| Author | Bae Pheaxay |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.NR-07-05 |
| Subject(s) | Non-timber forest products--Laos--Vietnam
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
Degree of Master of Science in
Natural Resources Management, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. NR-07-05 |
| Abstract | Sustainable use of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) has considerably affected by several factors such as law, policy, regulatory mechanism, local institutions, external agencies, infrastructure and markets. There is, however, a very little understanding on the role of these factors on the NTFP use. This research explores the existing utilization and income contribution of selected NTFPs species in the Fueng district, Vientiane province, Lao PDR. Although, there are multiple comparisons of different factors, the central aim of those comparisons is to make better understanding of the objectives that have set up. The study was conducted in two villages to understand the outcomes of over exploitation and the role of institutions related to' NTFPs utilization in these two villages, which would ultimately affect the livelihood of the villagers. Furthermore, the research includes the overall assessment the importance of NTFP and shifting cultivation practice to the household economy of selected villages. The total households of the studied villages were categorized in to three groups by randomly such as surplus group, sufficient group and insufficient group. These will be used as the representatives of total sampling size. Questionnaires with difference PRA tools to get information were used among household interview, group discussion and key informant discussion. One of the goals in the research is aiming the assessment the overall importance of NTFP and shifting` cultivation. It is found that this practice is the main sources of income and food for the villagers due to flat land which can be expand as paddy field have already been owned. In addition, the poverty of villagers is the main factor leading them to earn more income from different sources. In the past, NTFPs substantially provided job opportunity and income for households in those villages. The common thirty species collected by villagers, including wild plants and wild animals are playing an important role on villagers' living life. Market demand and high pressure of population growth are also the main causes of over exploitation in fbrm of open access to harvest NTFP. All most villagers have used wild plant and wild animals as daily food and for household extra income. More over, the several central policies and local traditional rules of natural resource preservation do not have any specific articles on sustainable use of NTFP. The evidence of illegal NTFPs collection and delivery to middle man and external traders are still found to be illegal. Average shifting cultivation by villagers is still high among the insufficient group of people. The average of understanding the rules of appropriate methods and suitable time in collection are found very low among the insufficient group. There are all most every household never live without the using of NTFP as daily food and as household materials. Basically, the main group collecting NTFP for selling is the insufficient group. The factors of sudden decline of selected NTFP species are population growth, high demand in consumption, increasing traders, external market demand expansion, the incoherence of policies and registration and the inappropriate collection time and methods and even more the traditional rules are not understood by the new comers. Only 15% of the total household income is from selling plant NTFP due to there is another main source of income which is selling rice. The findings of this research can reflect on the implication and designing policies and management strategy for NTFPs. Current the villagers believe that sustainable utilization of NTFPs does not provide immediately income to the households and limits income generation. However, it is necessary that those villagers needed to be motivated in the utilization of NTFPs in the sustainable way. The registration and selected appropriate methods before harvesting are also needed to apply to local people particularly collectors and traders and it is necessary that these people need to set up committee to control NTFPs trading. Specific central government policies and local traditional rules are urgently needed in place and announced for understanding by villagers. Cultivation and nursery management should be immediately set up and enforce in particular areas to provide an options to reduce high dependency on natural forests and destructive natural forest and indigenous species use |
| Year | 2007 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. NR-07-05 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Natural Resources Management (NRM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Shivakoti, Ganesh P.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Shrestha, Rajendra Prasad;Schmidt-Vogt, Dietrich; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | University Support to Environmental
Planning and Management
(USEP AM), supported by DANIDA; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2007 |