This info-brief summarizes the results of a research project on the expansion and impact of rubber plantations in Viet Nam in two major cultivation regions: the Central Highlands and the Northwest. Rubber plantations have increased rapidly in these regions in recent years following the Rubber Development Strategy of 2009. However, most of the expansion is done at the expense of forestlands. The lack of compliance with government regulations regarding rubber development by some local authorities resulted in large areas of natural forest being converted to rubber plantations. This has had substantial impacts on forest resources in Viet Nam’s Central Highlands and Northwest provinces. Additionally, while the economic benefits of rubber development models are not yet guaranteed, many local populations do not share in the benefits of these models. The limitations placed on acquiring cultivated land for local people has also led to forestland encroachment and land conflicts. Presently, Viet Nam is actively participating in international initiatives such as the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) and Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade (FLEGT) programmes. The implementation of these commitments requires Viet Nam to establish and effectively operate mechanisms that address drivers of deforestation and degradation, including the drivers of natural forest conversion for rubber plantation. To effectively curb the exploitative practices of rubber plantation expansions, the Vietnamese government needs to strengthen the monitoring and inspection on land appraisal processes and on the implementation of forest conversion projects
Forestland Conversion to Rubber Plantation in VietNam
Forestland has been excessively converted to rubber plantation, even in areas where rubber has never been planted before. By 2012 the total of rubber plantation reached already 910,500 ha. It means that the strategy to 2015 set by the Government is exceeded 200,000 ha by booming rubber plantations in almost every province.
The land conversion has influenced land use, environmental functions, and watershed health. Additionally, land conversion has affected society in terms of land ownership and sharing the benefits of land and natural resources. Several policies from central level provide direction and guidelines for converting forestland to rubber plantation. However, the implementation encountered a lot of problems on the ground. The knowledge on how forest conversion worked out has not been available to inform further policy development.
Tropenbos International Viet Nam has implemented the project in partnership with Forest Trends in Viet Nam and Viet Nam Academy of Forest Sciences. The project aims to provide policy makers with the information about the impacts of forestland conversion to rubber plantation on the social, economic, and environmental aspects, especially the local livelihood and role of private sector. It will also reflect how forest governance took place at the provincial level and downwards to community.
Duration
2013-2014
Objective
The project’s overall objectives are to improve the process and policies on forestland conversion in Viet Nam; to contribute to an equitable and sustainable use of natural resources, and to decrease deforestation.