Báo cáo khoa học nông nghiệp " project Results in Nác village- VN/MOA/03-001 " doc

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project Results in N¸c village- VN/MOA/03-001

(EC/UNDP - SGP PTF)


Author: Lª Sü Hång


I. Basis information of the project
1.1 Status of economy, society, production and forest resource of the project site
Geographical position: Nac village belongs to Lien Minh commune, locates in the south of Vo
Nhai district, Thai Nguyen province, and to be about 70 km apart from Thai Nguyen City.
Located in a high mountain, the Village shares boundary with Bac Giang province and other
districts, so that it has a very important position.

Natural area of the Nac Village is 2000 ha (equally with the area of a commune in
neighbour areas). However, the boundary area of the Village is being invaded by be
people from Yen The District (Bac Giang), Dong Hy (Thai Nguyen), and other villages
of the Commune. In fact, the Village is managing only 1300 ha. This limits the success of
the forest resource management and economy development of the Village.
With the natural area of 1300 ha, the Village has about 1100 ha of forest and
forestland, 25 ha of farming land (cultivate only one time per year), and 100 ha for
shifting cultivation.

Economic-society status:
Population and awareness: The Village has total 102 families with 486 people (an
average of 5 people/family). The Village has 3 main ethnic communities, of which Dao
occupies 80%, Kinh is 16%, and Nung is 4%. Most of local families have resided for
ages with the traditional custom is shifting cultivation. There is about 0.5% of population

graduated from high school, illiterate rate of labour is 20 %. In general, local awareness is
low, illiterate rate of the Village is around 30%.

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Infrastructure: There is only 8 km of main road from the Commune to the Village center
built in 2002 funded by the 135 program and the permanent agriculture and settlement
program. The Village is divided into 3 resident areas, and the distance between these
areas is from 3-4 km. The distance from the farthest family to the center is 6 km, and the
main transportation is on foot. There is no irrigation system, so that local people cultivate
based completely on rainfall. The Village does not have electricity and village clinic.
There are 4 poor class rooms for primary school, but secondary school pupils have to
learn in the Commune (8-14 km on foot), and high school pupils have to stay in the
district.
Living standard: The income of local people is only 100,000-120,000
VND/person/month. The number of hungry family is 63 of 102, equally with 67%
(statistic data of the Village in 2005) .
Residents are divided into 4 groups according to geographical condition. Rich
families concentrate on the Center and Khe Can area. In contrast, two groups living in
Suoi Tram – Suoi Bua and Mang Lon are very poor. Houses are simply constructed and
their roof is usually made by thatch.
The income is mainly from agriculture. People can also harvest bamboo shoot
from forest. In general, those products are just enough for self using, not for comercial
purposes.
There is no Agriculture and forestry extension implemented in the village,
probably due to a long distance from the center, complicated terrain and scattered
residence of the Village.

Forest resource management
Forest resource status: The Village manages around 1100 ha of forests and forest land,
of which 600 ha are poor and rehabilitated. There are 500 ha of another land covered by

grass and scattered trees. This area is being planned for afforestation. However, at the
moment, there is only small area that is covered by plantation forests. Terrace field is
scattered widely in the area of the Village.
Status of forest resource management: Before the commencement of the project, almost
all forests had been allocated to 65 households to manage and use since 1997. Despite a
large forest area, local people are very poor, because (1) Forest is too poor to provide

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forest products; (2) Local people lack money to invest, lack knowledge and techniques.
The effectiveness of the forest and forest land allocation is low as people are still poor
and forest is still degrading. There have not been any projects or programs to help local
people here, except the current project (
SGP PTF). Even the activities of propagandism to
protect and develop forest are rarely implemented due to the fact that the conditions of
the Village are too difficult for forest guards to come and work and the authority lacks
information of the Village. Therefore, illegal issues such as random cutting or shifting
cultivation are normally not treated.
1.2 Awareness of local people of the project objectives, expected results and main
activities
Due to the fact that the Village has not benefited from any common projects and
programs such as PAM, 327 and 661, SGP PTFis the first project to be implemented in
the Village. Actually, the main road was only built in 2002, but before one had to pass 14
km of forest road to come to the Village. Therefore, all people of the Village are very
happy to care about the project. Through meetings within community, people understand
the objectives, activities and expected outcomes of the project. People all know this
project funded by UNDP would help to develop and protect forests and improve living
standard of local people.

1.3 Community based forest management in the project site
Forest of Nac Village is allocated to groups of locale people to manage and use forest.

This is consistent with the distribution of population and custom of local people.

1.4 The care of local people to forest protection
Forest managed by the Village is the watershed a stream and river system, so that it plays
a very important role to protect the environment and balance the ecosystem of the region.
The loss of forest has created disasters such as flooding, lack of water for daily
consumption and for cultivation. Local people are aware of the problems, particularly
since the time they were propagandized by the project staff and technicians.

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II. Results of the project
Activities
implemented
Results written in the Report Results from field
evaluation
Expert comments
1 Establish groups
to use forest

- 4 groups to use forest were established,
including M¸ng lîn, Khe C¹n, Center, and
Suoi Tram groups, with 77 households to
attend
- Each group has a leader and vice leader
and having clear responsibility.
- Each group has its own principle and
activity plan
- Like as reported.

- The establishment
of 4 groups according
to geographical,
custom conditions of
the Village is
consistent.
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Land use
planning in the
Village
- Land use planning was implemented in
period of 4-5/2005 with participation
from forest guard, land management,
agriculture division, commune leaders
and people of Nac Village.
- Determined boundary, developed status
map and planning map for land use
planning for the next 10 years.
- Status map and planning maps with the
scale of 1/10.000
Activities completely
implemented in the field,
data, reports and maps
were completed and
stored in the community
house.

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Land and forest
allocation

- Allocated land and forest land to 4
groups as soon as the land use planning
completed (5/2004).
- 646,35 ha of forest and forest land were
allocated to 4 groups to manage and use,
including: IIa:339.7 ha; Ic: 224.9 ha; bare
land Ia+Ib: 66.9 ha; terrace field: 14.85 ha
- Completed technical documents
according to decision signed by Chair of
People Committee.
- Allocated in the field
following agreement
- Restored documents,
including basis document,
map of land and forest
land allocation, Decision
to allocate forest and
forest land to groups
signed by Chair of People
Committee.


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Quarter II/2004:
- Started nursery activities. A list of
suitable species for planting and
rehabilitating was determined, and
location and design of nursery were
completed.
- Two technical transfers (each lasted 2

days) were held with 76 households
participated. The main topic was
techniques to produce forest seedlings for
plantation and rehabilitation.
- Reported activities and
progress are correct
Quarter III/2004:
- Constructed 4 nurseries, provided
equipments for producing seedlings, each
nursery could produce 80000-120000
seedlings/year.
- Produced 4100 breed culms of Luong
(Dendrocalamus), 600 breed culms of Bat
Do bamboo, and 15000 eucalyptus
seedlings
- Seeds of Acacia, Chukrasia, Canarium,
Dedrocalamus sericeus, and container
bag, fertilizer were provided to local
people.
- 4 nurseries for 4 groups
were established, the
capacity was from 80000
- 120000 seedlings/year,
higher than designed.
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Nursery activity
Quarter IV/2004:
- Producing 80000 containers and
growing seed of Acacia and
Dedrocalamus sericeus into containers.

As stated in the Report


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From 5/ 2004 up to now, the nurseries
have produced around 200.000 seedlings,
including: 4000 breed braches of Luång,
400 breed branches of Bat Do bamboo,
and the rest is Acacia and Manglietia
conifera, as follows:
- Mang Long group has produced 55.000
standard seedlings for planting, including
species of Acacia, Manglietia,
Denrocalamus, and Bat DO bamboo.
- The Center group has produced 61.000
seedlings of which 56.000 seedlings are
standard for planting, including species of
A. mangium, Eucalytus, Bat Do bamboo,
Chukrasia, Canarium, Dedrocalamus
sericeus.
- Khe can group has produced 40.500
standard seedlings, including Eucalytus,
Bat Do bamboo, Chukrasia, Canarium,
Dedrocalamus sericeus.
- Suoi Tram group has produced 40.000
seedlings for planting, including A.
mangium, Eucalytus, Bat Do bamboo,
Canarium.

- Interviewed each group
leader and assessed the
field, the number of
seedlings reported is
reliable.
- In general, seedlings
grow well, and attain
standard for planting.
However, there are still
some mistakes such as
some times a container
may have 2-4 seedlings.



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Quarter II/2004
- Determined list of planting species,
including tea, mango, litchi, persimmon,
and Tephrosia candida
- Held 3 day training course for 22
householders
- Designed and carried out models: (1)
0.2 ha tea DPT1 + Tephrosia candida; (2)
0.5 ha tea 0.5 ha tea + fruit trees +
Tephrosia candidaÝ; (3) 0.3 ha mangoi +
porsimmon. Survival rate is 98%, trees
grow well
- Meetings with local
people held to select

suitable species for
planting
- Technical transfers were
held as reported.
- 3 models on the field
growing well. However,
bands of Tephrosia
candida have nearly been
cut.

Quarter III/2004:
- Planted 1 tea PTL1 with the density of
10.000 seedling/ha, Tea grows well in
area of all 4 groups.
- Planted 2 ha of fruit trees with the
density of 350 trees/ha, including mango,
orange and porsimmon.
- Survival rate is 95%.

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To assist to
develop
industrial trees
and fruit trees on
fixed terrace
field and garden
- Final report has 28 models of tea hybrid
and fruit trees implemented by 4 groups.
Area of tea hybrid is 7 ha. Area of fruit
tree is 3 ha, in which orange is 2,74ha;

porsimmon is 0,1ha; Australian mango is
0,1 ha; and longan is 0,18ha.



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To assist to
develop rice and
other crops
- 02 training courses on techniques to
cultivate rice, corn, and soybean with 76
participants from 4 groups selected.

- Implemented as
reported.


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- Assist breeds, fertilizer: 270 kg of
Khang d©n rice and 400 kg corn from 2
clones 999 and 888, 60 kg soybeans.
- Mang Lon group cultivated 1.3 ha of
Khang dan rice, 0.3 ha of corn, with the
yield was 4200-4400 kg/ha; corn 888 and
999: 2.6 ha, yield 5100-5200 kg/ha.
- The Center group cultivated 1.9 ha of
Khang dan rice, yield attained 4400
kg/ha; Clone corn 888 and 999: 10.5 ha,
yield was 5100 -5400 kg/ha.
- Khe can group cultivated 2.4 ha of

Khang dan with yield attained 4300
kg/ha; 0.6 ha 2 clones had yield to attain
4500 kg/ha; corn 888: 11.3 ha with the
yield attained 5000-5300 kg/ha.
- Suoi Tram – Bua: cultivated Corn 999:
2.2 ha, yield attained 5200 kg/ha; Hybrid
soybeans: 1.1ha, yield attained 3000 kg/ha.
- assistance was carried as
reported.
- Through interviews and
meetings, some local
people said that the yield
is some what lower than
reported, from 100-300
kg/ha.


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Training on
forest planting
- 02 training course, each lasted 2 days
(14-17/8/2004)
As reported

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Planting
dendrocalamus
- Planted 6 ha of Dendrocalamus in the
Quarter III/2004, equally allocated 1.5 ha
to each group, the density was 300

trees/ha
- The area of
Dendrocalamus planted is
as reported. The species
grows well. However, the
tending such as cleaning
grass is not well done.


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Planing other tree
species
Up to the Quarter II/2005, the area of
plantation achieved:
- Mang Lon group planted 27.5 ha,
including: Manglietia conifera: 5 ha,
Acacia: 22.5 ha, average survival rate is
95-98%.
- Khe can group planted 24 ha, of
which Manglietia conifera: 3.7 ha;
Acacia: 18.3 ha; Eucalyptus: 1 ha;
Dendrocalamus membranaceus: 1ha.
Survival rate is 95-98%.
- The Centre group planted 28 ha, in
which Manglietia conifera: 5.8 ha;
Acacia: 2.2 ha; Eucalyptus: 2 ha. Survival
rate is 95-99%.
- Suoi Tram – Bua planted 19 ha, in
which Manglietia conifera11 ha; Acacia:

8 ha. Survival rate is 95-98%.
- Area of scattered trees is
difficult to measure.
However, the area of
scattered trees is about
100 ha based on number
of trees planted.
- Survival rate is 95%

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Restoration to
promote natural
regeneration
- Training 30 people (1 class) on
restoration to promote natural
regeneration
- 120 ha plantation forests of 4 groups
were restored-oriented protection to
promote regeneration, activities
implemented: clear vines, un-benefited
trees.
Training was held, and
restoration – oriented
protection to promote
natural regeneration was
implemented.

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Establish credit
fund for groups

- With the money of 15 million VND
assisted by the project in 2004 (Quarter
III/2004) with the low interest (0,5%) to
members of group to cultivate. Monthly,
members of groups contribute money into
the fund. This contribution could include
money received from selling seedlings
and other activities. Currently, the fund is
34.984.000 VND.
As reported Activities are very
effective

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Create logo,
advertise the
program
- Created 40 logos in nurseries and testing
models, including 36 logos of 25 x 40 cm;
4 logos of 1.5 x 0.5 m. (Quarter III/2004)
- 05 advertisement boards are created.
Logos and advertisement
boards are well protected.

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Build community
house
Built community house of 40 m2 - The house was
completely built late
2004, and is now been

using. Roof is damaged,
but is fixed.

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Propagandising
forest protection
to pupils
- 4 times of propagandism was carried out
for pupils of primary schools and
secondary school of Lien Minh
Commune.
- As reported
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Purchase office
equipment
- Purchased 1 document wardrobe
- 1 set of Xuan Hoa table and
chairs
- Personal computer
- Wardrobe, table and
chair were used in the
community house.
- Computer is used by
accountant


III. Assessment the quantity and quality of activities
3.1. Results of activities implemented
Results
implemented

Amount Quality comment
1 Establish groups to
manage and use
forest

- 4 groups to manage and use forest - 4 groups have effectively worked.
Group leaders/vice leaders are very
responsible, and to be respected by group
members. All groups have a general
principle to protect forest also to benefit
from the results. However, each group
has several its own principle according to
the specific features of the group.

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2 Land use planning of
Nac Village
- Determined the boundary, built status
maps and planning maps for the next
10 years for the Village

- Status maps and planning maps with
scale 1/10.000 were completed.
- Restoration – oriented protection
remains some problems. For example,
there are terrace fields of local people
within the forests protected. Some bare
land really needs to replant forests.
3 Land and forest
allocation

- 646.35 ha of forest and forest land
were allocated to 4 group to protect
and use, including: IIa:339.7 ha; Ic:
224.9 ha; bare land Ia+Ib: 66.9 ha;
terrace field: 14.85 ha
- Maps established, and decision signed
by the Chair of People Committee to each
group
- Maps are accepted
- Allocated boundary in the field.
4 Nursery activities
4.1 Training on
producing seedling
02 trainings on techniques to produce
seedlings
- Through interviewed, all most all
families know techniques to produce
seedlings, normally from seed (by sexual
method), and some from breed branches
such as Denrocalamus and Bat Do
bamboo.
4 2 Establish nursery 4 nurseries and necessary equipments
established to provide a capacity of
producing 80000 to 100000
seedling/nursery/year

Nurseries established following technical
procedures, such as flat level, position,
water source, protection… Capacity of
each nursery is from 100000 – 120000

seedlings/year. The nursery system is
very significant as the area needs a large
number of standard seedling for planting
and rehabilitation.

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4.3 Producing seedlings - 200000 seedlings, including:
+ 4000 breed branches of
Dedrocalamus
+ 400 breed branches of Bat do
bamboo
+ Main number of seedlings is
Manglietia conifera, Acacia,
Eucalytus.
- Provided 200000 seedlings for the
plantation program as designed, including
4000 breed branches of Dedrocalamus
and bat do bam boo, 30000 seedlings of
Manglietia conifera, 156000 seedlings of
A. mangium, 15000 seedlings of
Eucalytus, 7000 Chukrasi, and 3000
Dendrocalamus membranaceus.
- Seedlings grow well, to attain standard
for plantation. However, some containers
still have some seedlings growing
together
5 Assist to develop industrial trees and fruit trees
5.1 Training - 2 days of training on planting hybrid
tea by breed branches
- 2 days of training to plant fruit trees

- Householders participated well
- Training contents meet the demand
from the local people
- Documents are good, training time is
consistent with people and the content of
training.
5.2 Planning tea hybrid
by branches and
planting fruit trees.
- 28 models of hybrid tea and fruit
trees, in which:
+ Hybrid tea 7 ha
+ Fruit trees 3 ha (sugar orange
2,74ha; Nhan Hau persimmon: 0,1ha;
Australian Mango: 0,1 ha; Longan:
0,18ha).
- The planted area is correct
- Hybrid tea grows well.
- Fruit trees grow and develop well.
Several models closed to houses are not
fended, sot that they are damaged by
buffalo or cow, such as the orange model
owned by Mr. Trieu Van An.

5 Assist to develop growing rice and other crops
5.1 Training 02 training courses on techniques to
grow rice, corn and soybean.
- Householders well participated
- Training contents are consistent with
local demand.

- Time for the training courses is suitable.

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5.2 Growing rice and
other crops
+ 5.6 ha of Khang dan rice, and 0.9 ha
Hai dong rice
+ Corn 888 and 999: 46.4 ha
+ Hybrid soybean: 1.1 ha

- Planted area for the selected species is
correct.
- Breed of rice, corn and soybean
transferred to local people are as
reported.
- Crops grow and develop well
- Yield of rice, corn and soybean is
higher than the yield of local breeds.
6 Planting forest - 02 training courses were held, each
course lasted 2 days (14-17/8/2004)
Training content is consistent with local
demand, easy to understand and follow.
Local people basically could apply
techniques to plant forests.
7 Planting (Luong)
Dendrocalamus
membranaceus
- Planted 6 ha of Luong in Quarter
III/2004, equally allocated 1.5 ha to
each group. The density was 300

tree/ha
Luong area planted in 2004 grows well.
However, the tending as cleaning grass is
not good. If the tending is performed
well, the species will grow much better.

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8 Planting other forest
species
- 25.5 ha of Manglietia conifera
- 70 ha of Acacia
- 01 ha of Eucalyptus
-01 ha of Dendrocalamus
membranaceus


- The survival rate is 90-95%, due to:
Seedlings area are good quality, and
techniques for planting and tending are
well applied.
- Tending applied for the plantation forest
is good, but grass is not well cleaned in
some area, so that this could reduce the
growth of the forest.
- In some cases, there are 2-3 trees
planted at the same position (due to the
transplanting seeds into container), and
this will impact on the growth of trees. It
is therefore necessary to thin those trees,
just remain the best one.

- Forest area is scattered, so that it is not
clear to see the whole area.
- Buffalo and cow still damage forest
trees, particularly the young forest.
- Some householders planted forest later
that planned due to the site preparation
was lately implemented.
9 Restoration – oriented protection to promote natural regeneration
9.1 Training on restoration
to promote natural
regeneration
- Training for 30 people (1 class) on
techniques of restoration – oriented
protection to promote natural
regeneration.

- After the course, local people
understand how to apply restoration –
oriented protection to promote natural
regeneration.
9.2 - 120 ha forest of 4 groups is protected
to promote natural regeneration:
protection, clear vines and un-
benefited plants.

The activities have been effectively
implemented. This is thought to be better
than areas that funded by 661 and did the
same thing. Furthermore, some money
extracted from the fund is contributed to

the community development fund.

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10 Establishment of credit
fund
In Quarter III/2004, the credit fund of
each group was established, and then it
has effectively worked. The initial
fund was 15 million VND assisted by
the project. One year after the
commencement, the fund was 35
million VND.
The fund is effectively working. The
most importance is that local people can
borrow money from the fund with low
interest to develop growing forest, crops
or razing animal. To the understand of the
author, the community credit is the first
time applied. The community is growing
as agreed by the community, some
money from protection will contribute to
the fund.
11 Create logo,
advertisement board
- 36 logos with the size of 25 x 40 cm;
4 logos with the size of 1.5 x 0.5 m; 05
advertisement boards at the
community areas.
- The quality of logos and advertisement
boards are good.

- They are well shown and protected. .
12 Establish community
house
- Established the community house
with the area of 40 m2.
- The community housed was completed
in late 2004, and has been well used after
that.
- Ceiling is lightly damaged, and is being
fixed.
13 Propagandise on
forest protection for
pupils
- 4 times to propagandize pupils in the
primary school and secondary school
of Lien Minh Commune.
- Each time last 1 day as designed.
- The content is consistent with the
awareness of pupils.
- The method/approach to propagandise
is good.
14 Purchase office
equipment
- Purchased 1 document wardrobe
-1 set of Xuan Hoa table and chairs
- Personal computer
- The equipments are good in quality,
and contribute a lot for the good
implementation of the project.

3.2. Assessment of advantage, disadvantage and the way to implement the project

• Advantage:
- The activities were planned based on the participation of local people.

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- The participation of local people was enthusiasm and responsible for the general
benefit, and participated people are direct beneficiary.
- Activities implemented were monitored by local people
- The flexibility of SGO PTF and the project management board based on the
demand and comments from community to adjust amount and content of activities
initially planned. For example, to increase the area of forest plantation, and
transfer money of field creation (only some families benefit) to other activities
that the whole community can benefit.

• Disadvantage:
- Forest and forest land have been allocated to the Village, but not to community,
so that it is hard to propagandise the local people about the community forest.
- Because of having no forest land, some householders do not attend groups to
manage and use forest. This leads to the limited sharing benefit within the
community.
- Forest planted is scattered so that the significance of the program is not as
expected.

3.3. Assessment of the capacity of local people to apply the results of the project
(probability to extend, the durability of the project).
In general, local people have well applied the knowledge and skills transferred by the
project, and can themselves implement activities. Some typical activities are as follows:
- Model of planting tea branches is highly economic as it can provide local people
with daily money buy food. The techniques to plant, tend and harvest tea are

therefore very attractive to local people. Some stakeholders have established
breed branches to support to other families.

- Currently, forest planting has been an important activity in Nac Village. In 2005,
the Village planted nearly100 ha, and some more area planted by families using
their own budget. In the next year, the Village plans to plant more than 100 ha.
- The forest planting of the Village is highly appreciated by the district, the
communes and neighbor villages. This is important as it starts to change the
attitude and the plan of local people for the development of forest. This has not
happened before as forest-dependent families has low and risk incomes. After

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knowing the results of the project, many families have bought seedlings to plant
forests.
- The application of new rice and crop breeds and advanced techniques has been
considered as a sustainable solution to ensure the food security for local people.
- The credit fund developed by group has well implemented, and to be a basis for
the community based forest development fund, due to: (1) Suitable management,
development and the access to the fund; (2) Good short credit fund to assist group
member to sustainable develop growing forest and crops, also razing husbandry.
IV. Comment on the operation and management of the Project Management Board
Content Expert comment on the suitability of the contents
implemented.
I Activity of the project management Board
(B§H)
- The project management board has tried to complete task
and responsibility as stipulated in the agreement. The
monitoring and evaluation of the project have been
periodly implementing. Based on the monitoring and
evaluation results, the management board adjust the plan

and the process of the project activities.
- The implementation process is alright, and has the
monitoring and evaluation for each period. Particularly, the
board has had right suggestion and adjustment of the
silvicultural issues, such as the techniques to sow seeds
and plant seedlings and those are reasons that the Village
has a large standard number of seedlings for large area of
planting.
1. Responsibility assinged - Clear and not overlapped
2 The role of member of the project
management board
- Active and responsible for the work, to be representative
of the board to directly monitor and give comments and
adjustment. However, there are some still depend on the
board for the plan and implement activities.
3 System of record and result note - Data and information are documented, annual, midterm
and final reports are detailed and followed the selected
format.

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4 Financing management - Financing document and activities have been well
implemented. Financing report shows the finance unit has
implemented well and followed the current laws and
principles.
II. Effectiveness of using project budget - Purchased equipments have reasonable prices and quality
III. Assistant/participation of local authority and
relevant organizations
The collaboration with authorities of district and
communes is good.
IV. Recommendation of the project management

board to change the content of the project in
the coming time
No

V. Problem analysis
5.1. The relevance of project activities implemented.
The relevance of professional and technical issues of the project activity is described as
follows:
- Land use planning: This is the first important work that to be a base for the next
activities of a community forest project. This has created agreement among
stakeholders through principle/agreement to protect and use forest when these
stakeholders to attend the group to protect and use forest. For example, a
household could not transfer its forest area to another stakeholder if this breaks
the principle/agreement of the group.
- Forest and forest land allocation: Through interview with stakeholders and project
staff, the forest and forest land allocation process has 5 steps : (1) Review the
forest area allocated following the Decree 02, 1997 and the effectiveness of this
program; (2) Witting application for attending the group of community to protect
and use forest; (3) Community meetings : (4) Allocate forest and forest land to
group with participation from local people, and; (5) District introduces decision to
allocate forest and forest land to community groups. Therefore, the forest and
forest land allocation progress has been done in a sustainable and scientific way.

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- Assist to develop: Being a valuable non-timber forest product of Thai Nguyen
province, tea is a good species to alleviate poverty for most of local people of the
province. However, the initial investment to grow tea is very big for Nac Village.
Therefore, the support of the project to assist partly fund and techniques is very
appropriate. This model will be extended, and the local people can themselves
provide breed tea, so that the cost for investment will be reduced. Regarding the

environment, tea is a perennial species and its capacity to absorb water and to
prevent soil from erosion is large. Tea therefore is considered as a good species
for both economic and environmental aspects. Furthermore, forest trees need long
time to provide money from harvest, so that tea should be an appropriate species
to provide daily income for local people.
- Assist to develop rice and other crops: Some initial supports such as to partly
assist hybrid corn, fertilizer and techniques to cultivate have been very
significantly. Those help local people to attain a great results after applied the
assistance. This has helped change the attitude of local people, particularly the
householders lack information. The increase of crop productivity has contributed
to a reduction of the terrace field area. Some agro-forestry models such as to
grow terrace field rice under the shade of young Mangietia conifera has achieved
a great results.
- Forest planting: In general, the quality of plantation forest is good as the survival
rate is more than 95%. The Village attains this great success due to: (1) Seedlings
are standard before transferring to the field for planting; (2) Seedlings can be
possitibely provide from the Village; (3) The planting time and techniques are
suitable. The initial species selected are Manglietia conifera, Acacia auriculiformis,
Denrocalamus membranaceus, Bat do bamboo. Those species are suitable with the
site conditions and the market. However, concern should be paid to Eucalyptus
planting to ensure the benefit of both economic and environment.
- Community house: It is very good that a community house is built as it is an
excellent venue to organize meetings, present community agreements/principles
and activities of the community and another information.


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- Credit fund of the community group: The objective of this fund is to promote
active and creative activities of the community in management, protection and
develop forest resources. It is expected that the fund is effectively used to improve

living standard of local people also to reduce the pressure under the forest. The
fund has been loaned to local people to grow forest, crops and to raise animal with
low interest. The most poorest stakeholders have first been loaned to implement
their activities. This is a good community credit fund that has not been introduced
before. The advantage of the fund is that the money will be loaned following a
priority order, and the fund is growing as it is contributed from benefit of the
project activities.

The community credit fund is a good lesson for other village to apply due to the
difficulty in borrowing money from the credit fund. For example, the Bank for the
poor of Vo Nhai district has a program to loan money with low interest to the
poor. However, after some time there have been a few local people can borrow
this money due to the fact that local people do not have enough
documents/evidence for borrowing money (the red certificate of agricultural land
is not given, but the Bank does not accept the red certificate of forestry land). In
addition, the procedure for borrowing is complicated so that quite a few people
have patient enough to borrow. Consequently, almost all local people do not have
enough money to buy good seed/seedlings and fertilizer. Therefore, the
community credit fund is a very good solution to the problem.
- The propagandism is implemented in different ways (advertisement board,
meetings, discussion) for different groups of people (pupil, local people…).
There is a good fact that before Nac Village was known as the poorest village of
commune. However, time has changed as now people all know Nac Village is
implementing a community based forest development project funded by UNDP,
and the standard of local people is continuously improving, and the forest
resources is sustainably used and managed.
5.2. Ability of local peopel to apply the activities implemented.
Being a large village (the area is as large as a commune down stream) located in
mountainous area with very poor infrastructure and difficult transportation also a lack of

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agriculture and forestry extension services, the assistance of the project to sustainalbly
develop forest, crop and animal is very significant to improve livelihood of local people,
also to manage and develop forest resources in a sustainable way (pls see the section 4.3).

5.3. Cost of activities
The budget planned for the activities is approved and suitable. The cost for buying
breeds, fertilizer, equipments is reasonable. Labour cost and the expense for
transportation and training courses are acceptable. The cost for the project management
board and relevant units are good consistent.

Regarding the local contribution, the commune authority has greatly contributed to the
activities of the project, particularly to get the project approved from the higher
authorities. In addition, the local people contribute labour to the activities of the project
as stipulated from the agreement. The village leader has been aware that the project will
benefit to their own local people. The commune authority has also completed a task to
improve living standard of their local people, also to improve their capacity building.

5.4. Experience lessons from the project
In general, the project is successfully implemented and all objectives have been greatly
achieved. Some experience lessons of the project will be as follows:
1. The establishment and implementation of the project have to meet the demand of
local people, and local people have to participate in those activities.
2. Objectives of the project are clear, and local people are direct beneficiaries. This
encourages the enthusiastic participation of local people.
3. Activity planning should apply the approach of bottom-up, the community will be
very active with the activities and the plan will be effectively implemented.
4. Financing activities have to be clear and transparent, and local people have the
right to monitor and evaluate the financing activities.
5. Credit fund for a short period is a optimum solution to develop agriculture and

husbandry production to help local people invest in production and improve their
living standard while it is not easy to borrow money for the state credit bank. This
approves the fact that “the community fund for forest development” is a right and
sustainable program.

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6. The monitoring and evaluation of activity progress are very important to adjust the
activities and schedule to make sue that the project would attain the objectives.
7. The capacity building for the community is very important for the implantation and
the durability of the project. For example, producing seedlings at the village can
positively plan for the planting area, to increase the survival rate of seedlings, and to
increase knowledge and skills of local people. This will lead to an effective
investment for forest plantation, high effectiveness, and create jobs for local people.
8. The propagandism is very important, and great concern should be paid to this
issue based on the custom and tradition of local people.
9. Traditionally, a forest development project will focus to develop forest, but this
project has included both forest development (planting, protection, restoration –
oriented protection to promote natural regeneration…) and agriculture
development (develop rice and other crops, industrial trees ) and has achieved
great results. This approves a high relevance of the community based forest
development project implemented in Nac Village.

VI. Conclusion and recommendation
6.1 Conclusion of expert on the results of the project
Through a detailed analysis of activities and the results achieved, general conclusions
will be as follows:
- Activities of the project have been well implemented to attain the objectives
designed of the project. The time table for the activities was well applied.
- Community credit fund is a very good lesson for other village to apply, assume
that the state credit is not easy to access.

6.2 Recommendation to improve the effectiveness of the project
6.2.1 Recommendation to the project management board
- Continue to implement activities as planned
- Implement the evaluation of forest tending to direct technically this activity.
- Enrichment model should be implemented as soon as possible.
- Careful concern should be paid to the model to plant medicinal plant under forest,
whether or not to change this activity by planting more forest?

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- The project management boar by local people should be more active to organize,
implement, monitor and evaluate the activities of the project, gradually reduce the
dependence on the assisted organizations.
- The community credit fund should receive more contribution from the project and
other sources to sustain its activities to develop and protect forest and improve
living standard of local people. The project management board in collaboration
with local authority to write the proposal particularly concerning the way to
sustain and well use the fund.

6.2.2 Recommendation to SGP PTF
- Continue to assist the community credit fund to ensure the durability of the fund.
The fund is established by the forest management and use group, and is managed
by the group. The fund should be remained and developed.
- Consider the plan of the management board to change the plan of planting
medicinal plant under forest to planting more forest.
- If possible, the project should increase the transportation expense for the village
leader with some money of 50000-100000 VND/month as the road system is
difficult and complicated.