MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF FORESTRY

STUDENT THESIS
STUDY ON THE IMPACTS OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES ON NONTIMBER FOREST PRODUCT RESOURCES IN XUAN SON
COMMUNE, TAN SON DISTRICT, PHU THO PROVINCE
Major: Advanced Curriculum in Natural Resources Management
Code: D850101
Faculty: Forest Resources & Environmental Management
Student: Trinh Thi Ngoc Mai

Student ID: 1453091533

Class: K59A - Natural Resources Management

Course: 2014 - 2018

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

Dr. Tran Viet Ha

Hanoi, September, 2018


ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
It is my proud privilege to release the feeling of my gratitude to several persons who
helped me directly or indirectly to conduct this final thesis. I express my heart full
indebtedness and owe a deep sense of gratitude to my supervisor Dr. Tran Viet Ha for his
helpful guidance, support and contribution. Thanks to cooperating between Vietnam National

University of Forestry and Colorado State University, I have a chance to approach a reservoir
of international knowledge and experience.
I would like to send my deepest and most sincere thanks to the leaders, the forest
protection team and all staff of Xuan Son National Park. Thanks to the herb doctors of Muong
and Dao ethnic groups for providing information on the medicinal uses of medicinal plants.
And finally, I would like to thank all my friend and my family. You have all
encouraged and believed in me. You have all helped me to focus on what has been a hugely
rewarding and enriching process.
Because my knowledge is limited, this thesis may have some mistakes; I would like to
receive the comments from the teachers to help my thesis becoming more complete.
Hanoi, 30 September, 2018
Student

Trinh Thi Ngoc Mai

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ........................................................................................................... i
TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................... ii
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................... iii
LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................... iv
LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................................... v
ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................... 1
1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 2
2. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES................................................................................................. 3
3. METHODS ............................................................................................................................. 3
4. NATURAL, ECONOMIC - SOCIAL CONDITIONS OF RESEARCH AREA ................... 6
4.1. Geographic location and natural conditions ................................................................... 6

4.2. Socio-economic characteristics ..................................................................................... 9
4.3. General assessment of natural features in Xuan Son commune ..................................... 10
5. RESULTS.................................................................................................................... 11
5.1. Situation of exploitation and use of NTFP resources in Xuan Son commune ................. 11
5.2. Negative impacts of local communities on NTFP resources in Xuan Son commune ...... 16
5.2.1. The causes of negative impacts of local communities on NTFP resources in Xuan Son
commune ......................................................................................................................... 17
5.3. Positive impacts of local communities on NTFP resource in Xuan Son commune ......... 22
5.3.1. Conservation and cultivation activities of local community in Xuan Son commune .... 23
5.3.2. Experience in using NTFPs ..................................................................................... 24
5. CONCLUSION .................................................................................................................... 25
6. REFERENCES
7. APPENDIX
7.1 QUESTIONNAIRE
7.2. FIELD TRIP PHOTOS
ii


LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
NTFPs

Non-timber forest products

IUCN

International Union for Conservation of Nature

iii



LIST OF TABLES

Table 5.1: NTFP species are being exploited and used by local people in the study area ....... 11
Table 5.2: List of threatened medicinal plants used by ethnic minorities in Xuan Son
commune .................................................................................................................................. 13
Table 5.3: NTFPs collected by local people from natural forest .............................................. 15
Table 5.4: Status of land type in Xuan Son Commune (2013) ................................................. 17
Table 5.5: Market price statistics and status of some medicinal plants available in Xuan Son
National Park (January 2016 survey) ....................................................................................... 20
Table 5.6: Priority medicinal plant needs for the conservation in Xuan Son national park ..... 23
Table 5.7: Some medicinal plants that local people want to cultivate ..................................... 24
Table 5.8: Some useful remedies of local community in Xuan Son ........................................ 25

iv


LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Xuan Son commune geographic map ......................................................................... 3
Figure 2: Percentage of the income of the surveyed households ............................................. 18
Figure 3: Income structure of 30 households interviewed ....................................................... 19

v


ABSTRACT
Scientific surveys have demonstrated the richness in non-timber forest product of
Xuan Son national park with a variety of species. Non-timber forest product resource plays an
important role and generates services to the socio-economy and the environment of the core
zone of Xuan Son national park. Located at the end of the Hoang Lien Mountains, Xuan Son
commune is the core zone of Xuan Son National park, is one of the highest biodiversity areas

in Vietnam. Currently, most of the people living in the core zone of Xuan Son National Park
are ethnic minorities (98.6%), mainly of the Muong and Dao ethnic groups [1]. For many
years, through the activities of forest resources exploitation of ethnic minorities, forests have
become their only important source of life, especially is the NTFP resources. Therefore, the
issue is how to deal with harmony between different interest groups, one is the livelihood of
the community and the other is the urgency of conservation in Xuan Son National Park. This
research will show the critical issues on impacts of communities on NTFP resources and find
out the cause of the negative impacts.

1


1. INTRODUCTION
NTFPs are an important resource in socio-economic life, especially for forestdependent communities. In addition to wood, firewood, people can exploit a variety of NTFPs
to serve their lives and access to NTFPs helps rural households diversify their livelihoods and
reduce their vulnerability. Income from NTFPs is very important as it complements other
income. Many households earn extra income from the sale of NTFPs, often when agricultural
production is not sufficient for their livelihood. Income from non-timber forest products is
often used to buy seeds, or to generate capital for other trading activities. For poor
households, NTFP can play a very important role both as a source of food and as a source of
income.
Xuan Son commune covers an area of 6.560 ha in Tan Son district, Phu Tho province.
Located at the end of the Hoang Lien Mountains, Xuan Son commune is the core zone of
Xuan Son National park, is one of the highest biodiversity areas in Vietnam [12]. In Vietnam,
the status of people living in the core zone of the natural reserves and national park is quite
popular. Currently, there are 299 houssehold with about 1,219 people living in the core zone
of Xuan Son National Park. Most of the people here are ethnic minorities (98.6%), with the
poverty rate of 45.8%, mainly of the Muong and Dao ethnic groups [11]. For ethnic
minorities, forests have become their only important source of life, especially is the NTFP
resources.

Most of local people in Xuan Son commune find it difficult to abandon the available
resources from the forest, this means that the pressure on the forest does not decrease, but it
tends to increase. Therefore, the issue is how to deal with harmony between different interest
groups, one is the livelihood of the community and the other is the urgency of conservation in
Xuan Son National Park. Basing on the practical significant above, I proceed to carry out the
research: “Study on the impacts of local communities on non-timber forest product
resources in Xuan Son commune, Tan Son district, Phu Tho province”. This research will
show the critical issues on impacts of communities on NTFP resources and find out the cause
of the negative impacts.

2


2. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
2.1. Goals
Assessing the impacts of local communities on non-timber forest product resources
(NTFPs), especially plants in Xuan Son commune, Tan Son district, Phu Tho province.
2.2. Objectives
The objectives of this thesis are as follows:


Assessing the current status of NTFPs and their roles in local communities.



Study on the positive and negative impacts of local communities on NTFP resources.

3. METHODS
3.1. Site selection
The research was conducted on Xuan Son commune has the total area of natural

land is 6.560 ha in Tan Son district, Phu Tho province, which is located at the end of the
Hoang Lien mountains, Xuan Son commune is the core zone of Xuan Son National park.[13].
The study site is in the core zone of Xuan Son National park, they are Du, Coi and Lap
hamlets, and there have a lot of NTFPs. Most of the local people are ethnic minorities, mainly
of the Muong and Dao ethnic groups and they are exploiting and using NTFPs for living.

Figure 1: Xuan Son commune geographic map

3


3.2. Collect existing data
This method use to assess the the livelihood of local communities and their impacts on
NTFP resoure in Xuan Son commune. Data collection conducted at the district functional
departments, the People's Committees of the communes, information from books, reports, and
published materials.
Data collected include:


Documents on the status of forest products, especially the use of NTFPs by local
communities.



Legal documents, policies and regulations related to the involvement of local
communities in the conservation of NTFP resource in the buffer zone.

3.3 Collect primary data
3.3.1. Using the PRA (Participatory Rural Appraisal) method
The following PRA tools have been implemented to collect information and data:

3.3.1.1. Semi- structured interview
At the Commune People's Committee, I will interview the commune officials
(chairman, personnel of agroforestry, forest managers) on the following issues:


The general situation of agricultural and forestry development in the commune.



The role of NTFPs and the potential of forests.



The situation of forest land use, status of management and use of NTFP resources.



Interviewing and collecting general information such as area, population, number of
households, living standards of local people, some characteristics of commune forest
management, use of NTFP resources in communes.

3.3.1.2. Structured interviews
This method mainly conducted the survey by using pre-prepared questionnaires.
Interview is the best survey method because it applied to a large number of people in the

4


community in a short period. The questionnaire will be setup in Vietnamese, using multiple
choices and open question.

Objectives that the household interviews is intended to meet:


In order to gather detailed household information on the management and use of forest
resources, to ensure that the information is representative and highly reliable, I will
select 30 households equally distributed in three villages (Du, Lap, Coi) in the
commune.



The basic content of the household interviews is to collect preliminary information on
NTFPs that people have exploited, knowledge of the people in planting, protection,
exploitation and use NTFP resources, determine the proportion of NTFP income in
total income of them.

3.4. Statistics and descriptions of valuable NTFP species
Purpose: To classify NTFPs to identify, distinguish, conserve and develop them
effectively. Results of NTFP classification in the study area are shown in the following table:
Table: Statistics table on NTFPs used in the commune
Number

Name of species
Vietnamese name

Scientific name

Use

Note


value

1
2
…

3.5. Processing, synthesizing and analyzing data


Semi-structured interview results, structured interviews results, and collected
information were analyzed by qualitative method.



Data collected through questionnaires were processed and quantitatively analyzed
using Excel software.
5




Process results are expressed in terms of analysis, descriptive statistics, tables and
graphs.

4. NATURAL, ECONOMIC - SOCIAL CONDITIONS OF RESEARCH AREA
4.1. Geographic location and natural conditions
4.1.1. Geographical location
Xuan Son Commune is located to the west of Tan Son District, on the boundary
between the three provinces of Phu Tho, Hoa Binh and Son La.
* Geographic coordinates:

- From 21003 'to 21012' latitude;
- From 104051 'to 105001' longitude.
* Commune boundary:
- The north borders on Dong Son commune, Tan Son district, Phu Tho province;
- The south borders on Kim Thuong commune; Tan Son district, Phu Tho province;
- The West borders on Phu Yen district (Son La province), Da Bac district (Hoa Binh
province);
- The East borders on Xuan Dai commune, Tan Son district, Phu Tho province. [13]
4.1.2. Topographic
The terrain of Xuan Son National Park has large steep slopes, soil mountains
interspersed limestone mountain gradually raising from east to west and from south to north.
Mountainous and hilly with elevation of <700m, accounting for 65% of the total area of the
commune, the average slope from 25º to 300º, the average height of 400m. Topography of
valleys, basins and steep slopes, occupying about 5% of the total natural area of the
commune, intermingled between low and medium mountain ranges, most of this area is being
used for agricultural cultivation.[2]
4.1.3. Climate and hydrological
4.1.3.1. Climate
6


- According to meteorological data of Minh Dai and Thanh Son meteorological stations, the
climate in Xuan Son commune is in the monsoon tropical zone. There are two distinct
seasons: rainy season and dry season.
- The rainy season starts from April to October, accounting for 90% of total annual rainfall,
August and September have the highest rainfall in the year. The annual rainfall is 1,826mm,
the maximum rainfall can reach 2,453 mm (2017).
- The dry season extends from November to March of the following year; Often affected by
the Northeast monsoon, low temperatures, low rainfall and high fog.
- The annual average temperature is 22.5ºC; the highest air temperature in June and July every

year, sometimes up to 40.70ºC; the lowest air temperature in November to February next year,
sometimes down to 0.5ºC.
Average humidity in the whole year was 86%, July and August had the highest humidity
(over 87%), lowest in December (65%). [7], [2]
4.1.3.2. Hydrology
Xuan Son commune has stream systems such as Coi stream; Chieng stream, these streams
flow into the Bong river system in Xuan Dai commune.
4.1.4. Forest status and land use
- Area of land types, forest types
According to the results of the survey on forest status and land use of Xuan Son
National Park in 2015, Xuan Son commune has a total natural area of 6,560 ha; of which
agricultural land is 170.2 ha; forestry land is 6322 ha; non-agricultural land is 67.8 ha.

7


Table 4.1: Forest status and land types of Xuan Son commune
Area in
Classification of forest

Total area (ha)
planning (ha)

Total

6.560,0

6.560,0

I. FOREST SOURCES BY ORGANIZATION


6.002,1

6.002,1

1. Natural forest

5.825,1

5.825,1

2. Planted forest

177,0

177,0

- Planting on forest land

177,0

177,0

557,9

557,9

become forest

162,2


162,2

2. Vacant lands with regenerated timber

154,3

154,3

3,4

3,4

170,2

170,2

67,8

67,8

II. LAND WITHOUT FOREST PLANNING
FOR FORESTRY
1. Land with forest plantation that has not yet

3. Vacant lands without regenerated timber
4. Agricultural land
5. Other land in forestry

(Source: Xuan Son National Park, 2017)

The survey results show that:
- The forest cover is 94%, in which the natural forest area accounts for 91% of the forest
cover and the remaining 3% of the forest area.
- Land without forests accounts for 6% of the total land area, including agricultural and
forestry land (non-agricultural land) and bare land (3.4 ha).
=> Forest protection work in the commune has been well implemented and at the same time
planting trees on the bare land. [2]

8


4.1.5. Composition and plant taxa
As a result of the survey, 1,259 species of vascular plant species have been
identified, belonging to 699 genera of 185 families in 6 plant species. The results forest plant
list are as follows:
Table 4.2: Distribution of the taxa in the flora of Xuan Son commune
Number of

Number of

Number of

families

genus

species

Phylum


Psilotophyta (Khuyết lá thông)

1

1

1

Lycopodiophyta (Thông đất)

2

3

6

Equisetophyta (Mộc tặc)

1

1

1

22

38

74


3

4

5

156

652

1172

185

699

1259

Polypodiophyta (Dương xỉ)
Pinophyta (Hạt trần)
Magnoliophyta (Hạt kín)
Total

In Angiospermatophyta have two types
Magnoliopsida (Hạt kín hai lá mầm)

133

545


989

Liliopsida (Hạt kín một lá mầm)

22

107

183

(Source: Xuan Son National Park, 2017)
4.2. Socio-economic characteristics
- Population, labor and ethnicity
Xuan Son commune has four hamlets in Tan Son district, Phu Tho province. The
hamlets are distributed mainly at the bottom of the mountain range, at an altitude of 200400m above sea level, concentrated in the east, partly north and south of the commune.
- Population: According to the statistics of communes in 2017, Xuan Son commune has 1,158
people, 288 households, of which 117 poor households (accounting for 40.63%), 141 near
poor households (accounting for 48.96%).
9


- Labor: Total laborers in the commune, accounting for 70.3% of the total population.
- Ethnic group: Xuan Son commune has three ethnic groups living. Among them, Muong
ethnic group accounting for 60%; Dao ethnic group 39%; Kinh ethnic group have two
households, accounting for 1.0%.
+ Muong ethnic group: Muong people live in separate hamlets in Lap, Lang, some live in the
Du hamlet. In production, the Muong people often support each other in jobs such as farming,
swidden cultivation, and gathering. The Muong have a long tradition of farming, so their
income from the fields is often very stable and sustainable.
+ Dao ethnic group: Dao people distributed in Du and Coi hamlet. The Dao here still retain

many traditional customs and traditions, and this is also a precious human resource that is
retained here. [2], [10] [12]
4.3. General assessment of natural features in Xuan Son commune
Through studying, analyzing and evaluating the natural and socio-economic
characteristics of Xuan Son commune, I have evaluated some advantages and disadvantages
of the locality as follows:
- Advantages:
+ Diverse biological resources.
+ The diversification of medicinal plant resources helps ethnic minority people in the
commune have more income from drug processing.
- Disadvantages:
+ Topography is complicated, sloping terrain, rainy season causes soil erosion.
+ The dry season is often lack of water, causing difficulties for cultivation of agricultural
crops.
+ The area of agricultural land is 170.2 ha (accounting for low proportion of total commune
area).

10


+ Sweet potatoes and cassava are grown in the hillsides and depending on the natural
conditions lead to the yield is not high.
+ Small scale farming, mainly serving the needs of the family.
+ Per capita income is low.
+ Low level of labor, not trained. In the majority of villages are poor households.
5. RESULTS
5.1. Situation of exploitation and use of NTFP resources in Xuan Son commune
Due to the difficult agricultural cultivation in the area, the exploitation of NTFPs has
become a necessity for local communities in Xuan Son commune. The exploitation of NTFPs
in addition to serving daily life needs such as food, construction materials, medicine,... local

people are also collected for the purpose of goods to increase income. Besides the most
exploited products are medicinal plants, the food is also harvested by people. Below is a table
showing the species of NTFPs being exploited and used by people in the study area:
Table 5.1: NTFP species are being exploited and used by local people in the study area
No.

Scientific name

Vietnamese name

Use

1

Melientha suavis Pierre

au s ng

Food

2

Calocasia esculenta (L.) Schott

hoai tầng v ng

Food

3


Erythropalum scandens

4

hai

Food

Diplazium esculentum

au d n

Food

5

Marsilea quadrifolia

Rau bợ

Food

6

Alangium barbatum

Cây quang

Food


7

Trema orientalis

Hu đay

Food

8

Indosasa crassiflora

Vầu ngọt

Food

9

Musa acuminata

Chuối rừng

Food

10

Dioscorea persimilis

Củ mài


Food

11


a

ch

11

Morinda officinalis F.C.How

12

Abrus precatorius L.

Cam thảo nam

Traditional medicine

13

Gnetum contractum Markgr.

Dây g m

Traditional medicine

14


Codonopsis sp

Đảng sâm

Traditional medicine

15

Leea sambucina Benth.

Gối hạc

Traditional medicine

16

Fallopia miltiflora

Hà thủ ô

Traditional medicine

17

Fibraurea tinctoria Lour.

Hoằng đằng

Traditional medicine


18

Anoectochilus

Kim tuyến

Traditional medicine

19

Ardisia silvestris Pit.

Khơi tía

Traditional medicine

20

Bauhinia sp

Móng bị

Traditional medicine

21

Curcuma zedoaria

Nghệ đen


Traditional medicine

22

Acanthopanax sp

Ngũ gia bì

Traditional medicine

Knema poilanei De Wilde

Traditional medicine

u h

Traditional medicine

23

Drynaria bonii Christ

T c èđ

Traditional medicine

24

Schizostachyum aciculare


N a

Material

25

Livistona chinensis.

ọ

Material

26

Dendrocalamus sinicus

ương

Material

27

Rhus succedaneum

Sơn ta

Material

28


Michelia mediocris Dandy

i i xanh

Food / Traditional
medicine

29

Orchid

Phong lan

Ornamental plants

People in the study area are exploiting many different NTFP species. On average, in
each trip to the forest they can collect more than 5 species, the frequency of people go to the
forest to exploit is not determined because it depends on the weather and location of the
harvest.

12


Due to the impact of local communities on NTFP resources, there has been a decline
in medicinal plant resources, many of which have been included in the Vietnam’s ed Data
Book for conservation in Xuan Son National Park. The medicinal plant resources at Xuan Son
National Park are of high conservation value, with 32 species of rare and precious plant
species that need to be protected, including 30 species listed in the Vietnam’s ed Data oo
under Decree 32/CP of the Government in 2006. [2]

+ There are 30 species listed in the Vietnam’s ed Data oo in 2007, with 1 species at very
high risk (CR): Bretschneideraasinensis ( huông đ i

3 endangered species Podophyllum

tonkinense (Bất giác liên), Anoectochilus calcareus (Kim tuyến đ

vơi , Gynostemma

pentaphyllum (Dần tng); Eight species of Vulnerable: Rauvolfia verticillata (Ba gạc vũng ,
Asarum glabrum (Hoa tiên), Codonopsis celebica (Ngân đằng), Sedum sarmentosum (Thuỷ
bồn thảo), Ardisia silvestris (Lá khôi), Fallopia multiflora (Hà thủ ô đỏ), Drynaria fortunei
(T c è đỏ), Thalictrum foliosum (Th hoàng liên ) etc. [2]
+ 1 species listed in the IUCN Endangered species category is the Knema poilanei De Wilde
(Máu chó Poilanei) [3]
+ 1 species included in Government Decree No. 32 is Cinnamomum balansae Lecomte (Gù
hương [2]
Table 5.2: List of threatened medicinal plants used by ethnic minorities in Xuan Son
commune

No.

Vietnamese

IUCN

Vietnam’s Red Data

Decree


name

2015

Book

32/CP

Scientific name

Drynaria bonii Chr.; Asarum

T c èđ

caudigerum Hance; Muraya glabra

Th tế tân

(Guill.) Guill.; Tacca integrifolia

Vương t ng

1

Ker.- Gawl.

Ngải rợm

VU A1a,c,d


2

Rauvolfia verticillata (Lour.) Baill.

Ba gạc vòng

VU A1a, c

13


hè đ ng

3

Ilex kaushue S. Y. Hu

4

Acanthopanax trifoliatus (L.) Voss

Ngũ gia bì gai

Asarum petelotii O.C. Schmidt;

Hoa tiên

6

EN A1c,d+2d

EN A1a,c,d+2c,d

ủ gi

Tinospora sagittata (Oliv.) Gagnep.

VU A1c,d

Máu chó
19

Knema poilanei De Wilde

poilane

VU

Canarium tramdenum Dai et
Yakovl ; Aglaia spectabilis

Tr m đen
ội nếp

(Miq.)Jain ; Chukrasia tabularis A.
Juss.

L t hoa

7


Ardisia silvestris Pitard

L

8

Codonopsis javanica (Blume) Hook.

Đẳng sâm

VU A1a,c,d+2c,d

Dần tng

EN A1a,c,d

hơi

VU A1a,c,d+2d

Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.)
10

Makino

11

Cinnamomum balansae Lecomte

hương


VUA1c

Re tr ng quả
12

Phoebe macrocarpa C. Y. Wu

to

VU A1+2c,d, D2

13

Strychnos ignatii Berg

Mã tiền lông

VU A1a,c

16

Fibraurea tinctoria Lour.

Ho ng đằng

VU A1b,c,d

17


Stephania dielsiana Y. C. Wu

Củ dịm

VU B1+2b,c

14. Myristicaceae

Họ Máu chó

21

Melientha suavis Pierre

Rau s ng

VU B1+2e

22

Morinda officinalis How

Ba kích

EN A1c,d, B1+2a,b,c

24

Kadsura heteroclita (Roxb.) Craib


Xưn xe tạp

VU A1c,d

25

Alniphyllum eberhardtii Guillaum.

Dương đỏ

EN A1+2a,c,d

14

IIA


26

Amorphophallus interruptus Engl.

Nưa gi n đoạn

LR/ cd

Song mật

VU A1c,d+2c,d

Calamus platycanthus Warb. ex

27

Becc.

28

Carex bavicola Raym.

i t i a Vì

VU A1c

Kim tuyến đ
29

Anoectochilus calcareus Aver.

vôi

EN A1d

Ngọc
30

32

vạn

Dendrobium chrysanthum Lindl.


vàng

EN B1+2e+3d

Paris polyphylla Sm. subsp.

Trọng

polyphylla

nhiều lá

lâu
EN A1c,d

Source: Tran Dang Hung, 2016 "Research on Conservation and Development of Medicinal
Plant Resources in Xuan Son National Park, Phu Tho Province"[2][5] [6]
Table 5. shows the level of community impact in Xuan Son Commune to NTFP resources:
Table 5.3: NTFPs collected by local people from natural forest
No.

Products

Number of households that exploit NTFPs
Number of

Proportion (%)

households
Total


30

100

Households that do not exploit

3

10

Households that exploit NTFPs

27

90

1

Medicinal plants

24

80

2

Mushroom, cat's ear, bamboo sprout

10


33.3

3

Jungle vegetables

16

53.3

4

Ornamental plants (such as Orchid)

5

16.67

NTFPS

15


Out of the 30 households interviewed, 27 households have NTFPs harvested in the
national park. In particular, species of ornamental plants (such as orchids) are the least
exploited products (16.67%); Medicinal plants are most exploited (80%). The majority of
people in the region use medicinal plants extracted from natural forests.
Through local people interviews and field surveys, the NTFP resources in Xuan Son
commune are diverse. According to the report on conservation planning and sustainable

development of Xuan Son National Park for the period of 2013-2020, 1259 plant species have
been recorded, including 500 medicinal plants. Particularly in the commune there are many
rare medicinal plants, but due to overexploitation before, this resource is increasingly
exhausted and placed on the list of endangered species.
Besides medicinal plants, food collected from the forest also plays an important role in
the lives of people in Xuan Son commune. These foods are mainly mushrooms, bamboo
sprout, jungle vegetables and spices in the dish. But nowadays, these species are becoming
less and because of their small area of garden land, they do not grow plants for food, this is
the reason why they have to go to the forest to exploit NTFPs.
5.2. Negative impacts of local communities on NTFP resources in Xuan Son commune
NTFPs play a very important role in livelihoods of people in Xuan Son National Park.
The economic and ecological value of NTFPs is reflected in various aspects such as food
supply, pharmaceuticals, etc. Below are the negative and positive impacts of local
communities on NTFPs resource:
According to the survey results, people in the study area are still exploiting
mushrooms, jungle vegetables, orchids and mainly medicinal plants. The frequency of
exploitation has decreased compared to the previous years but not completely stopped this
situation. Negative impacts include:
- Exploiting jungle vegetables for daily food
- Exploiting ornamental plants
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- Exploiting medicinal plants (including precious and rare species) for use and consumption.
5.2.1. The causes of negative impacts of local communities on NTFP resources in Xuan
Son commune
5.2.1.1. The structure of land use
Soil is an important factor in the production process in general, especially in
agricultural production. Therefore, for an agricultural area as Xuan Son, the land is the
decisive factor to the income structure of the people in the locality.

As the results of forest status and land use of the North East Forest Inventory and
Planning Institute (FIPI) in January 2013 [3], the status of land types in Xuan Son commune
is shown in the following table:
Table 5.4: Status of land type in Xuan Son Commune (2013)
Land types

Area (ha)

Total area of natural land

6.560,0

A. Agricultural land

6.492,2

I. Land used for agricultural production

170,2

II. Forestry land

6.322,0

1. Forest area

5.519,9

a. Natural forest


5.466,0

b. Planted forest

53,9

2. Land without forest

802,1

- No trees regenerate

283,0

- There are trees regenerated

519,1

B. Non-agricultural land

67,8

C. Unused land

Source: People's Committee of Xuan Son Commune (2018)

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The data show that the area of land used for agriculture in Xuan Son commune is

170.2 ha (accounting for a very low rate of 2.59%), while forest land area is 6322.0 ha (rate of
96.37%). Of this area, 53.9 hectares (0.82%) are forest land, the rest are special-use forest
land for conservation. Non-agricultural land and unused land account for 1.03% of the total
area of the commune. In particular, unused land are mainly in mountainous areas and it is
difficult to cultivate.
In Xuan Son commune, agricultural land is mainly for grow rice. Of this area, about
80% of the area is paddy fields with two crops, the remaining area is cultivated only one crop.
In addition, the annual yield is very low, the fact that the most important source of funds for
farmers to escape poverty is quite low.
For that reason, livelihoods of local communities in Xuan Son commune should be
closely linked to the forest, especially NTFP resources. While income from agricultural
products does not enough to serve life, local people need to find another solution that is to
exploit NTFPs to sell to the market to get money.
5.2.1.2. Income structure
According to my estimation, the income of people in Xuan Son commune is quite low. The
percentage of the income of the surveyed households are as follows:
40,00%

36,67%

36,67%

35,00%
30,00%
25,00%

20%

20,00%
15,00%

10,00%

6,67%

5,00%

0,00%

< 1.5m

1.5 - 2m

2 - 3m

> 3m

Figure 2: Percentage of the income of the surveyed households
+ Households with income below 1.5 million VND/month are 11 households (36.67%)
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+ Households with income from 1.5 million to 2 million VND/month are 11 households
(36.67%)
+ Households with income from 2 million to 3 million VND/month are 6 households,
accounting for 20% (mainly from selling NTFPs)
+ Households with income over 3 million VND/month are 2 households (6.67%), of
households doing business, services and workers.
From the survey results, and based on the data of the figure 2, the results of the income
structure of the people are shown in the following table and figure:
100%


90%
80%
70%

68,50%

60%

71,36%

74,35%

50%

Agriculture, worker,
trade, breeding, other

40%

NTFPs

30%
20%

31,05%

25,65%

28,37%


Coi hamlet

Lap hamlet

Du hamlet

10%
0%

Figure 3: Income structure of 30 households interviewed
In Figure 3, we can see that the income of local communities in Xuan Son commune is
largely based on NTFP resources in natural forest. Thus, local community's pressure on NTFP
resources is quite large. Without adequate measures to create sustainable income generation
and economic support for the population, NTFP resources in the natural forest will be
depleted.
5.2.1.3. Market demand
Market demand is decisive for the type of production and commodity of the society.
According to the survey results, local people in the study area not only exploit the medicinal

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