Assessing the role of non timber forest products in developing household economy of tan binh commune in ben en national park

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
VIETNAM NATIONAL FORESTRY OF UNIVERSITY

STUDENT THESIS
Title

ASSESSING THE ROLE OF NON- TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS IN
DEVELOPING HOUSEHOLD ECONOMY OF TAN BINH COMMUNE
IN BEN EN NATIONAL PARK

Major: Natural Resources Management
Code: D850101
Faculty: Forest Resources and Environmental Management
Student: Dang Thi Thao

Student ID:1253090030

Class: K57 Natural Resources Management

Course: 2012 - 2016

Advanced Education Program
Developed in collaboration with Colorado State University, USA

Supervisor: Dr. Tran Viet Ha

Hanoi, 10 / 2016
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

To complete this study, apart from my own efforts, I also receive a lot of guidance and
help from my teachers, organizations and individuals.
Firstly, I would like to give thanks to my supervisor: Dr. Tran Viet Ha, who has taught
me many precious knowledge and experiences throughout my learning and researching
process and implementing this thesis. I would like to express my gratitude to Prof. Lee
MacDonald for finding out the time to check and give advises to my proposal.
Secondly, I want to sincerely thank the Board of Directors of Ben En NP, Ben En
Forest Protection Department, Xuan Ly Forest Protection Station , Leaders and Citizens of
Tan Binh commune - where my study deploy, who created favorable conditions for during my
data gathering and investigation process.
Finally, I want to say thanks my parents, thanks for supporting me a lot during the
learning process and the implementation this thesis in Ben En NP.
I sincerely thank you!

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ABSTRACT
Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) play an important role in rural livelihoods.
People living in and around forests are dependent on a variety of NTFPs for their subsistence
and income generation. This thesis gives a general overview on the diversity and the role of
NTFPs for households living in core zone of Ben En NP. Focus on 6 villages of Tan Binh
commune to propose some solution to sustainable management NTFPs. The main method that
we used for collecting data is PRA. The results of this study indicated that NTFPs play an
important role to households located in study area. NTFPs bring up a lot of benefits to people
such as medicine, food and handcraft. Therefore, this study has proposed some solutions to
managing, protecting and developing the sources of NTFPs in Ben En NP more effectively
and sustainability.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ABSTRACT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF FIGURES
ABBREVIATION
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 1
CHAPTER 2. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES .......................................................................... 4
2.1. Goal ................................................................................................................................ 4
2.2. Objectives ....................................................................................................................... 4
CHAPTER 3. STUDY AREA CHARACTERISTIC .............................................................. 5
CHAPTER 4. METHODOLOGY .......................................................................................... 7
4.1. PRA method.................................................................................................................... 7
4.2. S.W.O.T method. ............................................................................................................ 8
4.3. Data analysis method ...................................................................................................... 9
CHAPTER 5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION..................................................................... 10
5.1. The status of NTFPs resources in 6 villages located in core zone in Ben En NP ............. 10
5.1.1. Classify based on use value of NTFPs ........................................................................ 10
5.1.2. Used and exploitation NTFPs in study area ................................................................ 12
5.2. NTFPs market in study area .......................................................................................... 14
5.2.1. NTFPs consumption ................................................................................................... 14
5.2.2. NTFPs market demand ............................................................................................... 17
5.3. Assessment of NTFPs market potential ......................................................................... 19
5.4. The role of NTFPs in households .................................................................................. 20

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5.5. NTFPs cultivation in 6 villages of Tan Binh commune in core zone of Ben En NP. ....... 22
5.6. S.W.O.T analysis in the sustainable management of NTFPs in Ben En NP and assessment
of NTFPs market potential. .................................................................................................. 24
5.7. Solution......................................................................................................................... 27
CHAPTER 6. CONCLUSION, SHORTCOMINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............ 28
6.1. Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 28
6.2. Shortcomings ................................................................................................................ 28
6.3. Recommendations ......................................................................................................... 29
REFERENCES
APPENDIX

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LIST OF TABLES
Table 5.1. List of NTFPs groups exploited and used in 6 villages of study area .................... 10
Table 5.2. NTFPs exploitation and use status in 6 villages of study area ............................... 12
Table 5.3. Market consumption and price of some non-timber species in 6 villages in study
site ....................................................................................................................................... 18
Table 5.4. S.W.O.T analysis of market demand of NTFPs in Tan Binh commune. ............... 19
Table 5.5. Statistics on the cultivation of NTFPs species in 6 villages in the study area ........ 23
Table 5.6. The strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats in the sustainable management
of NTFPs in Ben En NP ....................................................................................................... 24

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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 3.1. Map of Ben En NP ............................................................................................... 6

Figure 5.1. Map of medicinal plant market ........................................................................... 15
Figure 5.2. Map of Ornamental plants market ...................................................................... 16
Figure 5.3. Map of Plant foods market ................................................................................. 17
Figure 5.4. The income proportion of poor household group ................................................ 21
Figure 5.5: The income proportion of near-poor households group ....................................... 21
Figure 5.6. The income proportion of rich households group ................................................ 22

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ABBREVIATION
NP: National Park
NTFPs: Non-timber Forest Products.
PRA: Rapid Rural Appraisal.
S.W.O.T: Strengths – Weakness - Opportunities – Threats.

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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
Non- timber forest products (NTFPs) not only play an important role in biodiversity of
forest but also in economic development of people, who live nearby forest. NTFPs bring a lot
of benefit to them such as: food, medicine, income etc. In the international conference “The
role of non- timber forest products in poverty reduction and biodiversity conservation “was
held on 11 and June 13, 2005 in Hanoi, this international conference pointed out that 60
million people around the world live depend on forest, in which are mainly in poor countries
such as Latin America, West Africa and Southeast Asia. As in 2010 in Vietnam, the forest is
home of nearly 25 million people, in which there are about 13 million ethnic minorities,
accounting for about 14% of the national population.

In Vietnam, there are many researches on the role and current status of NTFPs, these
researches was interested scientists since 1997. There were some typical researches that could
be noteworthy below:
In 1997, Pham Xuan Hoan was studied the botanical classification of NTFPs at Phia
Đen- Nguyen Binh, Cao Bang province follow intended use. The author assessing the
situation NTFPs exploit plant is best suitable conducted by local people and provide operators
assess the situation as well as some suggestions for sustainable development of plant
resources NTFPs.
According to Hoang Hoe (1998), NTFPs resources in our country very huge, there are
many species with high economic value in which the number of medicinal plants accounting
for 22% of Vietnam plant species, there are over 500 species of plants for oil (accounting for
7.14% of total species) and there are over 600 species for tannins and lots of other species,
lubricants, fatty oils, plants. Besides, rattan, bamboo (at present, the total of bamboo area of
our country is 1.492 million ha, with about 4.1818 billion trees) bamboo is not only the

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traditional construction materials but also create incredibly beautiful product, in addition
capable of bringing the export of high values.
Le Quy Nguu, Tran Nhu Duc (1998) has focused on a description of the technical and
processing harvest remedies made from plants including plant NTFPs. Besides that, Ninh
Khac Ban (2003) initially studied NTFP resources in natural vegetation due to
overexploitation as one of the signs inform about the situation we are most threatened. He
said they should be preserved in-situ and ex-situ conservation plan genetic resources in home
gardens or on farms in the direction of sustainable use in order to reduce pressure on wild
resources, contributing to conservation Biodiversity.
In parallel with these studies, some programs being implemented such as The research
project local market for timber products in the north of Thailand by the department of
agriculture and rural development in the northern state implementation; The project studied a

number of socio-economic issues and the role of the woman for processing of rattan, bamboo
forest by scientific institutes Vietnam implemented from 1993 to 1995; Specialty reforestation
project (integrated in the program of 5 million hectares).
We can see that the development programs and research in the country have expressed
interest in NTFPs plant. However, the study of plant NTFPs in Vietnam lacks depth. Thus,
while there have been many studies, programs and projects carried out in many places, but
rather there is nowhere really to promote the role of higher plant NTFPs. especially studies
about role of non- timber forest products in developing household economy.
Ben En NP was established in 1992 by decision of the government, location in Nhu
Thanh and Nhu Xuan district, Thanh Hoa Province, Ben En not only famous with many
beautiful natural landscapes but also famous with diverse fauna and flora ecosystems,
representing lowland ecosystems in North Central Vietnam. Ben En NP is the destination of
the scientific research, besides, since Ben En NP was established many forest resources and

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wildlife has been preserved, maintenance and development ... with the strict management of
local government, all activities harmful to forests is prohibited in NP, so the local people to
focus on the exploitation of NTFPs as honey, rattan, aromatic and medicinal plants ..., and
other valuable products.
NTFPs bring great economic value to local people. Especially in reducing poverty,
improving livelihood, however, overexploitation of many poor households leading to
exhausted NTFPs, this problem seriously impact to the sustainable development of the NP.
Therefore, in addition to improving the system of mechanisms, policies and investment labor
to Ben En NP we also need assessing the great values of NTFPs in household economy
development from that propose some method to NTFPs management sustainable. Stemming
from the above reasons, I decided to do thesis. “Assessing the role of non-timber forest
products in developing household economic of Tan Binh commune in Ben En National
Park”

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CHAPTER 2
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
2.1. Goal
The goal of this study is to analysis the role of non- timber forest products in
household economic development of Tan Binh commune in Ben En NP.
2.2. Objectives
- To assess the current status of NTFPs exploitation and using in 6 villages of Tan
Binh commune in core zone of Ben En NP.
- To analyze the market and demand of NTFPs.
- To analyze the economic structure on determining household income from NTFPs.
- To determine the advantages and disadvantages of sustainable management of NTFP
in the study area.
- To propose solutions for protecting and developing NTFPs.

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CHAPTER 3
STUDY AREA CHARACTERISTIC
Ben En NP is located in Nhu Thanh and Nhu Xuan districts, 36km from Thanh Hoa
City. It is firstly established in 1992 with geographical coordinates: from 19029’to 19 041 '
North latitude and from 105 0 20' to 105 0 35' East longitude and the total natural area of Ben
En is 14 735 ha. Of which primitive forest covers 8,544 hectares (33 sq mi). There are
mounts, hills, streams, rivers in the park area. The park features a 3,000 hectares (12 sq mi)
lake with 21 islets. The diversity of plants and animals at Ben En NP remains high, about 737
plant species, 64 mammal species 194 bird species, 28 amphibian species, 58 fish species and

a high diversity of Lepidoptera (Tordoff et al. 2000). The geology of the NP is characterized
by sedimentary rocks, mudstone, limestone and alluvial soil. About 18.000 live in the buffer
and core zones of the NP and continue to exert an influence on the natural environment
people the majority of the people living in the NP belong to the Kinh, Thai, Muong, and Tay
ethnic groups, although there are also a small number of Tho people . Extraction of NTFP and
illegal logging by both local people and people from outside NP is common.
Tan Binh commune, which is located 30km from center of Ben En NP to the East, has
the area about 38,61km2. Climate in Tan Binh is featured of tropical monsoon climate. The
average hours of sunshine is from 1700 - 1900 hours / year with total heat Q = 8.5000C.The
annual average temperature is 23 – 24oC, hottest temperature is 38- 39oC in June, August.
The coldest temperature is 5oC – 9oC in January, February. Humidity ranges from 82-94%.In
addition, Tan Binh is also directly influenced by 2-3 storms with winds and heavy rainfall
affecting agricultural production and people's daily life. Population in Tan Binh (1999) is
2368 people with 568 households. People are mainly employed in Agriculture and Forest.
People mainly harvest agriculture and go to forest with handmade tools. Forest resources in
Tan Binh existed more than 100 years ago. However, in the 1980s, forest really attracted

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interest from Organizations and Government. The people in Tan Binh live depend a lot on
forest, almost income of 6 villages of Tan Binh commune

Figure 3.1. Map of Ben En NP
(Source: Hoang Van Sam- human and environmental influences on plant diversity and
composition in Ben En NP)

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CHAPTER 4
METHODOLOGY
4.1. PRA method
4.1.1. Interview
This method would apply to households who live in core zone of Ben En NP. The
number of household interviewed is 3 in which of 10 households in rich economic group, 10
household in average economic group and 10 household in poor group. Using prepared
questionnaire to ask them. The results after collecting will fill tables following:
No

Usage

Scientific

Vietnamese

name

name

Specific

Vietnamese

Consumption

Price

Market demand

name

name

place

(VND)

High medium Low

Specific

Vietnamese

name

name

Scale

Area (ha)

Time

Use value

Plant parts
use

high

medium low

1
2

No.
1
2

No
1
2

4.1.2. Discussion group.
This method will apply to object are households who are exploiting NTFPs in the NP.
So the numbers of people who take part in discussion will divide into different groups, each
group from 5 to 7 people, the total group in survey is 4 groups these group will discussion
other topics include:

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- The purpose of exploit, level of exploit, the number of exploit / year, after mining
technology
- The objects of exploit, the method of exploit, and the frequency of exploit.
- The value of NTFPs
4.1.3. Multi-voting.
This method is used to determine the priorities and needs assessment of NTFP tree
development through multi-criteria vote in the discussion group. The preliminary criteria

selected include: Easy to exploit, easily consumed, nothing high economic value, ease of
storage, available in nature.
4.2. S.W.O.T method
S.W.O.T is an acronym of the letters S - Strengths, W - Weakness, O - Opportunities
and T – Threats. In this part, use analysis tool S.W.O.T that used to assess status of object
through strengths, weakness, opportunity and threat then propose some solutions to reduce
weakness and develop by opportunity.
The performance would follow these steps below:
-Step 1: Learn reality through the study of relevant documents, interview to assess the
realistic situation.
-Step 2: in this step I will chose 4 groups, each group include 5 to 7 people belong to
objects: management, perception of local people, participation of local people and the affect
to environment from community
-Step 3: List issues
-Step 4: List strengths
-Step 5: List threats
-Step 6: Solutions
-Step 7: Use this table to analyze

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Strengths

Weakness

Opportunities Use strengths to take

Threats

Overcome weakness that stopping us

opportunity

to opportunity

Use strengths to reduce threat

Overcome weakness that can be
threat

4.3. Data analysis method
All of information after collected, use Microsoft-Excel software for data analysis.

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CHAPTER 5
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
5.1. The status of NTFPs resources in 6 villages located in core zone in Ben En NP
5.1.1. Classification based on use value of NTFPs
According to the data collected from field, this study has listed a total of 127 nontimber species which local people exploit and use for differen purposes that shown in table
5.1 following:
Table 5.1. List of NTFPs groups exploited and used in 6 villages of study area
No

Group of use

Number of

Percentage to total

purpose

species

(%)
31.5

1

Medicine

40

Rare species
Fallopia multiflora, Leea
rubra Blume, Xanthium
strumarium, etc.

2

Foods

27.6

35

cowa, etc.
11.8

3

Fibers

Melientha suavis, Garcinia

15

Calamus tetradactylus,
Dicranopteris dichotoma,
etc.

15.7
4

Ornamentals

20

Rhododendron, Cymbidium
hybrid, Anoectochilus
setaceus, etc.

3.9
5

Tannin, dye

5

Cupressus tonkinensis
Dioscoreaceae, Terminalia
myriocarpa. etc.

9.5
6

Oil

12

Abelmoschus moschatus,
Amomum xanthioides,
Pogostemon cablin, etc.

Total

127

100

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As can be seen in Table 5.1, medicinal plants group is the highest percentage
accounted for 31.5% (40 species) including some rare species such as Fallopia multiflora,
Leea rubra Blume, Xanthium strumarium. This group is one of the main income source for
local households. For mountainous area, particularly fragmented and isolated areas,
transportation is difficult, traditional medicine plays an integral part for local communities’

health. However, this remedy is simple and mainly served in place. The development of these
remedy become products and services providing for large market demand, create jobs
contributing economic development in the locality is very good.
Plants provide foods have 35 species accounting for 27.6%. This group is very
important in common life and contributes to the income of local households, in which the
popular species such as Melientha suavis and bamboo shoots are easy to harvest and consume.
However outdated mining habits, exploitation without conservation in a long time lead to the
depletion of these resource. In general food plants are very diversity and richness, widely
distributed, and it is one of market potential sources. If people is rational exploitation, these
plants has ability to be very resilient, stable yields, and less affected by the disaster factors.
Ornamental plants group with 20 species accounted for 15.7%. Interviewed people
said that these plats have high market potential with high economy value. Not only modern
life is constantly improved but also the pressure of industrial life caused to spiritual life of
residents, especially in big cities and crowded areas, the demand of ornamental plants are
increased significantly. NTFPs have many kind of products with beautiful and fragrant
flowers, diverse shapes, great shapes are preferred. Many people looking for the beautiful
shape as Barringtonia acutangula or Wrightia religiosa. This would be a good direction for
the policy to diversify the crops of farmers.
NTFPs group provides fiber and handicrafts accounted for 11.8% with 15 species.
This group is exploited and served the human needs is increasingly diverse. They are used for
fencing, wicker handmade to maintain life of local people in study area as well as contributes
significantly in generating jobs and income for households.

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Additionally, other groups provide tannin, dye and oil accounted for 3.9% and 9.5%.
These products are used in a variety of products, like cosmetic manufacturing industry,
medicine, spices instead of animal oil are good for human health.
In conclusion, NTFPs group is very diverse and richness. Medicinal group accounted

for the highest proportion of species providing NTFPs in the core area of NP. The next are
food and ornamental plants, this indicates that the potential of NTFP species of study area is
enormous.
5.1.2. NTFPs exploitation and use in study area
According to data collected from interviewing 30 households, the stury has listed 25
species that interviewee usually exploit and use for different purposes such as medicine,
food...The detail results are represented in table 5.2. and appendix 1.
Table 5.2. NTFPs exploitation and use status in 6 villages of study area
Number of species

Total

High

4 (13%)

30

Medium

15 (50%)

Low

11 (37%)

Exploitation

High

16 (53%)

and use

Medium

11 (37%)

frequency

Low

3 (10%)

Part of use

Fruit

5 (18%)

Seed

4 (13%)

Leave

4 (13%)

Stem, branches

4 (13%)

Flower

1 (3%)

Bark

2 (6%)

Root, tuber

7 (24%)

Whole plant

3 (10%)

Availability

12

30

30


The availability of 30 non-timber species is devided into 3 groups as High, Medium and
Low. The result is shown in figure 5.1.

37
High (%)
Medium (%)
13

50

Low (%)

Figure 5.1. The availability of NTFPs species in 6 villages of Tan Binh commune
As can be seen in the pie chart 5.1, the amount of NTFPs species is not numerous. The
available levels mostly are Low (37%) and Medium (50%). The NTFPs species with high
availability just occupy 13%.
Due to difference in use purpose and NTFPs value, the level of exploitation of
different species are not the same. Thence, this study divide the exploitation frequency into 3
groups: High, Medium and Low frequency and show it in figure 5.2.

10

High (%)
Medium (%)
53

37

Low (%)

Figure 5.2. The exploitation and use frequency of NTFPs species in 6 villages of Tan
Binh commune

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As a result, it is very to see that the local people exploit NTFPs species with high
frequency (53%) and medium (37%) mostly. This could be the reason for the decline of
NTFPs species in Tan Binh commune recently.
The part of use taken from 30 NTFPs species are devided into 8 groups of Fruit; Seed;
Leave; Stem and banches; Flower; Bark; Root and tuber; Whole plant that is shown in figure
5.3.

10

Fruit (%)

18

Seed (%)
Leave (%)
24
13

Stem, branches (%)
Flower (%)
Bark (%)

6

13
3

Root, tuber (%)
Whole plant (%)

13

Figure 5.3. The part of use taken from NTFPs species in 6 villages of Tan Binh commune
According to the pie chart, the root and tuber (24%) and fruit (18%) are mostly
exploited from NTFPs species for use. Flower is part of species that is taken at least (3%). A
part of NTFPs species are exploited by whole plant but the exploiter just use some part like
seed or plower. So, this lead to waste of sources.
5.2. NTFPs market in study area
5.2.1. NTFPs consumption
There are 30 households in 6 villages in Tan Binh commune at core zone of Ben En
NP was interviewed. The result indicated that the NTFPs Consumer market focuses mainly on
medicinal plants, ornamental plants and plants for foods. In specific:

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Medicinal plant market:
According to the results of field survey, medicinal plant market of 6 villages can be
described as flow chart below:

Figure 5.4. Map of medicinal plant market
Medicinal plants market occurred in 3 main channels:
 Channel 1: medicinal plants are collected from forest, after that these plants are sold
for consumers. This is main consumption channel of medicinal herbs. Major buyers are local
people in commune (traditional medicinal households) or directly sale for tourist in Ben Sung
market. This channel is simple, less intermediaries and price is less influenced by fees such as
transportation, storage, costs for intermediaries.

 Channel 2: medicinal plants are usually fresh, raw materials or semi-processed
which are directly transported by middleman to other provinces such as Ha Noi, Lang Son,
Hung Yen. This channel has other stakeholder who is middleman. This is focal point to gather
medicinal species for delivering to other provinces or even exporting. Price in this channel is
low due to transportation costs, cost for middleman.

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 Channel 3: Raw materials after harvesting was sold for middleman. Then, these
products are sold for large purchasing agent in the region. In this channel, consumers need to
spend a lot of money to buy these products. These prices of NTFPs are higher than the price
that traders bought form local households many times because of transportation cost, and cost
for middleman.


Ornamental plants market

Figure 5.5. Map of Ornamental plant market
The popular ornamental plants which are cultivated and traded in study area are
orchids, camellia or rhododendron. According to the interviews in study area, the supplies
ornamental plants never satisfy the needs of customers. Overall, ornamental plants market in
commune is simple, so the products price is less influenced by intermediary costs such as
transportation, costs for intermediaries.


Plant for foods market
The vegetables and fruits which are valued, consumed and high consumed, includes

Melientha suavis, bamboo shoots, Dracontomelon duperreanum and Canarium album. These

are consumed follow the flow chart:

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Figure 5.6. Map of Plant for foods market
The flow chart above illustrates that NTFPs will be sold directly to consumers or
through an intermediary only. Consumers mainly are local residents to meet basic human
needs. The advantages of this market are product cost less influenced by transportation cost or
storage cost. However, the drawbacks is the unstable price, it fluctuate with demand.
Overall, the NTFPs consumption market in study area is diverse and potential for local
people to continue to cultivate and develop focus on NTFP species which is high value and
strength of the region.
5.2.2. NTFPs market demand
According to interviews with 30 households in the study area, the market demand for
NTFPs are re varied and richness, particularly in harvest season. The products after harvesting
are gathered in a place, and then traders will collect and deliver it to the small production
facility in the region. After processing, these products will be transfer to other province for
consumption. The Market consumption and price of some NTFP species are presented in table
5.3 below:

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