THE ROLE of NTFPS in Poverty Alleviation and Biodiversity Conservation 115
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THEME 5: NTFPs MODELS NTFPs models THE ROLE OF NTFPS in Poverty Alleviation and Biodiversity Conservation 115 Planting Medicinal Plants under the Forest Canopy: Solutions for Hunger and Poverty Alleviation and Conservation of Medical Plant Resources in Son La Province Dinh Thi Hoa1 Medicinal plants represent the most diverse range identifi ed to address the over-harvesting of these of resources in Non-Timber Tree and Forest natural resources, a real threat of a loss of bio- Product (NTFPs) groups, according to use targets. diversity will emerge, leading eventually to the They grow mostly in mountainous areas in natural extinction of some species. The challenge is forest environment, however these natural to fi nd ways to ensure stable incomes for resources are being harvested extensively mountainous farmers who are dependent by ethnic minority people residing in forest on the forests, while preserving forest areas. Such communities are often poor and are resources. economically based upon the subsistence farming In recent years, many households have planted of cultivated mountain fi elds and the harvesting of high-value medicinal plants on their farms or forest products. under the forest canopy. This cultivation method Medicinal plants are commonly used and harvested has advantages. For example, only a short period by local farmers, who have extensive experience of time is required for harvesting, and the products using them for treating disease and improving have high economic value. These factors have led overall health. In contrast, industrially produced many farmers to adopt the method. medicine has many limitations such as high cost, NTFPs in Son La province adverse side-effects, and overuse. Medicinal herbs have therefore become increasingly favoured for Son La is a mountainous province in the northwest their low price and safety, in particular species of Viet Nam. Three-quarters of the topography is such as Hoang Dang (Fibraurea tinctoria Lour), mountainous, therefore Son La plays a critical which is effective for treating aches, Sa nhân role in the protection of watershed forests for the (Amomum xanthioides), which is used to treat Da and Red Rivers – the two biggest rivers in Viet digestive system problems, and other species Nam. that treat common ailments. There are 12 ethnic minority groups in Son La Due to increasing demand for medicinal plants, province, however the majority are Thai and local farmer not only harvest these plants for H’mong people (62.67 per cent). Education levels personal use, but also harvest large quantities are very low, and while local livelihoods are to sell commercially in both local markets and for heavily dependent on the forests, awareness of export to other countries, especially China. forest protection is not high, mostly due to their diffi cult, subsistence-based lifestyles. Therefore, According to statistics from 2005, 2,661 tonnes of forest protection issues in Son La in particular, Sa nhan and 2,861 tons of Thao qua have been and in the northwest area in general, should be in harvested in Viet Nam (Agriculture and Rural linked to economic development objectives and, Development Magazine, No. 97 part I, December most importantly, generating job opportunities for 2006). If conservation solutions are not quickly local farmers. 1 Faculty of Agro-forestry and Economics, Northwest University, Thuan Chau District, Son La province 116 THE ROLE OF NTFPS in Poverty Alleviation and Biodiversity Conservation According to a 2005 FIPI survey, Son La province Sa nhan NTFPs models has a range of promising medicinal plant species Sa nhan is a valuable medicinal herb and is used suitable for development such as Sa nhan, Thao in many countries, however it exists in a diverse qua, Cu Binh voi, Morinda, and Hoang dan. range of forms in Viet Nam. According to a However, these natural resources are in danger survey conducted by a group of researchers from of being over-harvested. Northwest University (2007) in Thuan Chau district Photo - Sa nhan is harvested from natural forest by local farmer in Thuan Chau – Son La. (a poor district in Son La), seven Sa nhan species In addition, due to the ecological character of grow under the forest canopy in the area, of which Sa nhan, it can only be grown under a forest Red Sa nhan is the most popular and valuable. canopy of 0.5-0.6 metres. In an area with a high Local farmers have harvested these plants in density of Sa nhan under natural forest, farmers the forest and sold them to traders at prices not are required to protect, tend and plant additional equivalent to their real value. Every year, a high crops. Consequently, local farmers involved in quantity of Sa nhan is exported to other countries. generating income from Sa nhan cultivation would need to protect the forests to ensure the growth It is widely accepted that Sa nhan can be planted in Son La, as research shows that the species grows naturally in the province. In addition, some models of Sa nhan plantations under the forest canopy have been successful in areas such as Cau Hai, Thanh Son (Phu Tho province) and Mai Chau (Hoa Binh province), where the specie's productivity reaches rather high levels of 100-200kg fruit/ha, with a value of 7–14 VND (Chu Thi Thom – Forest Product Harvesting and Plantation Techniques, Labor Publish House, 2006). But in fact, there are virtually no farmers in Son La province that can plant this species to generate stable incomes for their families. It is feasible that guidelines could be provided for local farmers to plant Sa nhan under the forest canopy in Son La. This is an effective method for solving two problems at once: generating income for ethnic minority people living near and/or depending on forests; and preserving this species of valuable medicinal plant. Photo - Hoang dang is harvested and sold at the local market NTFPs models THE ROLE OF NTFPS in Poverty Alleviation and Biodiversity Conservation 117 of Sa nhan. This creates a link between forest As a result, Sa nhan plantations will contribute protection and income generation, and enables an to hunger and poverty alleviation for ethnic effective way to support farmers in environmental communities in Son la province, and contribute conservation. effectively to protecting biodiversity in general and to NTFPs resource conservation in particular. In addition to Sa nhan, local farmers can plant other valuable medicinal plants such as Hoang Dang, Long cu li, and Cu Binh voi in their home gardens or farms to generate income. 118 THE ROLE OF NTFPS in Poverty Alleviation and Biodiversity Conservation NTFPs models Initial Achievements in Planting Amomum Longiligulare in Quan Chu Commune, Dai Tu District, Thai Nguyen Province Nguyen Tap1, Pham Thanh Huyen2, Le Thanh Son3, Ngo Duc Phuong4 Cu Hai Long5, Ngo Van Trai6, Vu Van Quyet7. INTRODUCTION II, which is funded by the Government of the Netherlands, the Medica has implemented a Amomum longiligulare is a precious plant used sub-project entitled 'Setting up an Amomum as a traditional medicine, spice and source of longiligulare T. L. Wu model in non-farm areas in aromatic material. the buffer zone of Tam Dao National Park'. This is Viet Nam is very rich in wild Amomum longiligulare proved to be a good model suitable for replication and at least four species are commonly used by local farmers and the introduction of a precious in the country, including: sa nhân (Amomum medicinal plant has contributed creating more villosum Lour.); sa nhan hoa thua (A. thyrsoideum employment opportunities, increased incomes, Gagnep.); sa nhan than cao (A. ovoideum Pierre and improved living standards for the local ex Gagnep.); and sa nhan tim (A. longiligulare T. L. people. Wu) [References 1-3]. Each year, a large quantity TARGETS, LOCATION, CONTENT of Amomum longiligulare is collected from the wild for the domestic market and export. AND METHODOLOGY The demand for Amomum longiligulare is Target increasing, however, due to many reasons, Sa nhan tim (Amomum longiligulare T. L. Wu), of the amount of the plant collected each year is Zingiberaceae. decreasing. Therefore, research aimed at planting Location and cultivating land Amomum longiligulare in mountainous areas is of high concern and interest for the forestry and The project is located in Hoa Binh II village, Quan health sectors. Chu commune, Dai Tu district, Thai Nguyen province, which is in the buffer zone of Tam Dao Following trials over many years, the Medica under National Park. the Ministry of Health (MoH) selected Amomum longiligulare T. L. Wu to be planted in Amomum longiligulare T. L. Wu was planted in fallow degraded land where tea had previously a number of localities in both the south and north been cultivated. The total area of the selected of Viet Nam. This activity has produced good sites measured more than 2,000 hectares and results. belonged to fi ve farmers of the Dao and Kinh ethnic With fi nancial support from the Action Learning groups: Mr Trieu Tien Suu (4,150 m2), Mr Le Van Fund (ALF) under the NTFPs Project Phase Tam (5,100 m2), Mr Trieu Tien Tan (3,710 m2), 1 Institute for Medicinal Materials 5 Institute for Medicinal Materials 2 Institute for Medicinal Materials 6 Institute for Medicinal Materials 3 Institute for Medicinal Materials 7 Tam Dao National Park 4 Institute for Medicinal Materials NTFPs models THE ROLE OF NTFPS in Poverty Alleviation and Biodiversity Conservation 119 Mr Trieu Tien Lap (3,610 m2) and Ms Dinh Thi Thin • Planting season ranged from November 15 to (3,520m2). December 15, 2004 Content • Method: One tiller was vertically planted in each hole on a base of manure, which was covered • A.longiligulare T.