This report provides a comparative analysis of the processes and lessons learned from four pilots on Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) and community-based value-chain and forestry enterprise development undertaken by CT Alliance members with support from the MRLG project. Across all pilots, it was observed that promoting customary tenure was crucial for securing legal rights to local forests. For instance, promoting tea tree tenure for the local Dao people in Sung village, Hoa Binh, and developing customary practices for langur conservation enhanced forest management. Value-chain enhancements for bamboo in Ke village and Shan tea in Sung village incentivized sustainable forest resource management through improved customary tenure practices. Moreover, where formal tenure rights were devolved to communities, CT Alliance members facilitated self-organization and governance using statutory law and local customs. These efforts aimed to align forest management with community values, securing tenure for local communities.
Broader recommendations for sustainable community-based forest management in Vietnam include developing a national CBFM policy and implementing support programs. Currently, despite significant forest allocations to local communities, sustainability issues persist post-allocation, hindering effective forest conservation and development. Establishing a national CBFM Development Programme and reactivating the CBFM Technical Working Group under VNFOREST could enhance policy alignment and support for CBFM practices nationwide. Aligning CBFM with national and sub-national programs like PFES and NRAP/PRAP is also recommended to ensure sustained impacts beyond project timelines. (photo: VN MRLG Alliance)
