Impact of Doi Moi policy on land and forest allocation in the Northeast region

Abstract

Research results in ethnic communities in the three provinces of Cao Bang, Ha Giang, and Lang Son indicate that the Doi Moi policy on land use rights is associated with the purpose and owners of forests. In addition to contributing to the increase of forest cover, it has promoted access to forest resources and changed the livelihoods of ethnic minority communities to a higher degree than before. Forest land allocation and market mechanism are two factors affecting the change of the farming system of ethnic minority communities in the studied area since the implementation of the policy in the early 1990s to date. However, the conversion of forest land use purposes is posing problems for economic development with sustainable forest and forestland management strategies concerning economic, social, and environmental issues in the coming time.