Community based Natural Resources Management and Development in Ho Muoi village, Minh Son commune, Lang Son province

• On January 13, 2010, in the Ho Muoi village, Minh Son commune, Huu Lung district of Lang Son province, CIRUM had successfully co-operated with People Committee of Minh Son commune to organize a local forum on the community-based model of sustainable natural resources conservation and management. Crowded with the participation of local people and the full support of governments at all levels, the Forum has achieved success in finding and building plan for recovery and development of watershed forest of Ho Muoi village, aiming to the sustainable development of natural resources for the local people.
  
  Towards rights to watershed forest management
  
  In the Forum, there were representatives of District People Committee, Commune People Committee and representatives from different households building the pilot models in Ho Muoi village. They had intensively discussed different issues happening in their area and shared local initiatives for natural forest conservation and sustainable development such as “The nursery garden and genetic conservation of native plants”, “The model of Tinh Thoong natural forest restoration by inter-households”, “Indigenous knowledge based chicken farming”, “Breeding and conserving chameleon”, “The model of community-based conservation and development of natural forest”.
  
  Thus, the Forum produced a lot of ideas, contributing effectively to households’ trend to the sustainable natural resources development and contributing to the mission of poverty reduction, climate changes declining in the local region.
  
  About the plan to build Tinh Thoong area as a preservative watershed forest, Mr. Lam Van Chin, a village head, addressed current situations, ideas and ways to build Tinh Thoong area as an watershed forest for conservation and providing water source for living and farming. Mr. Nong Thao Nguyen recalled that before, Tinh Thoong was a natural forest area with many valuable forestry trees like: iron wood, brown senna, Chukrasia tabularis A.Juss… and with many different rare animals such as stag, deer, wild pig. ..Water in the brooks, streams that is full for the irrigation of agricultural production. However, since the serious exploitation of natural forests and in addition, the State forest Enterprise grew eucalyptus, native forest plants have gradually disappeared, animals have been eradicated, soil becomes stunned and water resources have been exhausted.
  
  With consultation and support from CIRUM, Mr. Nguyen’s family undertook to a pilot model on “Indigenous knowledge based chicken farming”. Joining the same model, Ms. Luu Thi Nhau added: “The Tinh Thoong area has advantages for livestock raising and development. It is isolated from the villager’s living and thus, it has less been affected from different diseases. Beside this, the location is near to the forest then there are abundant food sources: worms, termites, ants “….
  
  During the Forum the participants also discussed negative impacts of mono eucalyptus plantations; and also focused on significant roles of natural forests for local livelihood security so that local people is well seen their own responsible for bio-diversity development.
  
  Sharing the ideas of household models, Mrs. Le Thi Nguyet, an owner of community-based conservation and development of natural forest model was happy: “Our family is one of very few families in the village that is still retaining natural forests (including with Mr. Hua Van Nhung, Mr. Hua Tien Huu …). Currently, in the forest of my family, there are also many valuable native forestry plants: iron wood, brown senna, Chukrasia tabularis A.Juss, bamboo, herbal medicines …”
  
  Natural forest brought us many benefits such as timber for house building and cage making, herbal medicine for daily health treatment, cutting bamboo for selling … All increased revenue for the family. Meanwhile, growing eucalyptus trees just convey the immediate economic benefit. At the same time it makes soil exhausted, water drought, vegetation destroyed. Therefore, in the future, our family will continue to promote natural forest regeneration, growing spare plants, integrating with native forestry plants … instead of the existing area of eucalyptus.
  
  Participating the Forum, Mr. Hua Van Nhang brought to the audience interesting information about the ideas and processes of the chameleon model. This model started with digging a circle around the root of Voi tree to form an oasis while using stone to build the bank. It is to avoid landslide. Inside, the model use forest bamboo to keep land and form a solid bank system. All at once, the system creates a natural cave for chameleon to stay and hide its enemies. From the original plan, Mr. Nhang’ family will raise eight couples of chameleons. Then when they develop in a bigger population, the family will bring them back to natural forest that is suitable for chameleons. At that moment, Mr. Nhang will be also available to provide chameleon-let for the community….
  
  After hearing the families presented the effective models, most households in the Forum have committed to join together to build the models and the nurseries to restore the native species that are in high risk of extinction. They are aiming to restore the natural forests of Ho Muoi like it was in the past.
  
  Ideas by local state
  
  It is very clear that the right policy has been enthusiastically supported by local people and government at all levels. Mr. Nguyen Duc Diep-the deputy of agricultural office of Huu Lung district shared about the meaning of the model presented in the Forum. Mr. Diep confirmed: “From the general guideline, District highly appreciates and supports all programs and consulting projects that facilitate local people to recover, develop and sustainably manage natural resources. It is also related to all the models of biodiversity cultivation, watershed forest…. like the ideas raised by this Forum.” He also expected that the models in Ho Muoi will become the leading models to replicate and facilitate at other communes in the district.
  Mr. Le Kien Cuong, the Party Secretary of Min Son commune said:
  
  “On behalf of the Party Committee, People Committee of the Minh Son commune, I promise to all local people and to CIRUM that the local authorities will actively take care these pilot models. I am very excited and find irresistible on building the pilot models. I’m looking forwards to seeing the whole process of making Tinh Thoong becoming the watershed forests preservation area. I’m also pleased by the voluntary participation of the community. At the start, there were a few people involved, but today the big participation demonstrates the self-awareness of the people.
  
  On the side of local people, a strong commitment and a common determination to build the models are very significant and play deciding role in the whole process. To say must be to do! Land use rights for the people in the area of Tinh Thoong to form the watershed forests should follow the process where it firstly derives comments from local people, then being submitted to the government as the basis for the district to support this work.”
  
  To affirm the strength of mind on going along with local people toward the conservation and sustainable development of natural resources, the researchers from the CIRUM presented in addition different types of models. They also confirmed the material and spiritual supports to build nurseries of native forestry plants for community. It is the foundation for restoration and development of natural forests and diversity of ecosystem. Furthermore, CIRUM also shared the long-term strategy that has been doing by local people. All contributes to the mission of reducing poverty, reducing climate change and build a sustainable development pilot model in Ho Muoi.
  
  CIRUM