Migration and Local Ethnic Groups’ Land Issues in the Central Highlands

Abstract

Since 1975, there has been significant migration to the Central Highlands, primarily by Kinh people and ethnic minorities from the Northern mountainous region. Planned and free migration aimed to acquire better agricultural land resources compared to their original hometowns. This migration has led to a change in the population structure of the Central Highlands, with local ethnic groups becoming a minority. Consequently, their land resources have diminished, and they have been forced to sell land to migrants due to financial obligations and debts, resulting in a scarcity of arable land. Moreover, under the influence of migrants, local ethnic groups have altered their land use practices to engage in commodity trading. To mitigate the adverse impact of migration on land issues faced by local ethnic groups in the Central Highlands, the government needs to establish a specific mechanism to manage the sale of their land, particularly among impoverished households.