PARC
Introduction
Sites
The Ba Be / Na Hang Conservation Complex
Yok Don National Park
Programmes
Conservation management
Resource use planning and forestry
Community development
Education and awareness raising
Policy briefs
Studies
Contacts
Tiếng Việt
 

 

 

 

 

Community Development

Providing direct assistance to improve the livelihoods of communities within and around protected areas.

 

Rice trial of the PARC project
Rice trial of the PARC project

Village Development Plans

At the centre of the PARC Project approach to community development was the provision of development strategies for target villages, based on current and predicted resource use needs. The aim was to reduce unsustainable use of natural resources by exploring appropriate alternatives, thereby integrating conservation and development objectives at the project sites. The planning process followed three steps:

  1. Participatory Resource Use Plans
    Plans mapping current natural resource use at the village level and providing budget estimates to implement identified activities. These were based on baseline socioeconomic information gathered by the local communities as main stakeholders.

  2. Village Development Plans
    Five-year strategies based on the results of Resource Use Plans and subsequent meetings with village and commune stakeholders. They included clear villager commitments to sustainable use of natural resources. Results were integrated within the sectoral development plans of district and provincial governments.

  3. Village Action Plans
    Specific six-month activity schedules outlining PARC Project support to target villages. They were based on the Village Development Plans.

 

Agricultural Development

Throughout the project sites agricultural productivity has increased in target communes, with numerous replications of successful crop trials. Direct involvement of the District Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development will help ensure the long-term sustainability of activities.

Village Extension Farmers

In 34 target villages, local people were trained and assigned to provide technical assistance to members of their own communities, alongside para-veterinarians. These farmers were selected on the basis of their practical experience and proven ability and remain as permanent village-level partners for the District Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Alternative energy sources

Firewood needs in Ba Be and Na Hang are mainly met from local forests. Over 1,400 fuel-efficient stoves, and 34 domestic biogas plants were constructed to reduce fuelwood use with technical and financial support from PARC. Since this support ceased, villagers have been replicating the fuel-efficient stoves themselves. Estimated household fuelwood savings from the improved stoves is about 30%, and could reduce fuelwood use by about 2,000 m3 per year for a village. Fuelwood savings from biogas plants comes close to 50%.

finishing the pit for the biogas plant finishing the dome of the biogas plant a stove using biogas in a home
Biogas plant construction and use in a home in Ba Be National Park 

Successful introductions of new techniques

Ba Be / Na Hang

  • Yields of staple crops such as rice, maize, and soybean have increased through intensification techniques.

  • Introduced winter crops such as potato, tomato and sweet potato have added a second and sometimes a third annual crop.

  • Cash crops such as taro, potato, and Shan tea have been introduced and replicated.

  • Livestock mortality has reduced by about 70% since the establishment of 21 village para-veterinarians.

Yok Don

  • The bamboo shoot cultivation model developed by PARC replicated by local people and extension services.

  • The productivity of soya, maize and green beans has increased by introducing intercropping.

  • Livestock breeding programmes have been developed.

  • All cattle vaccinated against foot and mouth disease.

 

Main acheivements:

  • Tailored forestry, fishery and agriculture-based income generation models linked to conservation efforts.

  • Locally-initiated replications of community development activities. Village Assistance Funds and Agricultural Seed Banks to support agriculture intensification.

  • Promotion of off-farm alternative incomes through training for women’s weaving groups.

 

Reports

Ba Be / Na Hang

Preliminary report: Rural economy - Agricultural/Agroforestry Systems
English Vietnamese

Market analysis and development for non-timber forest products
English Vietnamese

Shan Tea feasibility study
English Vietnamese

Yok Don National Park

Mission Report: Community Development Specialist
English Vietnamese

Assessment of the Community Development Programme
Vietnamese

 

 

  
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Creating protected areas for resource conservation using landscape ecology		 updated:
19/10/05