Social Capital and Conservation in Cat Tien National Park in Vietnam

Social Capital and Conservation in Cat Social Capital and Conservation in Cat Tien National Park in VietnamTien National Park in Vietnam

Thuy Nguyen

School of Natural Resources and Environment

Outline of Presentation

• Introduction

• Background of the Study

• Cat Tien National Park

• Research Problem and Study Objectives

• Significance of the Study

• Scope and Limitation of the Study

• Literature Review

• Theoretical Model

• Methodology

• Timeline for Research

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

• Managing human impacts on NP has Managing human impacts on NP has been major challenge for government been major challenge for government agencies and other natural resources agencies and other natural resources managersmanagers

• ICDP are proposed to help to reduce ICDP are proposed to help to reduce the incursion pressure on Pasthe incursion pressure on Pas

• Social capital are thought to influence Social capital are thought to influence households’ behavior toward collective households’ behavior toward collective action (Pretty, 2003)action (Pretty, 2003)

• Social capital – as a applied concept Social capital – as a applied concept in environmental conservation and in environmental conservation and rural development – also means the rural development – also means the creation and strengthen of local creation and strengthen of local groups.groups.

• Building social capital is viable Building social capital is viable mechanism to generate collective mechanism to generate collective practice of natural resourcespractice of natural resources

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDYBACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

• Since 1997, WB began to support the Since 1997, WB began to support the project “Vietnam Forest Protection project “Vietnam Forest Protection and Rural Development” (FPRD)and Rural Development” (FPRD)

• Goals: Goals: – Protect high priority PAProtect high priority PA– Manage remaining forests in buffer zoneManage remaining forests in buffer zone– Reduce forest dependencyReduce forest dependency– Strengthen government capacity Strengthen government capacity

• For development of buffer zone, the projectFor development of buffer zone, the project– Formulate Community Action Plan (CAP) to Formulate Community Action Plan (CAP) to

negotiate conservation agreement negotiate conservation agreement – Land allocation Program (LAP)Land allocation Program (LAP)– Social support (basic social infrastructure, income Social support (basic social infrastructure, income

and employment opportunities for the very poor)and employment opportunities for the very poor)– Agricultural support activitiesAgricultural support activities– Long-term forest protection contracts to HH, joint Long-term forest protection contracts to HH, joint

protect the remaining natural forestsprotect the remaining natural forests– Small scale irrigation, road upgrade to improve Small scale irrigation, road upgrade to improve

service and expand market opportunitiesservice and expand market opportunities

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

The Study Site

The study site

CAT TIEN NATIONAL PARKCAT TIEN NATIONAL PARK

• CTNP is located in southern VietnamCTNP is located in southern Vietnam• Total area: 73,878 ha; buffer zone Total area: 73,878 ha; buffer zone

areas: 183,479 haareas: 183,479 ha• 3 sectors: Nam Cat Tien (38,100 ha); 3 sectors: Nam Cat Tien (38,100 ha);

Tay Cat Tien (5,143 ha); Cat Loc Tay Cat Tien (5,143 ha); Cat Loc (30,635 ha)(30,635 ha)

• Approximate coordinates:Approximate coordinates:– 1111oo20’50’’ – 11o50’20” N Latitude20’50’’ – 11o50’20” N Latitude– 107107oo09’05”-10709’05”-107oo35’20” E Longitude35’20” E Longitude

• CTNP received protected status in1978CTNP received protected status in1978

• Become National Park 1992Become National Park 1992

• Cat Loc received protected status 1992Cat Loc received protected status 1992

• 1998, integration Nam Cat Tien, Tay Cat 1998, integration Nam Cat Tien, Tay Cat Tien and Cat Loc to become currently Tien and Cat Loc to become currently know Cat Tien National Parkknow Cat Tien National Park

CAT TIEN NATIONAL PARKCAT TIEN NATIONAL PARK

• Annual rainfall 2,300 mm – 2,850 mmAnnual rainfall 2,300 mm – 2,850 mm• Flora is typical to for Southeastern part of Flora is typical to for Southeastern part of

VietnamVietnam• Rich biodiversity: 76 mammals, 320 birds, Rich biodiversity: 76 mammals, 320 birds,

74 reptiles, 35 amphibian, 99 fish species74 reptiles, 35 amphibian, 99 fish species• Key species: Javan Rhinocerus: the rarest Key species: Javan Rhinocerus: the rarest

large animal in earth less then 7 only large animal in earth less then 7 only found in Cat Loc; the Oranged-necked found in Cat Loc; the Oranged-necked Partridge; Siamese crocodile; Asian Partridge; Siamese crocodile; Asian elephants …elephants …

CAT TIEN NATIONAL PARKCAT TIEN NATIONAL PARK

• 11 ethnic groups can be divided into 3 main groups: 11 ethnic groups can be divided into 3 main groups: – Mainstream Kinh (lowlanders); Mainstream Kinh (lowlanders); – indigenous ethnic minorities (Stieng and Chau Ma); indigenous ethnic minorities (Stieng and Chau Ma); – recently migrated minorities from the North (Tay, Nung, recently migrated minorities from the North (Tay, Nung,

Hoa..)Hoa..)

• Indigenous minorities have a long history of shifting Indigenous minorities have a long history of shifting cultivationcultivation

• The recently migrated minorities from the northern The recently migrated minorities from the northern provinces started arriving around 1987-1988, but provinces started arriving around 1987-1988, but most settled after 1990, their traditional livelihood: most settled after 1990, their traditional livelihood: fishing, hunting, and shifting cultivation but now fishing, hunting, and shifting cultivation but now mainly engaged in farmingmainly engaged in farming

CAT TIEN NATIONAL PARKCAT TIEN NATIONAL PARK

Research Problem and Study Research Problem and Study ObjectivesObjectives

• General question: How do households’ social capital General question: How do households’ social capital and household’s participation in FPRD project affect and household’s participation in FPRD project affect households’attitude and behavior towards CTNP?households’attitude and behavior towards CTNP?

• Specific questions:Specific questions:– How does households’ social capital affect its general How does households’ social capital affect its general

conservation attitude and its specific behavior towards conservation attitude and its specific behavior towards CTNP?CTNP?

– How does social capital affect the level of participation in How does social capital affect the level of participation in FPRD project?FPRD project?

– How does participation of HH affect their conservation How does participation of HH affect their conservation attitude and behavior?attitude and behavior?

Significance of the StudySignificance of the Study

• Contribute to the policy formation and help Contribute to the policy formation and help effective implementation of sustainable effective implementation of sustainable rural development and conservation rural development and conservation program in BZ of PAs in Vietnamprogram in BZ of PAs in Vietnam

• Knowledge on human population of the ParkKnowledge on human population of the Park

• Contribute to very limited knowledge on Contribute to very limited knowledge on social capital literature in Vietnam, provide social capital literature in Vietnam, provide a perspective to compare with social capital a perspective to compare with social capital with post-communist countrieswith post-communist countries

REVIEW OF LITERATUREREVIEW OF LITERATURE

• Social Capital and ConservationSocial Capital and Conservation

REVIEW OF LITERATUREREVIEW OF LITERATURE

• Household characteristics and social Household characteristics and social capitalcapital

Theoretical ModelTheoretical Model

H1

H3H3

SOCIAL CAPITALCONSERVATION

-ATTITUDE -BEHAVIOR

LEVEL OF PARTICIPATION

H2

HOUSEHOLDS’ CHARACTERISTICS

-ethnicity-religion-length of residency-education-occupation-income-age-marital status-gender

• Concept: Social Capital• Variable 1: Community group/social organization membership• Variable 2: Involvement in community activities• Variable 3: Perception of your community

Methodology

• Concept: Participation in FPRD activities• Variable 1: Conservation-related activities• Variable 2: Agricultural support activities• Variable 3: Infrastructure development activities• Variable 4: Credit support

Methodology

• Concept: Attitude towards biodiversity conservation• Variable 1: General perception about biodiversity conservation• Variable 2: Issues/ problems associated with biodiversity conservation • Variable 3: Impacts of conservation activities

Methodology

• Concept: Conservation behavior towards the Park• Variable 1: Access to the Park• Variable 2: Time spent/frequency of going to the park

Methodology

• Control Variables/Demographics• Variable 1: Ethnicity• Variable 2: Religion• Variable 3: Length of residency• Variable 4: Education• Variable 5: Household composition• Variable 6: Household income• Variables 7: Age• Variable 8: Marital status• Variable 9: Gender

Methodology

•

Timeline for Research

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CRITIQUES?

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CRITIQUES?