Sinh kế của người chil ở khu dự trữ sinh quyển lang biang, tỉnh lâm đồng truyền thống và biến đổi TT TIENG ANH

VIETNAM ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
GRADUATE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
L

NGUYEN THI HUONG

THE CHIL PEOPLE’S LIVELIHOODS IN LANG
BIANG BIOSPHERE RESERVE OF LAM DONG
PROVINCE: TRADITION AND CHANGE
Major: Anthropology
Major code: 9.31.03.02

SUMMARY OF THE DOCTORAL DISSERTATION
IN ANTHROPOLOGY

Hanoi - 2022


The dissertation was completed at the Graduate Academy of Social
Sciences, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences

Supervisors: 1. Prof. Dr. Ngo Van Le
2. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huynh Ngoc Thu

Reviewer 1: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dinh Hong Hai
Reviewer 2: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ngo Van Doanh
Reviewer 3: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Duy Thieu

The dissertation will be defended at Graduate Academy Level
Council of dissertation assessment at Graduate Academy of Social
Sciences, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, 477 Nguyen Trai,

Thanh Xuan, Hanoi.
Time: ………… date ………. month …… … year 2022

The dissertation may be found at:
- Vietnam National Library;
- Graduate Academy of Social Sciences Library


INTRODUCTION
1. The necessity of the research topic
According to the 2009 list of Vietnamese Ethnic groups, the Chil
people are one of the six local groups of the K’Ho ethnic group. As a
local group but the Chil people are a residential community with their
own characteristics in Vietnam - a multi-ethnic country. The Chil
people’s traditional residence is the Lang Biang Plateau in Bidoup Nui
Ba National Park of Lam Dong Province. Although the Chil people are
not large in number, they are the main ethnic group that has survived
hundreds of years in the ecological conditions and diversity of species of
Biduop mountains. They have created a large social community with
cultural values that reflect their cultural identity. Since the unification of
the country, however, the Party and State’s policies of economic
development and immigration, especially since Lang Biang was
recognized as the world’s Biosphere Reserve, Chil people's lives are
heavily influenced by the process of management, conservation, and
development in the Biosphere Reserve. Therefore, the Chil people are an
important object that needs to be paid attention to in the process of
management, planning, and sustainable development of Lang Biang
Biosphere Reserve.
Therefore, it is necessary to explore the Chil people’s changes and
adaptations in livelihood activities to manage, protect and rationally

exploit their natural resources, especially in the current context of
development and integration. So far, there have been many studies on
ethnic minorities in Lang Biang but there have not been any intensive
and systematic studies on the Chil people’s livelihoods.
From the above analysis, the author has conducted research titled
“The Chil people’s livelihoods in Lang Biang Biosphere Reserve of Lang
Dong province: Tradition and change” as her doctoral dissertation in

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Anthropology. By examining the change and factors as well as the Chil
people’s adaptation in livelihood activities, the dissertation hopes to
provide practical materials as a basis for building programs of developing
the Chil people’s livelihoods while protecting the natural environment as
well as biodiversity in Lang Biang Biosphere Reverse.
2. Research purpose and tasks
2.1. Research purpose
Identifying traditional livelihoods and clarifying the change of current
livelihoods of the Chil people compared with their traditional ones.
Analyzing factors affecting the change of the Chil people’s
livelihoods today compared with their traditional ones.
Identifying the problems of the current livelihoods of the Chil people
about sustainable development, especially the management and
conservation of landscape and biodiversity in Lang Biang Biosphere
Reserve.
Proposing recommendations and solutions to develop sustainably the
Chil people’s livelihoods in the process of managing and protecting
natural resources in this area.
2.2. Research tasks

The study aims to systematically and fully collect information to
identify traditional livelihoods and explore how the change of the Chil
people’s livelihoods in Lang Biang Biosphere Reserve today is different
from their traditional ones.
The study points out factors affecting the change of livelihoods of the
Chil people today compared to their traditional ones.
Proposing some recommendations and solutions to ensure sustainable
livelihoods for Chil people in Lang Biang Biosphere Reserve in the
current context of the country’s industrialization, modernization, and
international integration.

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3. Research subject and scope
The research subject of the dissertation is the tradition and current
livelihood activities of the Chil people in Lang Biang Biosphere Reserve
of Lam Dong province.
The research scope of the dissertation is Lac Duong district, Lam
Dong province. In Lac Duong district, 3 communes were selected as
research sites including Dung K’no, Da Sar, and Lac Duong town.
Regarding time: The study is divided into two periods: the first one
from 1975 to 1986 when Bidoup Nui Ba Nature Reserve was established.
During this period, the main livelihoods of the Chil people are
mountainous cultivation and natural exploitation. The second one from
1986 to 2015. In this period, the Chil people’s livelihoods have
undergone many changes due to the impact of the State policies.
4. Methodology and research methods
4.1. Methodology
To clarify aspects related to the current livelihoods of the Chil people,

the author uses anthropological, cultural, and systematic approaches. For
the cultural anthropology approach, the author considers livelihoods as
an expression of culture and puts it in relationship with other elements
such as cognitive culture, responsive culture to the natural environment.
For the systematic approach, the author puts traditional and current
livelihoods in the formation, existence, and adaptation to certain
environments and living conditions of the Chil people in relation to
factors such as natural and economic conditions, socio-cultural
institutions, and the Party and State’s policies to see the change and
development in the future.
4.2. Research methods
The dissertation mainly utilizes fieldwork, observations, in-depth
interviews, and group discussions. In addition, the dissertation also uses

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methods of questionnaire survey. In order to ensure science and
accuracy, the dissertation also uses interdisciplinary methods such as
expert, comparison, analysis.
5. New contributions of the dissertation
First, making a relatively comprehensive documentation system on
traditional and current livelihood activities of the Chil people in Lang
Biang Biosphere Reserve. Thenceforth, the study contributes to
reconstructing the picture of the Chil’s livelihood activities in Lam Dong
province in general, and in Lang Biang in particular.
Second, analyzing comprehensively and systematically the impact of
the Chil’s livelihood activities on the management and conservation of
landscape and biodiversity in Lang Biang Biosphere Reserve. Since then, it
tries to find out inadequacies and solutions for developing the livelihoods

of the Chil people in the current period.
Third, based on materials and research results, the dissertation
contributes to enriching material sources for researching, teaching, and
planning programs and policies related to land, environment, and
sustainable development, as well as conserving effectively landscape and
biodiversity in Lang Biang Biosphere Reserve.
6. Scientific and practical significance
The dissertation contributes to enriching material sources for
researching theoretically and practically livelihoods and livelihood
changes of the Chil people in Lang Biang Biosphere Reserve.
Examining factors affecting the change of Chil people’s livelihood
activities nowadays compared with their traditional livelihoods in Lang
Biang Biosphere Reserve.
Based on research results, the study proposes solutions for developing
sustainable livelihoods of the Chil people, as well as conserving
effectively landscape and biodiversity in Lang Biang Biosphere Reserve.

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7. Structure of the dissertation
Besides the introduction and conclusion, references and appendix, the
dissertation includes 4 chapters.
Chapter 1
LITERATURE REVIEW, THEORETICAL BASIS AND
RESEARCH SITES
1.1. Literature review
1.1.1. Foreign research works
Researchers around the world have examined issues relating to
livelihoods very early. However, they have mainly mentioned the

appearance of agriculture and described farming techniques, varieties,
rituals, and so on rather than intensive analysis and comparison to see the
development and changes of agricultural production of ethnic groups in
each development stage. Recently, the issue of livelihood is increasingly
concerned in sustainable development projects. Researcher Koos Neefies
is particularly interested in the relationship between poverty and
environmental change. He argues that if there are good strategies and
policies on livelihoods, it can solve the causes of environmental
degradation and poverty. Therefore, he focuses on analyzing strategies
and policies and offers feasible ways to solve problems related to the
environment and poverty. Unlike Koos Neefies, in his research, Kasi
Eswarappa is mainly interested in how people use capital resources in
their livelihood activities.
1.1.2. Domestic research works
1.1.2.1. Research works on livelihood by domestic scholars
In Vietnam, studies on livelihood activities also appeared very early
but these studies were mainly conducted by foreign scholars. These

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studies were originally intended to serve the work of foreign scholars
only.
After 1975, together with the socio-economic development policies of
the Party and State, domestic scholars have comprehensively examined
the issues in the life of ethnic minorities in general, and ethnic minorities
in the Central Highlands in particular. Especially, since Vietnam has
conducted industrialization and modernization, researchers are interested
in the livelihoods of ethnic minorities.
Later studies agreed that due to the impact of policies, cultural

exchanges between ethnic groups, religious factors, changes in the living
environment are the main causes leading to the changes of livelihoods
nowadays.
1.1.2.2. Research works on the Chil people’s livelihood
Ever since the country introduced “Doi Moi” in 1986, scholars have
been more interested in studying ethnic minorities in the Central
Highlands in general and Lam Dong in particular. By analyzing and
evaluating the effects of socio-economic policies under the FrenchAmerica era, for the livelihoods of ethnic groups in Lam Dong,
researchers argue that the policy of gathering people to establish strategic
hamlets, seize land, and setting up plantations, has changed the lives and
livelihoods of the local ethnic groups.
In recent years, scholars have intensively studied each specific ethnic
group including the Chil people. Thus, there have been articles and
studies on the Chil people so far.
Currently, there are not studies on the livelihood changes of the Chil
people nowadays compared to their traditional ones. Therefore, it is
necessary to examine this issue to enrich material sources about such
issues.

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1.1.3. General comments
In the dissertation, the author is not able to fully review and evaluate
previous studies on livelihoods. By reviewing literature, however, we
have some comments as follows:
Advantages: Most of the research works have mentioned the
importance of livelihood activities for the lives of ethnic groups in
general and ethnic minorities in particular. Previous research works have
clarified a number of issues such as the concept of livelihood, the

importance of livelihoods for human life, socio-cultural development,
and sustainable development. This is an important material source for the
author to have an overall, comprehensive view and better understand the
theoretical issues on livelihoods such as the concept, role, importance,
analytical framework as well as giving the criteria for researching and
assessing the Chil people’s livelihood changes nowadays compared to
their traditional ones. While studying livelihoods, the author learns and
inherits the concept and role of livelihood of authors such as Tran Binh,
Pham Quang Hoan, Nguyen Thi Tam, Nguyen Van Suu, Ngo Thi
Phuong Lan, Bui Minh Dao. To learn more about the changes in the Chil
people’s
livelihood,
the
dissertation
uses
methods
of
anthropological/ethnographic fieldwork to enrich material sources for the
study.
Limitations: Although the research works related to livelihoods are
very diverse and have many different approaches, there are not intensive
studies on the Chil people’s livelihoods. Thus, this is also the new point
of the dissertation.

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1.2. Some basic concepts, theoretical bases, and approaches
1.2.1. The basic concepts
- Livelihood:

Livelihood is the way people earns the money to pay for food, a place
to live over the world. Therefore, there are many research works on this
issue under many different perspectives and names such as livelihood
activities, livelihood methods, survival methods, livelihoods, economic
activities.
- Traditional livelihood
The word “tradition” in the original Latin, written as “tradio”,
including the verb “tradere (traditus) has its original meaning as
“retransmission”, “assignation”, “recommission”, “distribution”.
According to Vietnamese dictionary, the word “tradition” means age-old
nature, the process of passing on from generation to generation.
Therefore, in the simplest sense, tradition is the long-standing habits,
customs, and experiences that are passed on from generation to
generation for a long time to make the unique identity of a family, a clan,
a community, a nation. Tradition manifests itself in many aspects of life
such as economics, culture, society.
- Change
Change means the process of movement, development, and change of
phenomena and things. From a historical perspective, every society and
every field was undergoing a process of changing and interweaving
continuity and change.
- The world Biosphere Reserve
According to UNESCO, the world Biosphere Reserves are places that
include terrestrial or coastal ecosystems to promote solutions reconciling
the conservation of biodiversity with the sustainable development of the
outstanding region recognized by international. The world Biosphere

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reserves are traditionally organized into three interrelated zones, known
as the core area, the buffer zone, and the transition zone.
1.2.2. Theoretical basis and approach
Studying the Chil people’s livelihoods in Lang Biang Biosphere
Reserve, the dissertation based on the theory of Dialectical Materialism.
Considering the formation, existence, and development of socioeconomic forms in a dialectical relationship with other elements in life
such as natural environment, socio-cultural environment, historical
conditions, and ethnic psychology. The dissertation utilizes the cultural
anthropological approach and the theory of cultural ecology to
understand the changes and adaptations in the livelihood activities of the
Chil people to the impacts of objective and subjective reasons. To
provide suitable solutions to Lang Biang Biosphere Reserve, the
dissertation uses the theory of the sustainable livelihood framework.
1.3. Research sites
1.3.1. Overview of Lac Duong district
After many times of division and boundary adjustment, so far Lac
Duong district has 6 administrative units including 1 town and 5
communes (Lac Duong town, Da Sar, Da Nhim, Dung K'no, Lat, and Da
Chais commune.
Regarding geographical location: Lac Duong is a mountainous district
located in the northeast of Lam Dong province, bordering on Dam Rong
district, Lam Ha district, Da Lat city, Don Duong district, Ninh Thuan
province, Khanh Hoa province, and Dak Lak province.
Regarding economics: the main economic activity of the district is
agricultural production, but in recent years, the district's economy has
transferred to industrialization and modernization. Especially, since Lang
Biang became the world biosphere reserve, Lac Duong has identified the
tourism industry as a key economic sector based on exploiting the

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advantages of natural, ecological, traditional conditions, and cultural
traditions of the local ethnic groups.
Regarding culture and society: along with the economic development,
the district’s socio-cultural field has also achieved many important
achievements. When the district was first established, the district’s
population is mainly Lach and Chil people, accounting for 98% of the
population. Most of the people at that time were illiterate but now the
district has completed the universalization of secondary education.
Schools and teachers have met well the requirements of educational
career. The health system is invested and developed to meet the health
care of people in the district. Currently, the district has an average of 9
doctors per ten thousand people. 100% of commune health stations meet
national standards. In particular, the district is very interested in poverty
reduction. In 2018, the overall poverty rate in the district decreased to
3.99%, in which, ethnic minority households decreased to 5.26%.
1.3.2. Overview of Chil people
According to the 2009 List of Vietnamese ethnic groups, the K’ho
ethnic group has 6 local groups (K’ho Sre, K’ho Chil, K’ho Nop, K’ho
Lach, K’ho T'ring, and K’ho Co Don). Chil people are one of the 6 local
groups of the K’ho ethnic group. Currently, when conducting census of
population, local officials combine 6 local groups of the K’ho ethnic
group into one, so there is almost no data on the Chil people in each
commune.
Traditionally, the Chil people's residence is Lang Biang Plateau in
Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, which is the core and buffer zone of Lang
Biang Biosphere Reserve nowadays. According to the administrative
boundaries among districts and towns in Lam Dong, in the past, the Chil
people’s living area is in Lac Duong district of Lam Dong province.

Although they are a local group of the K’ho ethnic group - not many

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people, the Chil people play an important role in the process of exploring
and developing the South of Central Highlands, especially in Lang Biang
biosphere reserve of Lam Dong province.
Chapter 2
TRADITIONAL LIVELIHOODS OF THE CHIL PEOPLE
2.1. Forest exploitation
Traditionally, the Chil people entirely depended on forests. They set a
forest on fire, logging to build houses and other things, hunting wild
animals for food, and picking vegetables, fruits and tubers in the forest.
The forest is the Chil people’s living space, living environment, and as
working environment, conditions, production and harvesting. For the
Chil people, not every forest can be exploited, not every season has the
right to exploit. Traditionally, the Chil people divide forests into 4
categories: old-growth forests, ghost forests, watershed forests and
exploited forests. Corresponding to each type of forest, the Chil people
have behavior to effectively and rationally exploit natural resources in
their way to preserve the living environment. Such behavior is handed
down from generation to generation to make local knowledge of the
ethnic group.
Traditionally, all forest land and forest products were owned by the
community. All people in the community are also conscious of protecting
and exploiting forests in accordance with rules and customary laws of the
community, especially for forbidden forests such as old-growth forests,
ghost forests, and watershed forests.
2.2. Agricultural production

2.2.1. Shifting cultivation
Due to living in the deep forest, the Chil people usually slash-andburn. They mainly grow short-term crops and food crops such as squash,

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rice, corn, etc. in the mountain field. However, unlike other ethnic
groups, the Chil people’s main crop is corn.
The Chil people’s cultivation technique in this period is very
rudimentary and mainly using human power.
Because the Chil completely depend on nature, they have many rituals
related to production.
2.2.2. In regards to breeding
Breeding is a regular and almost mandatory activity of every Chil
family.
Traditionally, the Chil people’s common animals are usually buffalo,
pig, chicken, and dog. Their livestock breeds have many biological
characteristics similar to species in the forest, so they do not much care
and have good health. The Chil people do not discriminate breeding
animals from another and they usually use breeding animals that were
born by their mother.
Breeding techniques in this period were quite simple. Most of the
livestock, in tradition, is raised by the free-range.
The purpose of livestock breeding of the Chil people in this period is
to serve offerings, festivals, weddings, and provide a part of food for
daily life rather than commodity products although they sometimes use it
to exchange other items.
2.2.3. Handicraft
Knitting is a popular job in the Chil community. Men are in charge of
doing this job and this is a mandatory criterion for young people when

they become adults. Knitting is usually done in the leisurely months.
Popular products are panniers, baskets, closely-woven baskets, fishing
tools, mats, hunting tools.

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Women are in charge of weaving. If knitting is the norm for young
men, weaving is a mandatory criterion for girls. Weaving is carried out in
the whole year but the busiest time is the leisurely months.
Blacksmithing takes place in almost every village and is performed by
men. However, each village has only one or two people doing this work.
The main job of a blacksmith is to repair farm tools and household
equipment such as knives, axes, hoes, sickles, plows, harrows, etc. Due
to the limitation of repairing, blacksmithing is not professional.
2.3. Commodity Exchange
Because the Chil people have been living in the deep forest and on the
slopes, they seldom interact with other ethnic groups. Therefore, trading
does not happen often, only when there is an urgent need, they do
conduct exchanges. The scale of exchanges is also relatively narrow and
they usually exchange with other ethnic groups in the same area. During
this period, the Chil people usually exchange objects such as woven
sheets, buffalo to get products for daily life such as salt, fish sauce. In
this period, measurement unit was usually in pieces, amounts.

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Chapter 3
LIVELIHOODS OF THE CHIL PEOPLE NOWADAYS

3.1. Changes in forest exploitation
After the reunification of the country, the land law was revised, the
land and forests were managed by State and forestry enterprises, so the
Chil people are no longer exploiting forests for free. In the past, the Chil
made slash and burn, logging to build houses and hunting wild animals,
they currently listen to authority’s propaganda to protect forests and
reforestation. Due to the change of managing land and forests, the
traditional classification of forests no longer exists and is not important
to the Chil people. Like forest classification, the rules of deforestation of
the Chil in the past are not almost existed. Hunting wild animals and
forest products are also prohibited.
3.2. Changes in agricultural production
3.2.1. Changes in shifting cultivation
Currently, the Chil people live sedentarily and produce on certain
areas of land. On the fields in the mountains, the Chil people also
intercrop between perennial and short-term plants. However, in many
fields, they cultivate a certain species of tree only. In the past, the coin
was the main crop in their life, but nowadays coffee is the main crop of
the Chil people. Currently, the Chil people apply science and technology
to production, so crop productivity is quite high. Their rituals related to
agricultural production are almost non-existent.
Agricultural products have become goods to be exchanged in the
market.
3.2.2. Changes in breeding
Like tradition, breeding is still maintained and developed. Currently,
in addition to local breeds, they also raise new imported breeds. Breeding
techniques are transferring from free-range to the cared captivity. The

14

current purpose of breeding, in addition to serving the needs of life, is
gradually becoming commodity products that bring the Chil to income.
3.2.3. Changes in craft
Due to the changes in the living environment and natural conditions,
materials of handicrafts are no longer freely exploited from forests, raw
materials are scarce. On the other hand, due to the impact of the market
mechanism, the Chil people’s traditional crafts are gradually disappeared.
Most of young people today no longer know how to knit. Weaving is still
kept by a few families only. Most of the villages no longer have
blacksmiths. Traditional handmade products are replaced by industrial
products of fabrics, clothing, plastic products, metal products.
3.3. Changes in the commodity exchange
After 1975, especially since the country’s Doi Moi (1986), the
commodity exchange has had a drastic change. Exchanging something
for something else in tradition is increasingly replaced by Vietnamese
money.
Currently, the market economy has strongly penetrated into the
economic life of the Chil people. Monetary relations have replaced the
exchange of something for something else. Trading at the market is
common, especially in towns and communes that are close to the center.
Villages are far from the center, buying and selling mainly take place in
grocery stores.
Some Chil households have also participated in commercial and
service activities such as opening cafes, refreshment bars, small
restaurants, and grocery stores.
3.4. Some new forms of livelihoods
In order to adapt to the new conditions, in addition to some traditional
livelihoods, currently, the Chil community in Lang Biang Biosphere

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Reserve has several new livelihood forms such as community tourism,
hired labor, participate in state management and civil servants.
Chapter 4
CHANGING TRENDS AND SOLUTIONS FOR DEVELOPING
LIVELIHOODS OF THE CHIL PEOPLE
4.1. Factors affecting the livelihood change of the Chil people
4.1.1. Land policy
After liberation in 1975, the land law was fixed over stages including
the 2013 land law. The State stipulates that land is owned by the entire
people. Giving up the right of possession, the Chil people as well as other
ethnic groups in the whole country were only occupied a very small area
according to the quantitative framework. Three areas of land for living,
farming, and religious practice are separated. The Land Law only
recognizes the residential land tenure, the right to possess over excavated
material is gradually narrowed. The core forests, old forests, and sacred
forests associated with the practice of beliefs belong entirely to
“planning”, local people have lost their traditional ownership rights. The
people cannot continue their nomadic lifestyle. The practice of earth
dumping and restoring natural forests cannot be carried out because the
production land is no longer enough to meet the needs of cultivation for
providing food. The exploitation of natural resources of forests that are
not part of production land is strictly prohibited. Accordingly, the Chil
people's animist and polytheistic beliefs have also gradually disappeared
due to not maintaining cultural – belief ecosystem. It can be said that the
policy of ownership and land tenure has changed livelihood structure and
mode.

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4.1.2. Migration situation
Migration has caused production land to be eroded and narrowed,
causing Chil people do not have production land. To survive, therefore,
the Chil must adapt to and change their livelihoods leading to several
new livelihoods.
4.1.3. Commodity economy and integration process
The commodity economy and integration process create favorable
conditions for exchanges and trade but also create challenges for the Chil
people in the process of sustainable development, especially when Lang
Biang became a World Biosphere Reserve.
4.2. Trends in livelihood changes and sustainable development in
Lang Biang Biosphere Reserve
4.2.1. Trends in livelihood changes and sustainable economic
development
In addition to the agricultural livelihood, there are several new
livelihood activities such as hired labor, work in tourist areas, small
trade, tourism activities, and so on that have brought the Chil to income
and helped them to get jobs in their leisure time. However, in the long
term, this livelihood activity does not meet individual needs and social
goals of sustainable development.
4.2.2. Trends in livelihood changes and sustainable social
development
After liberation, especially after Doi Moi, the Party and State have
had many programs and policies to develop infrastructure in ethnic
minority areas so as to develop economy and make social justice among
people across the country, the Chil people’s living standards have also
been improved significantly. Objectively, however, the Chil people’s

economic development is not really sustainable and its consequences also
affect sustainable development of the society. Currently, compared to

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other ethnic groups in the same area, the Chil people’s poverty rate is
quite high (Chil: 58.3%; Lach: 41.6%; Sre: 39%; Kinh: 4.2%).
In addition, the level of education is also related to understanding
scientific and technical advances in production. Due to the low level of
education, despite being trained and transferred techniques, when
applying for production in practice, most of the Chil people are confused
leading to low productivity and efficiency. As a result, the Chil people
still return to rudimentary production methods and techniques such as
free-range livestock or combining captivity and free-range style. They
grow industrial plants that require simple techniques and do not take care
much such as coffee trees and persimmon trees.
4.2.3. Trends in livelihood changes and sustainable cultural
development
In the process of socio-economic development, people to be in contact
with new cultural elements, learning and accessing modern life through
mass media such as radio, internet. The acculturation of the neighboring
ethnic groups has also greatly changed the perception of the community
there. Most of them have gradually accustomed to a new lifestyle,
especially young people who are strange to many traditional cultural
values. Some cultural values still exist but are not really sustainable in
the present life.
4.3. Solutions for sustainable livelihood development for Chil
people in Lang Biang Biosphere Reserve
Through fieldwork, we found that the dramatic socio-economic and

cultural changes in the Chil community have posed challenges to the
sustainable development of the Chil people in Lang Biang area. Those
are great challenges to harmoniously resolving conflicts between
economic development and maintaining and preserving ethnic customs,
culture, and beliefs. The main matter is in livelihood solutions.

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Currently, the issue of improving livelihoods of the Chil people in
Lang Biang Biosphere Reserve also has positive premises and possible
solutions. To effectively protect the environment and biodiversity
conservation in this area, however, there should be some specific
solutions as follows:
4.3.1. Developing community livelihoods in Lang Biang Biosphere
Reserve
To do well community livelihood development, first of all, it is
necessary to fulfill the land planning and create favorable conditions for
the Chil community to access forest resources in Lang Biang Biosphere
Reserve. Second, there should be suitable policies in the economic
development and conservation as well as promoting cultural values,
beliefs, customs associated with forests and forest ecosystems. Third, it is
necessary to convert several occupations and diversify livelihoods.
Fourth, increasing investment in the development of economic
infrastructure and social services; Finally, enhancing financial capacity
and human potential.
4.3.2. Solutions to promote the Chil’s traditional culture
Ethnic minority communities in the South of Central Highlands in
general, and the Chil people in Lang Biang Biosphere Reserve in
particular, have a life closely associated with forests. Therefore, it is

necessary to have harmonious policies in economic Development and
conservation as well as promoting cultural values, beliefs, Customs
associated with forests and forest ecosystems.
4.3.4. Conservation of natural resources and forest biodiversity in
Lang Biang Biosphere Reserve
Currently, this solution is also being deployed in Lang Biang
Biosphere Reserve. By conducting fieldwork, however, the author found
that this solution has not really been effective. In the coming years,

19


therefore, it is necessary to strengthen information and propaganda to
raise awareness of the Chil people about the Biosphere Reserve and
nature conservation. In addition, it is necessary to strengthen the
coordination between Lang Biang Biosphere Reserve and local and
neighboring authorities.
Additionally, it is necessary to strengthen the voice and role of local
people in forming regulations on conservation and management of Lang
Biang Biosphere Reserve.
In Lang Biang, the Chil people participate in forest protection services
at a cost of VN$450,000 per hectare per year. The people’s responsibility
is to protect forests for a long time and ensure that the forest areas are
protected and developed in accordance with the signed contract. The
people thought that with money mentioned above, along with their
responsibility to protect and develop the forest year by year, is not
commensurate with their efforts. Thus, the effectiveness of this policy is
not high. People are not interested in forest conservation and
development under their contracts, although they still receive costs.
Therefore, in order to keep forests and develop more forest areas, it is

necessary to study and build a model of forest contracting for people.
Therefore, in order to keep forests and develop more forest areas, it is
necessary to study and build a model of forest contracting for people.

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CONCLUSION
In this study, the author has mentioned basic issues on the Chil
people’s livelihoods in Lang Biang Biosphere Reserve by contents that
meet the research purpose. There are some conclusions below.
1. The Chil people’s long-standing residence in tradition is in the
slope of the mountains of Lam Vien plateau (Lang Biang) in Bidoup Nui
Ba National Park, which is the core and buffer zone of Lang Biang
Biosphere Reserve nowadays. In the process of existence, struggle and
adaptation to natural conditions, they have created a unique culture with
their own identity, including livelihood activities. in Lang Biang
Biosphere Reserve, the Chil people’s traditional livelihoods have
demonstrated their adaptation to the characteristics of natural conditions
such as land, climate, and ecological environment. By 1986, the Chil’s
traditional livelihoods still completely depended on the forest with a
closed and self-sufficient economy. In which, “slash and burn” play a
key role. Due to the characteristics of shifting cultivation of wandering
hilltribes, their livelihoods still closely depend on forests with
rudimentary production tools, simple farming techniques, and an
irrigation system that depends on nature.
2. After 1975, especially since the country carried out the renovation
in 1986, many guidelines and policies of the Party and State have been
implemented in the Central Highlands in general and Lam Dong in
particular. These guidelines and policies have gradually changed the face

of the Central Highlands. Along with the sedentary policy, especially the
policy of closing forests by the Party and State, has strongly impacted the
Chil’s traditional livelihoods.
To adapt to the new situation, the Chil people have gradually changed
their livelihood accordingly. With the Party and State’s support, the Chil
people begin to convert crops and livestock. The conversion of crops to

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industrial ones such as coffee and persimmon has significantly changed
people’s lives. Industrial crop products help the Chil people to have
income in cash. Thereby, they can buy necessary items to serve their
daily life. Due to topographical characteristics, however, the irrigation
system does not develop, affecting productivity. On the other hand,
because they are not active in the consumption market and depend too
much on traders, prices of agricultural products usually decline. Thus,
depending too much on nature and the market, income from industrial
crops does not guarantee food security for the Chil people. Although the
State has support in seeds and techniques, limitations of awareness and
practices of breeding, the expansion of livestock production still faces
many difficulties. Due to the lack of grazing-ground, the Chil people’s
livestock is mainly the free-range style which also partly causes
environmental pollution.
Due to the Party and State’s strict forest management policy, the Chil
people’s livelihood activities from forests meet many difficulties,
especially raw materials for their traditional handicrafts. In addition, the
policy of economic integration and commodity circulation has greatly
affected the role of traditional crafts because the Chil can easily find and
buy fabrics, clothes, knives, hoes, etc. in markets and grocery stores.

Commodity exchange between the Chil and other ethnic groups also takc
place smoothly, creating many new livelihoods. The Chil people’s
economic structure has initially had positive changes in the direction of
diversifying industries, although it is not really strong and sustainable.
Currently, the exploitation of forest products is prohibited and no
longer holds an important position in the Chil’s livelihoods, instead of,
they receive money from forest keeping. Changes in their livelihoods,
from forest exploitation to forest protection make the Chil feel that they
are not really forest owners but just hired workers so they are not

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satisfied with this work. This also affects the conservation of the
biodiversity landscape of Lang Biang Biosphere Reserve.
Although the Chil people’s livelihoods today have many changes
compared to the traditional ones. However, land policies, the
immigration situation as well as the commodity economy and integration
process have affected the sustainable livelihood development of the Chil
people in Lang Biang Biosphere Reserve.
Due to the land policy, the Chil do not have much productive land.
Land areas are nationalized by the State so the Chil are not free to
exploit, they have to produce in certain areas while not guaranteeing their
production techniques and financial resources, so land reclamation
encounters many difficulties leading to low productivity. In addition,
sedentary farming and resettlement, fixed production in certain lands has
fundamentally changed the cultural characteristics, rituals and beliefs of
the Chil people.
In addition to land policy, migration (free and organized by the state)
also creates conflicts in the process of sustainable development in Lang

Biang Biosphere Reserve. Mass migration has disrupted the ecology and
culture of the Chil, and other ethnic groups in the same area.
Additionally, the lack of understanding about the land use and possession
of the local people is the main reason leading to the land disputes
between the local ethnic people and migrants. It can be said that the
disturbance of population and ethnic structure has created conflicts in the
local ethnic groups’ lives, including the Chil people.
One of the factors affecting the sustainable development of the Chil
people in particular, the local ethnic groups in Lang Biang Biosphere
Reserve is the commodity economy and integration process. The
commodity economy uses Vietnamese currency and freely trading has
created excitement in trade. The Chil people and local ethnic groups can

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