Catalog

Reducing Poverty of Ethnic Minorities through Natural Resource Management

Books, Periodicals, Studies, and Reports ISBN: 978-971-561-665-2 Pub. Date: 2008 Out of Print

This report examines the impact of government policies related to natural resource management of ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam and uplands of northern Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), analyzes the main causes of limited positive impact of such policies, and suggests ameliorative action that will strengthen peoples' livelihoods on a sustainable basis. Ethnic minorities, who comprise 14% of the total population in Viet Nam and 48% in the Lao PDR, have experienced much less benefits from development programs than the main ethnic groups in the two countries in the last 20 years. They are generally concentrated in remote uplands, where quality of soil is poor, infrastructure is weak, and the reach of government programs in social sectors is inadequate. Their economy is biomass based, and they depend heavily on subsistence agriculture and gathering from forests.

However, in recent times, they have come under increasing threat on account of government policies and natural resource management regimes that may have contributed to undermining their access to resources reduced food sufficiency, and brought about "new poverty" and marginalization. Their declining situation is reflected in their increasing proportions among the poor. The report analyzes key policies related to natural resource.

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Contents

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Foreword, Acknowledgements, Acronyms and Abbreviations, Executive Summary

I. Introduction

II. Viet Nam

III. Lao People's Democratic Republic

IV. Some General Issues

V. Recommendations for Policy Reforms and Advocacy

References