Commune and District authorities help locals in Ho Muoi rejuvenate their natural forest

• Four years has passed since a community land allocation pilot program and forest biodiversity management and sustainable use scheme was started in Ho Muoi village (Minh Son commune, Huu Lung district, Lang Son province). The programme, consulted and supported by CIRUM, is highly appreciated by the local people and authorities. Many indigenous trees have been planted, they are growing well and the character of the forest is changing as eucalyptus is being replaced.
  
  Affirmation of forest sovereignty by Ho Muoi commune
  
  On 26 December 2013, at the meeting to sum up the project, Mr. Hoang Van Hung – Vice Chairman of the commune said the project was very encouraging, citing decisions by the district to issue land rights to 43 households, and also rights to the community.
   
  
  Forest land of Ho Muoi commune after land allocation
   
  Although the land allocation scale was modest: 0.5ha/household and 21.58ha for the community, the result is encouraging in the context of insufficient land reserve. The District and commune made a big effort in persuading the North East Forest Farm to re-allocate their forest land to the local people. In practice, the land under the Farm’s management was allocated by the State, the land withdrawal process was complicated and time consuming. Legalization through the allocation of land use and management has helped farmers to be self-determined and self-confident when using or planning the use of their land and forest.
  
  Situation of the forest and land before land allocation in Ho Muoi
  
  Back to the years before 1965, Mr. Hung said: “Hung Lung district in general, Minh Son commune and Ho Muoi village in particular was a primary forest, rich with precious timbers, birds and animals. Along the streams, in the valleys, there were many fertile fields. Rice and other crops used to be very well developed. In the 1970s and 80s forest and agricultural state farms carried out the state mission: to exploit timbers for economic development. Rich forests rapidly disappeared. State organization were given targets to reach or outreach. Now we are left with bare hills and mountains.
  
  Trying to fix this disaster, the state tried to allocate land and bare hills to farmers for forest rehabilitation and afforestation.  The allocation process was chaotic, with many poorer households refusing the allocation of exhausted lands, afraid of the tax consequences.   
  
  Time moved on - eucalyptus penetrated and the market for forest products was encouraged. Conflicts arose between villagers and forest farms also appeared due to the imbalance of scales and areas they received. Some farmers who have no or little land have become workers, land contract takers or joint venture partners with the forest farms. Fairly soon it became apparent that farmers were poorly compensated for their work, all the benefits accruing to state farms, generating conflicts that commune and district authorities were unable to handle.
  The natural forests still disappeared. There were no birds singing, no herbal vegetation, downhill fields was dry due to water shortages. This loss of natural forest and the resources that go with it seriously impacted on the people’s life and the local environment. The district authorities have declared their strong intension to solve and restore the forest so that the local people can have a stable and sustainable life.
  
  Natural forest restoration by growing indigenous plants
  Tali, Mahogany, Canarium, Dracontomelon and Cassod trees have been grown in nurseries around the area to plant in communal and household forest. Medicinal herbs have re-appeared rapidly.
  
  “The activities and methods supported by CIRUM are appropriate to the real conditions of the local area, especially restoring natural forests mainly with local species. We will follow this approach in the years to come” confirmed by Mr. Hung.
  
  
  
  A villager of Ho Muoi takes care of indigenous plants in his forest
  
  After receiving their forest and land, the households in Ho Muoi have cooperated with each other to develop communal forest. They have formed core groups to manage and develop the natural forest to avoid fatigue or disappointment due to the fact that natural forest restoration is slower than economic forest. Initially there were 12 voluntary households, then 33 and 43 households for the whole commune.
  
  With the responsibility of direct management of the project, Mr. Hoang Van Lien, Vice Chairman of Minh Son commune presented a project summary report and added that recently, the authorities of the district, communes, social organizations and Ho Muoi community have organized New Year Planting events. This activity is considered a movement, reflecting an awareness and desire to have a natural environment under the present climate change.
  
  Mr. Nhang is one of the typical example of forest restoration and conservation of natural forest of Ho Muoi village after land allocation. His forest is generating sustainable income for the whole family with timber and non-timber products. Especially herbs, vegetables, handicrafts (rattan, bamboo), drinks (forest tea, eugenia tea) are always available. Although they are some distance away from the market and the main road, food, burning materials and herbs for some common diseases are always abundant. His surrounding environment is also cooler and fresher than other eucalyptus growing areas.
  
  Former Party Secretary of Minh Son commune Mr. Le Kien Cuong, a coordinator of the Forest Peoples Land Rights Network reminded those households involved in forest based management as well as other households of the market influence, especially those areas planned for forest development. At the same time, he highly appreciated the role of the Forest Peoples Land Rights Network in supporting local people, Project Management Board and local authorities at different levels to maintain the goals initially set up by the Project “Enhancing capacity of biodiversity management and sustainable use at village level”.
  
  Ho Muoi becomes a pilot model for research and expansion of the province for the initiative of community based biodiversity conservation
  
  Mr. Do Manh Tuong, Party Secretary of Minh Son commune informed that Ho Muoi was defined as a model to be developed in term of biodiversity conservation mentioned in the Resolution No. 132/2013/NQ-HDND of Lang Son province dated 12 December 2013.  This orientation was also implemented by the People’s Committee of Minh Son commune  in their resolution No. 05/2013/NQ-HDND dated 25 December 2013. The Resolution of the People’s Committee of Lang Son province defined their goals by 2015 is “to research, propose two community based models of restoration, develop watershed forest, protective forest, conserve precious genes  through the Project: Enhancing capacity of community based natural resources management and use” being implemented in Ho Muoi.
  
  
  
  A villager harvesting forest products to serve their daily needs
  
  Mr. Tuong added:  “local leaders will collaborate to maintain and multiply the results successfully obtained by the project and Ho Muoi people. Ho Muoi commune will do it well because everybody with rights to land will be confident in long term planning to rehabilitate the natural forest for a long-term family life and for their community”.
  
  CIRUM