NTFP utility in dry dipterocarp forest of Yok Don National Park

November 30, 2006 by

ran Trung Dzung

Forest ecology and environment Department, Tay Nguyen University

Email: ttd-iwbm@vnn.vn



Yok Don National Park (YDNP) is the largest national park in Viet Nam and it has a typical ecological system of dry dipterocarp forest, comprising a rare and precious fauna and flora population, including many endangered species. Drang Phok is a village totally within the YDNP. The village relied upon large areas of the YDNP for hunting, NTFP collection and grazing. These areas of subsistence of Drang Phok Village overlap with some of the key biodiversity hotspot areas. There is thus a conflict between biodiversity conservation and the development. Sixteen groups of non-timber products are wild animals and river fish; the remaining 14 belong to various botanical groupings. Of importance is the resin extracted from trees of the Dipterocarp family. The villagers need to be trained on skills such as resin storage and handling, as well as basic business skills.



Introduction



NTFPs are valuable resources in terms of both economic and environmental aspects. With the tropical monsoon climate, Viet Nam has different kinds of NTFPs. NTFPs play very important role, and closely related to the livelihood of the communities, who are living inside and beside the forest. NTFP resources, like forest resources, are degrading rapidly by many reasons currently.


Yok Don National Park (YDNP) was established in 1992 and expanded in 2002 with total area of 115 545 ha. YDNP located in Dak Lak Province belongs to the bio-geographical region of the southern Centre and Central Highlands, 40 km from Buon Ma Thout City. There are three districts, Ea Sup, Cu Jut and Buon Don in the nature reserve buffer zone, in which there are 70 villages with 25 in close proximity. The villagers are of five major ethnic groups: Kinh, Lao, Ede, Gai Rai and M’nong.


Yok Don, as the only protected area of dry deciduous forest, is a necessary constituent of the Vietnamese protected area system. Recent sightings of new species and rediscoveries of species previously thought extinct clearly demonstrated the biodiversity value of this area.


Drang Phok is the only village located in the core zone of Yok Don National Park after its extension in 2002. The living standard of the community are very low and mainly base on extraction of natural resources, including poaching of wildlife, logging and NTFP extraction. The communities using areas which are overlapped with the hot spot areas on biodiversity in YDNP, as important seasonal habitat for large water birds, most notably giant ibis (Pseudibis gigantea) and red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) persist linked with the remaining large mammal populations. Conflicts exist between conservation and socio economic development issues in the area.






Research scope and methods



The present study was to assess the utilities of the main kinds of NTFPs in Drang Phok village, Krong Na commune, Buon Don District, DakLak Province.


The followings would be included in the study:

– The local natural and socio-economic conditions related to the biodiversity value and conservation issue,

– NTFP resources and its utilization

– Wealth status of the household and its relation to NTFP extraction and utilization

– The modality of NTFP management and extraction in the area



Secondary data were collected from various sources. These were supplemented primary data collection by using participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tools such as matrix on NTFP consumption and production of villagers, the matrix on wealth ranking and semi-structured interview combined with 3-D mapping on present NTFP use.

Latest news

Oldest news

Filed Under: Sivilculture
[logo-slider]