Assessing the result of the pilot redd project in ban cam commune bao thang district lao cai province

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 CHAPTER II GOAL AND OBJECTIVES 2.1 Goal and objectives 2.1.1 Goal 2.1.2 Objectives CHAPTER III METHOD 3.1 Data collection method 3.1.1 Secondary data collection 3.1.2 Structured interview and Semi-structured interview 3.1.3 Indirect interview 3.2 Data analysis 3.2.1 Descriptive statistics 3.2.2 SWOT analysis model CHAPTER IV NATURAL - SOCIAL CONDITION AND INFORMATION ABOUT BAN CAM COMMUNE 4.1 Natural condition 4.1.1 Geographic location 4.1.2 Topographic 4.1.3 Temperature regime 4.1.4 Rain regime, humidity 4.1.5 Soil condition 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 APPENDIX iii LIST OF TABLES Table SWOT analysis .7 Table Summary of socio-economic characteristics of Ban Cam commune 10 Table Area of forest types and forest land in Ban Cam commune on February 20th, 2015 12 Table Area of forest types and forest land in Ban Cam commune on September 25th, 2018 14 Table The benefits that the program gives people 23 LIST OF FIGURES Figure Geographic location in Ban Cam commune, Bao Thang district, Lao Cai province Figure Organize structure of Forest Protection Department in Lao Cai 16 Figure Map of forest inventory in 2015 18 Figure Educational level of household heads in Ban Cam commune 19 Figure Area of forest land in 2015 and 2018 (hectares) 20 Figure 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 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” 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 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 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  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 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 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 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 20 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 Area of land without forests planned for forestry and production forest in 2015 and 2018 (hectares) 21 - Total area of land without forests planned for forestry has gradually formed forests so land without forests planned for forestry decreased 423.46 hectares (85.48%) - Marked reduction in production forest decrease of 153.11 compared to 2015 (16.4%) Besides, REDD+ Action Plan in Ban Cam Commune with the specific objective targets have been set for planting 178.93 hectares of new production forests This is also one of the limitations that the program is fixing There are several different causes of decreasing production forest + Limited knowledge of local people is mainly because they not know the roles of the forest so they not know how to properly manage and protect the forest, leading to forest loss Additionally, some households are lacking of awareness that are consciousness encroachment and exploitation wrong processes leading to degraded and dead trees + Logging activities, habitually undertaken to provide the world’s wood, paper products, timber, or fuel is a chief driver of deforestation Because logging takes many aspects, it further leads to environmental degradation and deforestation as roads are built to enable heavy machinery and trucks to access the most remote areas in the forest + The most prevailing cause of deforestation regards the ever growing demands for food security and consumer crops In this sense, man has persistently cleared trees and vegetation to convert the regions into agricultural production farms + Increased demands of consumer crops like soybeans and corn among other grains has seen the rate of deforestation rise at a very fast rate Farmers clear forests to create space for grazing livestock and planting more crops Often, small-scale farmers utilize what is known as slash and burn techniques It involves cutting down trees and burning them to create the space required for farming and livestock production 22 5.3.2 Socio-economic effects Table The benefits that the program gives people Benefits Number of households benefited (30 households) Support from the livelihoods 25 fund Raising awareness about 28 management forest Increase water quality 30 Create jobs 27 The table indicates that 83.33% of local people have received support from the livelihoods fund to develop livestock and make cages for livestock and poultry The REDD + program has raised the awareness of 93.33% of people about the Law on Forest Protection and Development, the role of forests for humans and create jobs for 90% of households In recent years, the REDD + program has helped people develop and protect forests so water quality is improved significantly such as water shortages in some hamlets are no longer available so local people not worry about the status of water and irrigation water Local people are grateful for the program that has brought many benefits to them 5.4 SWOT analysis * Strength - Ban Cam commune has a large area of forest land which account for 89.25% of the total area of agricultural land in the commune In addition, the commune has abundant labor resources The number of people in the working age is high, and people depend on 23 agroforestry There are many favorable conditions for implementing REDD + program with the objective of forest management, protection and sustainable development - Forest quality and forest economic value in the commune have been significantly improved It has brought a more stable source of income for the people and has contributed positively to the local poverty reduction - Mechanisms, policies, support and loans for the development of the government have been expanded and very quickly helped people access to capital to invest in production * Weakness - Awareness of local people Because of the low level of education of local people, the spread of REDD + is limited and people are unable to absorb scientific knowledge for practical application Most people only learn from practical models to apply to their families - The distribution of population and economy Households are mostly small producers around the mountains so the land is not focused, which leads to their investment be non-commodity The consumption of products is small so they are often price squeeze by small traders leading to not high economic efficiency Consumption of products depends on the regulation For example, for pineapple growers, with bumper harvest years, they earn more than 200 million per year but with bad harvest years, they cannot earn anything from it Thus affect the psychology of the people on the issue of investment and development - Support for seed sources Market sources are not diversified For instance, people want to plant endemic trees to both shade and secondary forest products such as Toxicodendron succedaneum (Sơn), Canarium album (Trám trắng), etc These trees bring very high economic value to the local people, but the commune does not have pure seedlings * Opportunities 24 - Focusing to raising awareness of each hamlet leader, education to them about the important of land which they management in REDD+ program and forest management - Each ethnicity has a different cultural, understanding and educating people based on their cultural would maximize the effective od the education actions in REDD+ - Allocating land to households who not have forest land In the small land area, people should would be introduced about the advanced techniques of planting forest trees, and the types of tree which fit well with the environment of Ban Cam commune - In raising awareness to local people action, the residents should be educated by realistic activities rather than hearing the presentation from REDD+ lectures in order to help them willingness to protect forest not only their benefits but also by future living * Threats - Some people are not well aware of the protection and development of forest so there are using illegal forest resources - The land area for plantation is not concentrated and scattered in many different locations so it is difficult to plan and design of concentrated plantations 5.5 Proposing some solutions for improving the pilot REDD+ project in the province 5.5.1 About people perception - Continue to implement evenly education programs about participate in sustainability forest management and protection in all the villages, communes and all objects - Focus on education and raise conception among community groups have lower levels of education, women, farmers and families with low incomes - The authorities, officials and forces required thoroughly popular policies, forest protection laws to all people, especially those with less education and awareness so that they may realize roles and their responsibilities in the reduce deforestation sustainable use and development of forest resources 25 - The People Committees at all levels should provide guidance to media, mass organization, vocational organizations, etc to organize campaigns to increase awareness of communities about the management, protection and sustainable development in the context of climate change 5.5.2 About management - Need to have a combination with more tightly between staffs and local community in patrol, controlling and finding out illegal activities - The staffs need to go into the real life of the people to be able to understand, to grasp the situation of life, their aspirations so that can give methods to manage and grow - Promoting dissemination to officials, the people, communities and households living near forests to understand the likely benefits in the future when they are participate in REDD+ project 5.5.3 About participation of community - Need to provide financial support for forest protection and maintain stable livelihoods so that people can raise livestock - Strengthening the activities of the clubs and forest protection organizations in villages and communes To these groups operate effectively, should be a combination of stakeholder, such as there needs to be an intermediate agency to assist farmers in buying seeds and training farmers to raise livestock - Improve awareness and responsibility for forest protection through monitoring everyone out into forest areas need protection In addition, everyone is responsible for propaganda to others on this issue 26 CHAPTER VI CONCLUSION After a period of doing thesis about “Assessing the result of the pilot REDD+ project in Ban Cam commune, Bao Thang district, Lao Cai province” thesis came to the following conclusions - Since the implementation of the REDD + program, the forest status has markedly improved from 2015 to 2018 and total area of bare land decreased Thus, the REDD + program has effectively implemented the management, protection and sustainable development of forest by improvement awareness and responsibility for forest protection through monitoring everyone out into forest areas need protection - The REDD+ project are delivering measurable socio-economic benefits for local people by facilitating their empowerment through meaningful participation in REDD+ project design and implementation To date, projects have produced only modest opportunity benefits (jobs, income) for local populations so people have more income to improve their quality of life Especially, the program has helped people better understand their role in forest so that people have better sense of forest protection and management - The study have found some essential solutions for increasing the number of people who participate REDD+ program They are focused on land allocation, the hamlet leaders and education activities to raise the local people’s awareness about forest area management 27 REFERENCE http://www.laocai.gov.vn IUCN (2010), “ REDD Việt Nam: Vấn đề, hội, mối liên hệ” Larson, A.M (2010) “Forest tenure reform in the age climate change: Lesson for REDD+” Global Environmental Change 21: 530-549 Peskett, L., Huberman, D, Bowen-Jones, E., Edwards, G., and Brown, J 2008 Making REDD work for the poor A Poverty Environment Partnership (PEP) Report Overseas Development Institute (ODI), London, UK Sandbrook, C., et al (2010) “Carbon, forest and REDD paxadox.” Oryx 44(03): 330-334 Singh, T P., et al (2015) “Implementing REDD+ as a Climate Mitigation Option in India” Indian Forester 141(1): -17 Sunderlin, W D., et al (2009) “Forest trnure rights and REDD.” Realizing REDD: 139 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 2008 Report of the Conference of the Parties, on its thirteenth session held in Bali, from to 15 December 2007 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 2011 Report of the Conference of the Parties on its sixteenth session, held in Cancun from 29 November to 10 December 2010 10 United Nations Framework on Climate Change 2012 11 UN-REDD (2013) UN-REDD Vietnam Phase II Programme: Operationalizing REDD+ in Vietnam 12 UN-REDD PROGRAMME (2010), design of a REDD-Compliant Benefit Distribution System for Vietnam 13 UN-REDD PROGRAMME, “Principles of REDD+ Benefit Distribution System” 14 UN-REDD VIET NAM PROGRAMME, “ Xây dựng hệ thống chia sẻ lợi ích” 15 UN-REDD VIET NAM PROGRAMME, “Lập kế hoạch sử dụng đất tích hợp cho REDD+: học từ ết hợp phân tích h ng gian v tiếp cận có tham gia xây dựng kế hoạch h nh động REDD+ cấp tỉnh i t Nam” 16 Vu Thi Hien- Luong Thi Truong 2010, “Biến đổi khí hậu v REDD” APPENDIX APPENDIX I: SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE (Ban Cam Commune - Bao Thang district - Lao Cai province) Part I Respondent information Interviewer:……………………………………………………………………… Age:……………………………………………………………………………… Sex: Male Female Ethnic minority:…………………………………………………………………… Address:…………………………………………………………………………… Phone number:…………………………………………………………………… Email:……………………………………………………………………………… Educational level A Primary school B Secondary school C High school or above D Illiterate Average income A Less than 5,000,000 VND B More than 5,000,000 VND C Other How long have you lived here? ……………………………………………………………………………… Part II: Information on participation in the management, protection and development Do you know about Greenhouse gas or not? A Yes B No Are you aware of REDD+ programme whether or not? A Yes B No Do you participate in forest management in the pilot area whether or not? A Yes B No Do you feel the program is realistic? A Yes B No How far is your house from the REDD+ pilot area? A Low 1km B More km Did you receive benefits from participating in forest management in the pilot area or not? A Yes B No C If “yes”, what benefits are it offering? Have you thinks that forest resources and policies to protect forest resources sustainably are important? A Yes B No Do you think the policies and activities of the management, protection and development of forests are reasonable or not? A Yes B No Have you trained on the methods to management, protection and development of forest, and use forest resources? A Yes B No 10 Have you listening to propaganda about the management, protection and sustainable development or forest, and used forest resources for the right purpose or not? A Yes B No 11 Do the program staff visit or encourage local people to participate in REDD+ programme or not? A Yes B No 12 Do you recognize your important role in forest management and protection and sustainable development? A Yes B No Part III Information on in the REDD + pilot program How many forest areas have you been allocated? How much money you earn per year in this area? How did you use the land allocated? What time has the REDD + pilot area been officially started ever (Day, month, year)? Do you keep records of your participation in the REDD + pilot program? What is included? What are the benefits of the pilot REDD + program for you? Do you think that the local people's forest destruction happens frequently? Since the pilot REDD + program appears, is deforestation and forest degradation taking place in the village/hamlet or commune? Why? Where people get timber and firewood to: a For family use: b For sale Do they have to ask for permission? What can the local people exploit and use in the REDD + pilot forests? 10 What suggestions you have to increase the practical effectiveness of the REDD + pilot program? APPENDIX II: Some pictures in Ban Cam commune ... others on this issue 26 CHAPTER VI CONCLUSION After a period of doing thesis about ? ?Assessing the result of the pilot REDD+ project in Ban Cam commune, Bao Thang district, Lao Cai province? ?? thesis... 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. .. 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 CHAPTER