Use of Edible Forest Plants among Indigenous Ethnic Minorities in Cat Tien Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam

Abstract

Based on the surveys combining the use of household interviews, key informants, rapid rural appraisal (RRA), and the “walk-in-the-wood” method; this article examines the uses of edible forest plants among the indigenous ethnic minorities (IEMs) in Cat Tien Biosphere Reserve (CTBR), southern Vietnam. The findings confirm that all of the respondents gathered and harvested the edible forest plants for both subsistence and income generation, primarily for favorite daily food. Overall, the survey identified 100 species of edible forest plants belonging to 45 families used by the IEM households, these were collected from natural forest, forest plantations and allocated forest land in CTBR, but primarily from the first type of land; 100% of households surveyed harvested some or many species of the plants. However, poor harvesting practices and overuse of the plant species are threatening their sustainability, the local uses and even the food source for wildlife. Additionally, most of the gathering was officially illegal since it occurred in state protected forests. It is recommended that the participation of IEMs in planned uses as well as the forest resource management, improved harvesting practices, techniques of domestication, encouragement of priority forest edible cultivation should be preferred. Keywords - Cat Tien Biosphere Reserve, domestication, edible forest plants, indigenous ethnic minorities, sustainable use