Social economic aspects in natural resources management in ngoc son ngo luong nature reserve

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 o

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

VIETNAM FORESTRY UNIVERSITY

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

Supervisor: Assoc Prof Dr Tran Thi Thu Ha

Hanoi, September 23 rd , 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 social-economic 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

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

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

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,

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 HÒA BÌNH” by Management Board of Ngoc Son - Ngo Luong Nature Reserve, “Khu Bảo tồn thiên nhiên Ngọc Sơn - Ngổ Luông tỉnh Hòa 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

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

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

Threat 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

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

(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,

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; home-stay 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

Table 2: 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 social-economic 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

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

The proportion of income from the forest compared

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

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

Income (million VND)

LS1

Low 50 10.2

(5.8)

56.8 (27.6)

33.0 (29.6)

51.691 (49.887)

4.117 (3.376)

12 (20.4)

26.989 (16.732)

7.612 (4.883)

LS3

40% High 18 55.7

(13.2)

40.2 (15.0)

4.1 (8.7)

19.204 (13.099)

10.773 (8.296)

Total

93 27.2

(20.1)

53.4 (24.3)

19.4 (26.2)

36.026 (37.921)

6.859 (6.076)

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

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

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

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

No role to play in protecting and managing forest resources 3 3.22

(Source: Results calculated by author based on data surveyed, 2018)

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

(N=93)

%

Not Aware/ not exposed

Aware/exposed and subscribed

Think about direct personal responsibilities for

protecting natural resources