Forest and forestland use changes after forestland allocation: a case study in the buffer zone of Pu Mat National Park, Vietnam

During the period of centralized forest management from 1976 to 1990, the expansion of shifting cultivation by ethnic minority groups was widely associated with deforestation in Vietnam’s upland regions. In response, the forestland allocation (FLA) policy was introduced to promote sustainable forest management and rural development. While previous studies have mainly examined the short-term impacts of FLA on forest cover and local livelihoods, this study investigates its long-term effects on changes in forest use and forestland use practices among ethnic minority households. Field research was conducted in two upland communes in the buffer zone of Pu Mat National Park. Results indicate that FLA contributed to substantial changes in forest use, including a decline in unregulated forest extraction. Forest resources nevertheless remain important for household livelihoods, particularly in geographically isolated areas with limited alternative income sources. Most forestland recipients had shifted from shifting cultivation to more stable land-use practices, such as small-scale timber and bamboo plantations. However, these plantations remain small and fragmented, potentially constraining the scale of forest production. The findings highlight the need for continued government support to expand household tree plantations and foster livelihood diversification, thereby reducing pressure on natural forests and enhancing sustainable forest management.