Moreover, I

listed some categories which need to be checked as population density, quality of life and
livelihood, responsibility, locals’ participation in natural resources management as well as

5


assessing the negative influences on natural resources management. This method is to gather
prestigious data from managers who have experienced are suffered under real situations.
Moreover, I studied the policies which are applied in the past to limit negative circumstances
and benefits and drawbacks of theses policies.
4.2.3 Observation
Direct observational methods - without intervention: visiting living at local household
(take a note, photo or video), focusing on the attitude of local people and their awareness in
Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve.
4.2.4. Building a PR campaign. (July, 2017- July, 2018)
PR strategies were applied in two periods.
The first period is altering awareness, attitude and behaviour by the environment
education - 03 lectures regarding the importance of natural resources and natural resources
management for 40 students at Bac Son primary and secondary school. This mean enables
pupils raise understanding of natural resource management, the role of natural resources for
human life. I make some videos to help them understand fundamental information about
natural resources. It is easy way to teach children.
Subsequently, I intend to set up an exhibition, named "Natural resources are the source
of human life" with the natural resources-related topics such as, current exploitation of natural
resources in Ngoc Son – Ngo Luong Nature Reserve and specific social – economic aspects
impact on, awareness and attitude of local people in NRsM, the role of natural resources for
human life and the future. Taking the photo and drawing will be performed by student
themselves participated into our training course. All adults in the local area will be invited.
This display is also the way to donate money directly for establishing a budget to enhance the
quality of office workers and education, transportation, livelihood in Ngoc Son – Ngo Luong

Nature Reserve.

6


The next period, so as to mobilization of fiscal resources to support for Ngoc Son –
Ngo Luong community, it is necessary to create an “Environmental Protection Funding”
period. This funding is implemented via Monetary Donations, including leading agencies,
organizations, the charity, local people or group.
5. Data analysis process
5.1. Accessing the awareness of local people
There are many factors that affect to the awareness of local people such as living area,
gender, age, income, education level, and occupation.
Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the collected quantitative data, then, draw
charts, graphs, frequencies, and percentage
It content analysis steps: Transcribe data (if audiotaped); Read transcripts; Highlight
quotes and note why important; Code quotes according to margin notes; Sort quotes into
coded groups (themes); Interpret patterns in quotes; Describe these patterns.
5.1.2. SWOT analysis.
Using SWOT tool to access the status of the project by strengths, weakness, opportunities,
and threats, then propose the methods to reduce the weaknesses and threats.
Strengths
Opportunity Use

Threat

strengths

Weakness
to


take Overcome weakness that stopping us

opportunity

to opportunity

Use strengths to reduce threat

Overcome weakness that can be threat

6. Results and discussion
6.1. General situation in Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve
Buffer zone in Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Natural Reserve has 94 hamlets, which belong
to 18 communes, including Ngoc Son, Ngoc Lau, Tu Do, Tan My, Chi Dao, Dinh Cu, Huong
Nhuong, Phu Luong, An Nghia of Lac Son district, Bac Son, Nam Son, Quyet Chien, Lung

7


Van, Gia Mo, Lo Son, Do Nhan of Tan Lac district, Noong Luong, Pu Bin of Mai Chau
distict.
To complete the mission, there are 4 foresters with responsible for natural resources
protection at first. With few managers, to protect a magnificent area in complicated terrain is
challenging to accomplish. As a result, many valuable and time-honored trees are sneaked in
exploitation. For aforementioned reasons, in 2007, Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve
had recruited newly 24 foresters and the Mr. Bui Van Hung is the dicrector of Ngoc Son –
Ngo Luong Nature Reserve. Currently, Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve has
established by 3 organizations, including 1 management board, 2 forest stations.
Table 1. Staffs’ information

Field

Category

Quantity

Sex

Female

0

Male

24

Postgraduate

12

College

1

Intermediate level

10

Others


1

Under 30

2

From 30 to 40

17

From 40 to 50

4

Above 50

1

Education

Age

Ethnic minority

13

(Source: Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve Management Board)
Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve has been in limestone mountain terrain linked
to Son La, Hoa Binh, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa province… it has magnificent landscapes,
8



waterfalls (Thac Mu), beautiful caves, attractive forest and tourism destination, especially
international travellers desire discover the nature.
There are many ethnic minorities living here, such as Muong, Thai, with theirs variety
of customs. Unlike other ethnic minorities in Viet Nam, it is suggested that Muong’s
traditional custom and Thai’s identity in this area express the distinction to attract the
travellers’ curiosity to exploring and study, such as Thac Mu, Dong Nam Son, Thac Cao,
Hang Doi. In Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve has many historical milestones in the
past associated with battles against enemies, national culture, presenting distinctions of local
region. Although Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve has been potential ecotourism area;
however, its mountainous area, complicated terrain and degrading transport system, ergo
attracted travelers are infinitely difficult. Hence, in the period, it has not developed tourism
facilities, but mainly implemented programs: environmental education and communication,
landscape protection, historical relics and national identity; Study tourism potential of the
local and develop tourism products, professional training tour guide. Developing forms of
tourism such as: experience in forestry, mountain climbing; animal and plant research; homestay travel....
Simultaneously, protection activities have always concerned and played a crucial role.
The Ngoc Son – Ngo Luong Nature Reserve’s Management Board plans assignment of
inspections, patrolling later in the forest to protect the forest at the base on the monthly basis.

9


Table 2: Patrol routes
Number

Patrol routes

1


Khu hamlet (Ngoc Son commune) – Mon hamlet (Tu do commune)

2

Khu hamlet (Ngoc Son commune) – Tram hamlet (Ngo Luong commune)

3

Khu hamlet (Ngoc Son commune) – Thung Ban (Tu Do commune)

4

Roc hamlet (Ngoc Son) - Mon hamlet (Tu Do commune)

5

Nam Son commune – My hamlet (Bac Son commune)

6

Dien hamlet (Ngoc Son) – Thung Bay (Bac Son commune)

7

Ri hamlet (Tu Do commune) – Den hamlet (Ngoc Lau commune)

8

Khu hamlet (Ngoc Son commune) – Luong Tren hamlet (Tu Do commune)


9

Bo hamlet – Tram 1 (Ngo Luong commune)

10

Luong Tren hamlet (Tu Do commune) – Ca hamlet (Quyet Chien commune)

11

Den hamlet (Ngoc Lau commune) – Khu hamlet (Thanh Hoa commune)

12

Xe hamlet (Ngoc Lau commune) – Ry hamlet (Tu Do commune)

13

Lot hamlet (Tan My commune) – Boundary of Cuc Phuong National Park

14

Xom hamlet (Nam Son commune) – Ho Duoi hamlet (Bac Son)

15

Trong hamlet (Nam Son commune) – boundary of Pu Luong Nature Reserve.

16


Hay Tren hamlet (Bac Son commune) – Noong Luong commune, Mai Chau

17

Hay Duoi hamlet (Bac Son commune) – Pu Bin commune, Mai Chau district.
(Source: Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve Management Board)
Currently, the natural reserve’s objective focuses mainly on natural resources

management. The service activities are unspecific. The co-operation developed socialeconomic programs for the local people are restricted. Potentials and strengths of the natural
resource for development of forest environmental services and social services have not been
exploited while the demand for activities is increasing.
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In addition, nowadays, in Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve, over the past time,
the illegal exploitation, sale and transportation of forest products and forest. Animal has been
occurring to scarcity at the nature reserve due to the pressure of the population increase and
the people's life is still challenging. They acknowledge forests as a source of life and resource
use through a series of activities.
6.2. The Local’s livelihood
Natural resources play a very important role in local’s livelihood of Ngoc Son – Ngo
Luong Nature Reserve. The importance of natural resources is also reflected in social economic aspects. Natural resources provide environmental products and services for
production and livelihood development, providing shelter, employment and sustainable
livelihoods.
Table 3: Explaining the terms regarding the dependence of local people on forest.
Types

Dependence


Definition
The proportion of income from forest to total

LS1

Low
household income is less than or equal to 20%.
The proportion of income from forest to total income

LS2

Medium
of households is from 20% to 40%
The proportion of income from the forest compared

LS2

High
to total household income is more than 40%
(Source: Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve Management Board)
The research results show that the status of local people's livelihood system, as well

as other living areas, consists of four major livelihood groups: agricultural livelihoods,
forestry livestock and non-farm livelihoods. Each livelihood group is made up of four
components (natural, social, physical and financial) assets or a combination of them. Almost
all local people living around the Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve depend on the

11



forest, mainly for NTFPs for daily consumption. They include fruits and nuts, vegetables, fish
and game, medicinal plants, resins, essences and a range of barks and fibres such as bamboo,
rattans, and a host of other palms and grasses.
Table 4: Incomes of local people depend on natural resources, agriculture.
Exploited
Types

rate from

Level

HHs

forest
LS1

Low

LS2

Mediu

50

25

Income

Income (million


(%)

VND)

Forest

Agr.

Others

Total

Forest

10.2

56.8

33.0

51.691

4.117

(5.8)

(27.6)

(29.6)


(49.887)

(3.376)

28.3

59.7

12

26.989

7.612

(5.4)

(21.2)

(20.4)

(16.732)

(4.883)

55.7

40.2

4.1


19.204

10.773

(13.2)

(15.0)

(8.7)

(13.099)

(8.296)

27.2

53.4

19.4

36.026

6.859

(20.1)

(24.3)

(26.2)


(37.921)

(6.076)

(20-40%)
m
LS3

High

18

40%

93
Total

Note: The numbers in the brackets is remainders
(Source: Results calculated by author based on data surveyed, 2018)
In table 4, in general, data were collected from agriculture such as rice, maize and
other agricultural products, which account for 53.4% of total income of local interviewees in
Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong area. In 93 interviewee households, more than one fifth of households
have highly depended on the forest approximately 55.7% of income. Meanwhile, the number
of households with low dependency on forests accounts for 53.76% of local people who are
interviewed and the income from forest is 10.2%. This indicates that respondents living
around the Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve have a high degree of dependence on
forest resources. However, dependence is different among household groups.

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The income from forest of LS3 group is 55.7%. This group usually goes to the forest
to collect forest products such as bamboo shoots, vegetables... and use fuel as firewood from
the forest. It is likely that the number of local households that depend on forests is high and
this causes obstacles to policies that restrict access to and maintenance of natural resources.
In general, the quality of life around people around the Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong
Nature Reserve is relatively challenging, so many people have broken the law, into the forest
hunting and illegal logging. So as to avoid detection of management board, infringers often
illegally exploit wood in the forest at night, use motorcycles for transport. Some individuals
were arrested who were local people or living in the vicinity, not aware of the importance of
cutting down trees. Most of local people lives depending on hunting fish and wildlife during
the flood season. Local’s livelihood depends mainly on 3 resources: land (agricultural
cultivation), natural resources (fishing, wildlife hunting, timber extraction and processing
wood), to simple labor (employed, small businesses, services).
Hence, people living around Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve is difficult to
restrict the exploitation of natural resources in the Natural Reserve. This has a magnificent
impact on local’s livelihood. To maintaining and ensure quality of local people, who are
forced to exploit and make the natural resources density which continue to decline. Therefore,
to ensure the livelihoods and needs of local communities living in nature reserve, appropriate
livelihood strategies are needed.
6.3. The local’s participant, awareness, attitude and behaviors in management and using
natural resources.
The local’s participation along with awareness, attitude and behavior in managing
biodiversity is crucial. The protection cannot be achieved optimum results without the support
of management board and local people’s participation. Hence, awareness raising as well as
facilitating and enhancing the quality of life of the buffer zone communities may be a key role

13



to ensuring successful conservation of SUFs. Besides, it is necessary for two compelling
reasons. The first is that without local people’s participation, the long-term sustainability of
many ecosystems will be threatened. Second, local people have the right to benefit from the
sustainable use of biodiversity for their livelihoods, recreation, cultural and social needs and
their spiritual reasons. Hence, both mentioned reasons, it has interacted with each other and it
is necessary demand in daily life and NRsM.

Table 5: Respondent’s description
Respondents (N = 93)
Demographic

Gender

Educational level

Age group

Occupation

Number

%

Male

56

60.21

Female


37

39.7

Be able to read, write

9

9.67

Primary school

30

32.25

Secondary school

24

25.8

High school

13

13.98

College/ University


17

18.3

Under 26

3

3.22

26 - 40

58

62.36

40 – 60

26

27.95

> 60

6

6.45

Government


24

25.8

Private

25

26.88

Own business

12

12.9

14


Monthly

Housewife

10

9.3

Student


3

3.22

Retirement, unemployment

19

20.43

Under 2 million VND

35

38.63

2 - 4 million VND

25

39.68

average 4 - 6 million VND

17

18.27

6 - 8 million VND


10

9.3

8 - 10 million VND

4

4.3

Over 10 million VND

2

2.15

income

Source: Results calculated by the author based on data surveyed, 2018)
There were 60.21% of men and 39.7% of women in the total of 93 households
interviewed. However, the above percentage does not imply that there are more men than
women in the study area. The number of respondents aged 26-40 accounted for the largest
number of interviewees. Most of the respondents are graduates primary school and secondary
school, and a few are attending college and university. The monthly income of local people
poses mainly under 2 million VND and about 2 - 4 million VND. Therefore, local people’s
life is still difficult and depending on natural resources life is an inevitable consequence.
Table 6: The role of community in management and using natural resources
Role

Number


%

Exploiter, the user.

46

49.46

Manager and guard.

24

25.8

No role to play in protecting and managing forest resources.

3

3.22

Unknown

20

21.5

Total

93

(Source: Results calculated by author based on data surveyed, 2018)
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Although NRsM issue is not a new concept and people are also getting familiar
with it, yet this awareness has not led residents to practical actions in an endeavor to improve
the situation of Ngoc Son – Ngo Luong Nature Reserve.
Most of the interviewees are exploiters, users, made up 49.46%. Besides,
interviewees in the management board, it accounts for 25.8% of the people interviewed for
protecting and using natural resources. However, only 3.22%, people not directly responsible
for natural resources protection and management, the remaining 21.5% of people do not know
and have no responsibility to protect NRsM. This is a high figure in the management and use
of natural resources.
According to the article “Khu bảo tồn thiên nhiên Ngọc Sơn - Ngổ Luông: Hướng
mới cho phát triển rừng bền vững - Bài 1: “Nóng” tình trạng khai thác gỗ trái phép” by Đại
đoàn kết. 21.5% of people do not know management and using natural resources which play a
significant role in biodiversity protection. In Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve where
there are many ethnic minorities living, such as Muong, Thai who understand the forest, the
terrain, the special paths lead to forest. Poachers often take the disadvantage of unknown
knowledge of ethnic minorities to exploited illegal timber. This leads overexploitation of
SUFs and watershed which have detrimental influence on natural resources.
Table 7: Local’s awareness about natural resources situation
Awareness about natural resources situation

Number

%

(N=93)
Not Aware/ not exposed


10

10.7

Aware/exposed and subscribed

83

89.2

20

21.5

Think about direct personal responsibilities for
protecting natural resources
Yes

16


No

73

78.49

Personal opinions about protection forest
Are natural resources surrounding local area devastated?

Strongly Agree

58

62.36

Agree

32

34.4

Moderate

3

3.22

Disagree

0

0

Strongly Disagree

0

0


Yes

77

82.79

No

16

17.2

Do you exploit and use natural resources?

(Source: Results calculated by author based on data surveyed, 2018)
According to the results of Table 5, we can see the participation, awareness and
attitudes of local people on the management, utilization and protection of natural resources in
Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve. The majority of local people (62.36%) are aware of
the degradation of natural resources and most of them also think that management and
protection of natural resources is the responsibility of the management board and government
agencies. Furthermore, 82.79% of the interviewees have exploited and used natural resources,
such as forest, animals, minerals, fresh water… , suggesting that local people in the Ngoc
Son, Ngo Luong Nature Reserve heavily depend on the natural resources.

17