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Diversity of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in
the Hoang Lien - Van Ban Nature Reserve (Lao Cai,
Vietnam): Implications for Local Livelihood
Improvement and Biodiversity Conservation
(1)* (2)
Nguyen Thi Phuong , Nguyen An Thinh
(1)
VNU School of Interdisciplinary Studies, Hanoi, Vietnam National University, Vietnam
(2) VNU University of Economics and Business, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam
* Correspondence: phuongtnmclc@gmail.com
Abstract: Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) play an important role in rural livelihoods. Local
people living in and around the protected forests depend on a variety of non-timber forest products
to make a living and generate income. This paper gives an overview of the diversity of NTFPs in
Hoang Lien - Van Ban Nature Reserve, focusing on medicinal plants and food. We collect data on
NTFPs using through ethnobotanical inventory with semi-structural, free listing, and household
socio-economic interviews. With the voucher collection, the interviews are supplemented with the
voucher collection. It is hypothesized that there is no significant difference between the number of
bamboo shoots and their contribution to household income between the studied villages. A rapid
vulnerability assessment (RVA) was conducted to identify vulnerable and threatened species.
Through study a total of 256 species of medicinal plants have been discovered in Hoang Lien - Van
Ban Nature Reserve. Among them, 193 species have identified scientific names to species, 59 species
have been identified to genera and 4 species have been identified to their families to be used as NTFPs
of local people. The results show that there is a significant difference in NTFP collection and sale
affecting household income between villages. However, the contribution from NTFP collection to per
capita income is very low, and they are mainly used in households. Vulnerability assessment shows
that most drug species are moderately vulnerable and most foods species have less vulnerable
position. Sustainable harvesting and management strategies should be in place to be implemented to
prevent overexploitation of these species.
Keywords: Biodiversity; Non-timber forest products (NTFPs); medicinal plants; livelihood; Hoang
Lien - Van Ban Nature Reserve; Lao Cai.
1. Introduction
Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are becoming a topic of international interest
and concern such as poverty reduction, participatory development, conservation and food
security (Ros-Tonen 2000). It is argued that the contribution of NTFPs to the livelihoods of
local people and that their exploitation is ecologically less destructive than timber harvest
or other land-use changes for agricultural production. NTFPs can increase the value of
forests, increasing the incentives to retain forests (Arnold and Perez 2001; Hall and Bawa
1993). Local people do not value all the locally used plant species equally; some species
groups, genera and families are more important than others (Bennett and Husby 2008).
Identifying crop groups and the reasons for their use can help identify and implement
priorities for conservation and sustainable management of strategies (Vodouhê et al. 2009).
Local people inhabiting in the Hoang Lien - Van Ban Nature Reserve (NR) use large
quantities of forest products in their daily lives. These products can be classified as
pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, firewood, and construction materials. The edible NTFPs can be
divided into vegetables, mushrooms and bamboo shoots. They recognized that bamboo
shoots and mushrooms are the main non-timber forest products used for income generation.
Vegetables are collected mainly for self-consumption. The market for dried bamboo shoots
has also grown, leading to an increase in the exploitation of natural resources.
The hypothesis that the amount of collection and the contribution of bamboo shoots
as a representative for commercially traded NTFP species is not significantly different
between villages. Bamboo shoots were chosen as a representative NTFP because it can
gather reliable data on harvested and commercial quantities. As there is no assessment of
sustainable NTFP exploitation practices in the region, we also identified the most vulnerable
NTFPs based on rapid vulnerability assessment (RVA) analysis to make recommendations
for collection. Plan species and sustainably preserve these species.
2. Methodology
2.1. Study area
Hoang Lien - Van Ban Nature Reserve has a total natural area of 25,093 ha, located
on the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, 40 km southeast of Fansipan mountain top, in the
boundary of communes Nam Xé, and Nam Xay and part of LiemPhu commune, Van Ban
district, Lao Cai province. Before 2002, a number of domestic and international
organizations conducted a survey of Hoang Lien mountainous area of Van Ban district
(Vietnam Program FFI, BirdLife International, etc.). The results of these surveys have
recorded a number of globally threatened animal and plant species in and around the
Nature Reserve. About the animals with the Black crested gibbon, Zebra civet (Swan 2002),
black-backed climbing bird, and toadfish, which is a species currently only be recorded in
Northern Vietnam (Tordoff et al. 2002). Regarding to plants, Fokienia hodginsii and Taiwania
cryptomerioides, now has only one population in Van Ban with more than 100 individuals.
On the other hand, Hoang Lien - Van Ban Nature Reserve has been recognized as one of 63
important bird areas of Vietnam (Tordoff 2002). With these values, in 2013 Hoang Lien - Van
Ban Nature Reserve was approved by the People's Committee of Lao Cai Province to
approve the Planning for Conservation and Sustainable Development of Hoang Lien - Van
Ban Nature Reserve, period 2013 - 2020 according to Decision No. 972 / QD-UBND dated
April 25, 2013. Since then, Hoang Lien - Van Ban Nature Reserve has had a positive impact
on biodiversity conservation.
Rice cultivation and shifting cultivation are the main livelihood activities of Lao Cai
ethnic minorities. In addition, raising cattle, poultry, aquaculture and handicrafts is
considered an important source of cash for households. However, production is also self-
sufficient, there is no typical examples of commodity production. The province has a large
forest area, especially Hoang Lien - Van Ban Nature Reserve where 4 ethnic groups live in
forest planting and management is still an important livelihood activity of the people here.
Currently, the project of reforestation for shifting cultivation in Lao Cai province was
approved by the Provincial People's Committee in 2009, creating conditions for 11,356
households with shifting cultivation areas on forestry land with an area of nearly 21,000ha.
This is an opportunity for local ethnic minorities to participate in afforestation, change
traditional and inefficient farming practices to new production methods for higher
economic efficiency, creating favorable conditions for the local people to work in forest
planting to stabilize and develop economy for ethnic minority people in remote areas. The
livelihoods of afforestation and forest management have played an important role in the
lives of the people in Lao Cai, such as providing firewood, bamboo shoots and forest
products. The ethnic minorities here still practice the forest hunting, harvesting, medicinal
plants, slash and burn cultivation, affecting the forest biodiversity.
Due to the habit of settling and farming on sloping land, there are many potential
risks due to floods, flash floods and landslides. The objects most affected are highland, poor
areas and areas inhabited by ethnic minorities. When affected by natural disasters, some
households can quickly recover their livelihoods and rebuild their assets, but many others
will take longer to recover. Especially for poor households in the ethnic minority areas in
Lao Cai in general and Hoang Lien - Van Ban Nature Reserve in particular go to the forest
to hunt, harvest timber, NTFPs, etc. to increase income and ensure livelihoods of local
people.
2.2. Data collection
Data on NTFPs was collected through the planning report of Hoang Lien - Van Ban
NR. Semi-structured, free listing, and household interviews were conducted from December
2018 to March 2019. Information was randomly selected for free listing and semi-structured
interviews. ; Key information was determined by the snowball method (Berlin and Berlin
2005; Quinlan 2005; Stepp 2005). Similar questions were asked of all interviewed. The
household interviews were conducted in Ban Nam Si Tan and Ta Nang village in Nam Xé
commune (Table 1) due to two direct impacts on the NR. Hoang Lien - Van Ban Nature
Reserve is located in the administrative area of 03 communes of Van Ban district, namely
Nam Xay, Nam Xé and LiemPhu. 24 households (Ban Nam Si Tan is in Nam Xé commune).
This is the object that needs investment to support production development, encourage
people to participate in the protection and sustainable development of forests.
Table 1. Details of rural selection of NTFPs collection interview
Villages Ethnic minorities Number of Number of NTFP harvesting
households interviews
Nam Si Tay, Kinh, H’Mông and 24 15
Tan Dao
Ta Nang Tay, Kinh, H’Mong and 50 20
Dao
Interviews were also conducted with NTFP traders. For the medicinal plant survey,
the study area was conducted by linear survey method and collected information in the
field, with important informants (KIP). KIP are knowledgeable about medicinal plants in Ta
Nang village community, through field surveys to observe, interview and collect sample
samples. The objective of the survey is to determine the species composition and usage of
medicinal plants in the area. Steps to follow include:
(1) Determining survey routes: Determining based on the actual status of vegetation,
topography or distribution of medicinal plants in the area. In order to ensure the objectivity
in the investigation process, the survey line is designed according to different terrains and
vegetation (high mountain route, primary forest, secondary forest, roadside, plantation
forest, etc.). A total of 11 survey routes were implemented in the study area.
Figure 1. Map of survey routes in the Hoang Lien - Van Ban Nature Reserve
(2) Collection of information in the field: Interview any tree encountered on the road
or stop at each location where there is a change in vegetation and conduct interviews.
Information to collect includes: Names of local dialects, parts used, uses, usage. Collecting
samples and taking photos of medicinal plants.
Investigation by standard plots: Establishing standard plots with size of 100 m2
(10mx10m), determined by stratification method - randomly based on the reality of
vegetation and topography, Total of 100 standard plots have been located in the research
area. Use a GPS to mark the coordinates of selected cells on the map. Investigative activities
include:
(1) Establishment of plots: Determine plot boundaries with tape measure, piling and
stretching of colored nylon rope.
(2) Collecting information: Using the questionnaire set to collect information. Each
study cell is a sample, consisting of 2 parts: (1) information about environmental conditions:
coordinates, altitude, slope, exposure direction, vegetation type, cover exposed rocks,
boulder cover, macadam cover, surface water regime, canopy cover, coverage of fresh
carpets, main trees, the number of woody trunks with a diameter at breast height of 10cm
or more, height soaring; (2) information on medicinal plants: names of medicinal plants
appear in the box. Collecting samples and taking photos of medicinal plants.
(3) Information processing and analysis: List of species and species variables,
including: all medicinal plants and timber; science name; plant family; nameplate; Common
name; variables of the species, including: (i) life forms (trees, shrubs, vines, parasites, etc.),
(ii) use. Survey plot data, including: Ecological / environment / vegetation information (plot
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