Filename: CARD-CFM, MS5 Second Six-Monthly Report, FINAL 10 Jan 08.doc
Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development

Project Progress Report
MILESTONE 5

SECOND SIX-MONTHLY REPORT
(1 July – 31 December 2007 inclusive) Sustainable community-based forest development and
management in some high poverty areas in Bac Kan Province

Project No: 017/06 VIE
Prepared by
Forest Protection Department of Bac Kan Province
Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry
and
CSIRO Forest Biosciences

10 January 2008


6.1 Environment 8
6.2 Gender and Social Issues 8

7. Implementation & Sustainability Issues 9
7.1 Issues and Constraints 9
7.2 Options 9
7.3 Sustainability 9

8. Next Critical Steps 9

9. Conclusion 9

10. Statutory Declaration 9

Logical Framework 13

ATTACHMENT 1:
Community Forest Development Funds (CFDF) 23 2

1. Institute Information
Project Name
Sustainable community-based forest
development and management in some
high poverty areas in Bac Kan
Province
Vietnamese Institution
Department of Forest Protection, Bac

61-2-6281 8266
Organisation
Ensis – the Joint Forces
of CSIRO and SCION
(From 1 January 2008,
now termed CSIRO
Forest Biosciences)
Email:
[email protected]
In Australia: Administrative contact
Name:
Mr Brian Thomas
Telephone:
61-3-9545 2219
Position:
Commercial Manager
Fax:
61-3-9545 2449
Organisation
Ensis – the Joint Forces of
CSIRO and SCION (From 1
January 2008, now termed
CSIRO Forest Biosciences)
Email:
[email protected]

In Vietnam


The project aims to empower ethnic minority people in four pilot villages in Van Minh
and Lang San Communes, Na Ri District, Bac Kan Province, to manage their allocated
Community Forests. This will be achieved through capacity building activities at
community and government levels, and technical and institutional support, in
participatory forest land use planning, land allocation and extension services as part of
community based forest management. The project will help to improve local livelihoods
of disadvantaged men and women through equal access to forest land, better resource
management and sharing of benefits. New systems will help to minimize forest land
degradation and support forest development and conservation. Newly-developed
information systems, experiences and training methods will be shared with other villages,
Communes and relevant parts of the Province and northern mountainous regions through
numerous information dissemination methods.
3. Executive Summary
The project continued satisfactorily with all the relevant project components completed
according to schedule. This report covers the period July 1 2007 to December 31 2007.

Following the very heavy load of activities during the first six months of the project, most

village (about. 13 million VND) to four target village communities is expected to take place
in January 2008.
4. Introduction & Background
The background to the project was fully described in the First Six-Monthly Progress Report,
and most of this information is not repeated here. However, it is worth repeating the Project
Goal, which is:

Sustainable improvement in livelihood security of disadvantaged forest-dependent
people in northern mountainous areas, through empowerment of access to forest and
forest land, influence over forest land management, conservation of the natural
resources and development of relevant skills.

The project will contribute to achievement of the Goal by developing community-based
forest management (CFM) through: (i) ensuring equal access of forest-dependent households
to the common forest; (ii) building capacities within the forest user groups to effectively
represent themselves; (iii) strengthen extension services to enable them to be responsive to
the needs of the forest dependent people; (iv) provide skills to communities to enable them to
develop and manage their allocated forest resources in a transparent and equitable manner;
(iv) raising awareness of and providing training in forest and land policy issues and good
forest governance; (v) promoting sustainable forest and natural resource use to reduce food
shortages by strengthening agroforestry, sustainably producing timber and non-timber forest
products (NTFPs), and training in improved forest management skills; and (vi) promoting the
active involvement of women. These broad objectives are reflected in the formal Objectives
within the project logical framework.

All the participatory and other activities outlined in the project Logical Framework will be
undertaken in ways which are appropriate for the local cultural context, and of course
development of successful CFM models will depend heavily on incorporating all the
indigenous knowledge of both men and women. During these activities, the participants will
be encouraged to indicate the gaps in their skills and knowledge, and to participate in

The process started during this reporting period, and will continue for the remainder of the
project.

• Study tour to other CFM projects
A study tour to other CFM projects in Hoa Binh province between 21-25 September 2007
was led by the Vietnamese joint project leader, Mr Trieu Van Luc and Mr Ho Son (TUAF).
There were twenty four participants from two communes (Van Minh and Lang San) and four
villages in CARD project area (Na Muc, Khuoi Lieng, To Dooc and Ban Sang villages). The
main objective was to learn and share experiences in community forest management and
income generation activities. The study tour program included a workshop for participants to
share and learn experiences in CFM activities (for example, the way local communities work
together to protect their community forest and the mechanism to share benefits from cash
crop cultivation), and field visits to view on-ground activities. A full report of this study tour
will be included in MS 11 – Capacity Development.

• Training in nursery propagation
Four two-day training sessions were conducted in September-October 2007, one for each
project pilot village. According to the project budget plan, 20 participants would attend the
training. However, 39 villagers in Ban Sang and 33 villagers Khuoi Lieng attended. The
training began with informal lectures at the village meeting hall, using flip charts prepared
from PowerPoint slides in the Vietnamese language and many drawings and pictures. This
was followed by a practical session focusing on preparation of potting mix and seed sowing.

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On the second day, trainees and trainers joined force in construction of a nursery. A simple
manual for village nursery operation has been prepared and translated into Vietnamese. A
full report on the nursery training together with the manual will be provided in MS 11 –
Capacity Development.

• Establish village nurseries

The establishment of community development funds in each project pilot village has been a
very promising step towards enhancing smallholder benefits. Some aspects of these funds
have been described above.

However, a very significant intangible benefit has already been realised, in the form of a high
degree of interest and commitment among virtually all the villagers. This is very promising
for future development of practical methods for Community Forestry Management.
5.3 Capacity Building
Study tour to other CFM projects. 7
This has been described above.

Training in nursery propagation.

This has been described above.

5.4 Publicity
So far there has been little external publicity about the project, but there has certainly been a
great deal of favourable publicity within the four project villages in the two Communes.
There has been very full participation by both men and women at all the meetings and
training sessions, and complete cooperation with the activities which have been undertaken.
Visits to villages during the reporting period and discussions with other project personnel
confirmed that publicity has encouraged the villagers: (i) to be heavily involved with village
meetings to set up Forest User Groups and other administrative bodies; (ii) to be very much
involved with forest surveys, land use allocation and land use mapping; (iii) to participate in
the training sessions; and (iv) to take a keen interest in the establishment of nurseries and the
production of planting materials.


issues and constraints of any significance to be reported here.
7.2. Options
Not applicable – the project is proceeding as planned
7.3. Sustainability
Although it is too early to assess sustainability at this stage, it is promising that the villagers
are keen to participate in project meetings and training activities. For example, meetings to
discuss CFM Guidelines, CFM plans and Community Forest Development Funds were
attended by 100% of households. The number of villagers who attended nursery training
sessions was well above what was planned. The project had to accommodate twice the
number of participants at Khuoi Lieng and Ban Sang villages.
8. Next Critical Steps
The establishment of the four agroforestry models will take place in May 2008, during the
rainy season in northern Vietnam. Mr Brian Gunn will organize two training courses in
agroforestry development to coincide with the timing of tree planting activity. Prior to those
activities, it is important to ensure that seedlings in the nurseries are well maintained and
sites for agroforestry models appropriately cleared and prepared.
9. Conclusion
The first ten months of the project have been extremely busy but excellent progress has been
demonstrated. A sound foundation has been laid for future progress. The villagers are
interested and enthusiastic about the potential benefits to be gained from their efforts and
those of other supporters under the project.

In particular, all the villagers have shown a keen understanding of the importance of
maintaining much of their (identified and allocated) Community Forestry land as Protection
Forest. These decisions were taken by the villagers because they uniformly recognise that
the quantity, quality and reliability of their water sources for drinking, irrigation and fish
production depend almost completely on the maintenance of a healthy catchment.

The main challenge now is to ensure that practical and effective methods of management of
the Community Forestry land are implemented in such ways as to guarantee the sustained

introduced and established
based on informed decisions
by village communities and
relevant authorities. Done.
The Objective is still highly
relevant and important.
Report on all Activities under
Objective 1
The assumption is that there
will be willing involvement by
all stakeholders, and the risk is
that this will not occur or be at
an unacceptably low level
OUTPUT 1
OUTPUT 2

1. Baseline Survey 4 pilot villages
2. CFM structure developed and written CFM
guidelines on for four pilot villages. The CFM
structure and Guidelines must be preceded by a
thorough review of current Guidelines for CFM
in Vietnam
Baseline survey completed
and reported. Done.
Stakeholder networks on
CFM established. Done.
Guidelines prepared and
publicised among
stakeholders. Done.
Guidelines prepared with

l=allocation for CFM, and (vi) opportunities for
project-supported economic, social and
environmental benefits (Mar 07)
1.4 Meetings between People’s Committees at
Commune, District and Provincial levels,
representatives of the Women’s Union, Kim Hy
Nature Reserve (KHNR), and other partners to
promote awareness and acceptance of CFM (Mar
07)
1.5 Establish networks of CFM stakeholders within
villages, Communes and relevant agencies, with
close attention to ensuring the active participation
of women in the planning and implementation of
CFM (Apr/May 07)
1.6 Facilitate establishment of community forest user
groups (FUGs) (Apr/May 07)
1.7 Facilitate establishment of CFM Boards
(Apr/May 07)
1.8 Review current CFM Guidelines (Apr/May 07)
1.9 Develop CFM guidelines (Apr/May 07)
1.4 Numerous meetings held
1.5 Networks established.
1.6 Done.
1.7 Done.
1.8 Current Guidelines have
been reviewed and
modified by consultation
among many
stakeholders, including
villagers

of the Activities within the
allocated time

OUTPUT 3

Completed LUPLA in four pilot villages, with
approval from the District/Provincial Peoples’
Committee for rights of land use
Completed LUPLA in four
pilot villages, with approval
for rights of land use from
appropriate authorities
LUPLA has been
completed, and final
approvals are progressing
Verbal and written project reports There will be no risk in
obtaining approval for rights
of land use as this is under the
jurisdiction of Bac Kan Forest
Protection Department, leader
of this project 12
through official channels for
Red Book issuance (except
Khuoi Lieng village) .
ACTIVITIES

2.1 Establish a task force in each pilot village to

2.5 Approvals obtained and
agreements in place for rights of
land use
2.6 Communities received allocated
land with “Green Book”

OBJECTIVE 3

To develop CFM plans for four pilot villages
CFM plans developed and
approved for each of four
pilot villages.
CFM plans have been
developed and will be
formally approved in
January 2008 following
finalization of CF land
allocation.
Four approved CFM plans available
for all stakeholders
Project reports
That the level of enthusiasm
and involvement among
communities in the pilot
villages is maintained at an
acceptable level
OUTPUT 4

CFM plans, including agroforestry models, for
four pilot villages developed and approved by

has been collected, analysed and
incorporated into the CFM plans
3.2 Four CFM plans approved by the
relevant authorities
3.3 Verbal evidence that effective
extension networks exist is each
of the pilot villages
OBJECTIVE 4

To implement CFM plans in four pilot villages
Written and verbal
evidence from the
FUGs and relevant
Government officers
that the four CFM plans
are starting to be
implemented.
The four CFM plans are
starting to be
implemented.
Project reports The risk is that there will not have
been enough time for all four pilot
villages to proceed with effective
implementation within the project
time frame, and enthusiasm may
diminish when external resources
diminish. However, Bac Kan
Forest Protection Department is
committed to provide continuing
support including replication of

designed and will be
established in May
4.1 Written and verbal evidence of CFM
activities. Reports on the training
which has been accomplished
Quantitative evidence of: (i) improved
food security compared with the
baseline level; (ii) areas and types of
new farming systems; (iii) numbers of
village nurseries, planting stock
produced and tree species planted; (iv)
The assumption is that all four
pilot villages will have made some,
or even substantial, progress
towards fully sustainable CFM,
with associated benefits for
household and community
livelihoods, and conservation of
natural resources. 14
10)
4.2 Establish different agroforestry and Star Anise
plantation models for income generation (Mar
08/Feb 10)
4.3 Establish four nurseries (one in each pilot
village) (Oct 07/Fen 10)
4.4 A workshop on evaluation and dissemination of
agroforestry and Star Anise models (Mar 09)

various aspects of CFM and (vi) any
other income-generating activities
4.2 Quantitative and qualitative evidence
of different agroforestry and Star
Anise models, and of the economic
changes related to these
4.3 Workshop report
4.4 Village nurseries established
4.5 Quantitative evidence (numbers,
amounts of funds) of community
development funds, and favourable
verbal reports on the participatory
management of the funds
The risk is that one or more of the
pilot villages may become
discouraged because benefits
appear to be slow in coming and
low in quantity and quality.
Effective training, supervision and
encouragement of the FUGs by
both villagers and Government
officers will be essential to
maintain enthusiasm.
OBJECTIV
E 5

To disseminate CFM models
Number of villages and
Communes which have
been exposed to various

5.1 Simplified Baseline Surveys of up to 10 neighbouring
villages progressively from Mar to Nov 08
5.2 Introducing the project’s CFM models to at least 10
other villages in the target Communes, using various
innovative methods (Mar 09/Feb 10)
5.3 Organising one community workshop in Na Ri district
to share results and obtain feedback for further
improvement of CFM models (Mar 09)
5.4 Holding a regional workshop to disseminate results and
promote replication. Participants will include central
and Provincial government agencies, NGOs and
representatives of other donor projects on CFM (Apr
09)
5.5 Use all appropriate methods for promoting CFM,
including radio, TV, written and pictorial publications
and other culturally sensitive methods (Mar 09/Feb 10)
5.6 Producing and distributing guidelines and training
materials for practical CFM (Mar 07/Feb 10)
5.1 Baseline survey report
5.2 Evidence that the CFM models
have been introduced to at least 10
other villages, and that there has
been some uptake of CFM concepts
and practices in some of those
villages, judged by requests for
assistance from extension agencies
5.3 Evidence that the workshop has
been held, with substantial numbers
of participants
5.4 Evidence that the workshop has

OUTPUT 9

8. Each of the items 6.1 to 6.10 inclusive produces
a Sub-Output, specifying the quantity and quality
of trained persons
9. Baseline Survey repeated, to measure changes
in attitudes, practices and actual/potential
As above As above A risk is that training will be
regarded as irrelevant, is
poorly presented and does not
serve the immediate and long-
term needs of the participants.

16
impacts attributable to the project
ACTIVITIES

Over the 36 months of project implementation,
conduct study tours and training courses in Vietnam
to strengthen human resources capacity for CFM in
the target areas.
6.1 Two 5-day training for 15 people per commune
on LUPLA (Apr/May 07)
6.2 One 4-day training for 15 local government
extension officers and commune leaders on CFM
(June 07)
6.3 One 5-day study tour for 20 key villagers (5 from
each pilot village) to other CFM projects (Sep 07)
6.4 Four 3-day training on nursery propagation for
20 people per village (Sep/Oct 07)

non-wood forest products;
and (iv) use and
sustainability of the
Community Forest
Development Funds.

Activities 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 and
6.4 have been completed.

Each training course will be reported
in a standard format, for eventual
incorporation into Project Reports.

Each training course should fulfill
demonstrable needs for the particular
types of participants. Some months
after each training course some or all
of the participants should be asked
for their impressions of the use and
enduring value of the training, and
whether re-training is needed for the
same or different participants.
The assumption is that
sufficient human and financial
resources, and appropriate
facilities, are available in order
to present the required training
activities.

17
January 2008
1

1. Introduction:
CARD Project 017/06VIE - Sustainable community-based forest development and
management in some high poverty areas in Bac Kan Province" at the four pilot villages,
Na Muc and Khuoi Lieng village (Van Minh Commune) and To Dooc and Ban Sang (Lang
San Commune), Na Ri District, Bac Kan province has been implemented. The first stage of
land use planning, land allocation and CFM plan to village communities was completed
which provides the necessary condition to implement the CFM project. Following this step,
establishment of Community Forest Development Fund is necessary to support the
management and development of community forest by village communities to meet
sustainability.
CFD Fund should be developed with participation of all community members as they are
decision makers. A CFD Fund includes regulations of CFD Fund in details. Regulations of
CFD Fund provide a legal foundation for community members to implement CFD Fund at
the village level.
To meet the contents above, CFD Funds have been developed for implementation at the four
pilot villages of this CARD project.
2. Objectives of CFD Fund
2.1 Establish regulations of CFD Fund
2.1.1 Regulations of CFD Fund
CFD Fund regulations should consider general conditions:
- Within the jurisdiction of laws and appropriate with local traditional culture or
custom
- Clearly stated and easy to understand and implement
2.2.2 Contents of CFD Fund
- Rights and responsibilities of all community members in maintaining and

Step 2- Village meetings
The working group and CMF Board had many meetings with all villagers from different
village communities to discuss and develop CFM Fund regulations. The CFD Fund should
consider some main points as follows:
• Maintaining seed fund
3
• Develop the fund from a small seed fund
• Use the fund for forest protection and development
• Safety and sustainable way for CFD Fund management
• CFD plan should be presented and updated to all villagers through a village meeting.
It will become a formal CFD plan after being accepted by the majority of villagers at
the meeting.
3.4 Summary and writing results:
All data/information from group discussion /village meetings should be summarized
following table formats.

4. Results
4.1 Establish Community Forest Development Fund regulations
Regulations of CFD Fund for the four pilot villages have been developed with full
participation of villagers, and both Van Minh and Lang San Commune authorities. The
proposed regulations were subsequently accepted by all members of the village communities
through final village meetings. The final regulations were approved by the Van Minh and
Lang San Commune People’s Committee before seed fund is distributed to each village
community. These regulations become legal documents for the village communities.

The contents of CFD fund regulations are generally similar in the four villages. However,
each village has its own specific focus on how the funds should be used and grown.
4.1.1 Regulations of Community Forest Development Fund for Na Muc Village
Part I: General Regulations
- Community Forest Development Fund is developed by the community through

• Contribute 20% of total income from timber harvest to the CFD fund.
• Contribute 20% of total income from non-timber forest product harvest such as
mushroom, fruits, and medicinal plants to the fund.
• Households within the village community are permitted to use timber from the
community forest areas to build their houses; they have to contribute 20% of the total
value to the fund. The quantity of timber is limited by the community’s decision.
• The community nursery will continue to produce seedlings after the completion of
CARD project. Any household wishes to obtain seedling from the community nursery
5
for own plantation has to contribute 50 VND per seedling to the fund (see
Regulations of nursery management).
c) Interest from loan
• About 50% of total amount of the CFD fund can be used for loan for agricultural and
forestry production with low interest 0.5% per month based on the demand of
members of the community forest. Each household can borrow up to one million
VND with repayment within 6 months. Income from interest payments on the loans
will be put into the fund
d) Compensation from illegal actions following CFM regulation
• All compensations from illegal actions as specified in the CFM regulations will be
put into the fund.

Part III: Rules on Use of the Fund
The fund can be used for the following purposes:
a) Forest protection
• Payment for forest patrolling task:
+ Rate 10,000 VND/day or 30,000 VND/night.
+ Payment up to 20 days per month in the dry season and 10 days per month in the
rainy season.
• Purchase of equipment for forest patrolling task:
+ 4 rain coats, 4 torches and batteries, 4 hats, 4 shoes.

Na Ri dated ………

Commune People’s Committee CFM Board
(signed and stamp) (signed)

CARD Project Management Board
(signed)
4.1.2 Regulations of Community Forest Development Fund for Khuoi Lieng Village
Part I: General Regulations
- Community Forest Development Fund is developed by the community through
initial seed money of CARD project. The main purpose of this fund is for forest
development activities in community forest areas in the village.
- Most activities related to community forest development can be carried out using
this fund following the community's regulations.
- This fund will be maintained and grown for long-term purpose.
7