Sustainable Livelihood Options Research Articles

Evaluating factors promoting waste scavenging and its implications in a growing urban environ in Nigeria.

Despite the inherent risks associated with waste scavenging, it is surprising to note the age group involved in this activity. This study aimed to assess the motivating factors driving teenagers and youths to participate in waste scavenging, using a sample of 247 scavengers. The data underwent analysis using frequency counts, percentages, and factor analysis techniques. The findings revealed that all respondents were male and aged between 12 and 45years. The primary sources of waste were dumpsites (61%), roadsides, and gutters (26%). Participants predominantly cited lack of formal education requirements and financial gain (93%) as key motivators for their involvement in waste scavenging. Additionally, 96% of scavengers were from northern Nigeria, with the remaining 4% from southern Nigeria. The factor analysis yielded significant results with a Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure and Bartlett's test value of 67.770%, significant at p < 0.05. Four distinct factors emerged as significant motivators: (i) Lack of formal education (31.784%), (ii) Financial incentives (22.912%), (iii) Availability of wastes (14.297%), and (iv) Industrial demand for wastes (13.495%), in descending order of influence. Together, these factors accounted for 82.487% of the motivating factors behind youth engagement in waste scavenging in the study area. This outcome highlights potential challenges for the prospects of young individuals involved in scavenging unless substantial interventions are implemented. It is recommended that policies be developed to discourage scavenging activities while simultaneously promoting access to education and social welfare for this demographic. Such initiatives are crucial for redirecting young people away from scavenging and toward more sustainable livelihood options, ensuring a brighter future for them and contributing to overall societal development.

Wealth and learning achievement of pupils in primary schools in Uganda: Implications for government economic empowerment programs

This paper examines the possession of family wealth and its impact on the academic achievement of primary school students in Eastern Uganda. A correlational survey design was employed to analyse UWEZO secondary data collected from eight districts in the eastern region of Uganda, encompassing 6,302 children and 6,031 families. Descriptive statistics and Pearson chi-square tests were employed for data analysis. The findings indicate that socio-economic factors positively influence children's literacy and numeracy achievements. Families possessing solar lighting, mobile phones, tables, chairs, textbooks, and a reliable source of water demonstrated higher proficiency in literacy and numeracy skills. It is likely that children in households with these possessions were able to engage in private study at home, given the conducive study environment, well-lit rooms, essential furniture, and access to textbooks. Furthermore, these children were more likely to receive additional tutoring after school and had access to the internet through mobile phones and computers, allowing them to access crucial educational information. Based on these findings, we recommend that the government provide sustainable livelihood options for struggling families.

Traditional Ecological Farming Practices in the Eastern Himalayan Mountain Environment: Case of a Naga Village, Nagaland (India)

The farming systems practised by the tribal communities in the mountain environment of the North-Eastern region of India are eco-friendly and local climate responsive. These play a significant role in ensuring food security and conserving the local agro-ecological diversity. These farming practices are rooted in the local ecological set up, and they reflect the Indigenous people’s response to the environment of the area. The inhabitants of the Khonoma village of Kohima district, Nagaland, the study village, have been traditionally practising unique Alder tree-based jhum (shifting) cultivation, terrace-based panikheti (wet cultivation) and kitchen gardening based on their Indigenous knowledge and skills. They have been practising mixed farming by integrating crops, fish and livestock. The local communities have also evolved some methods for managing the natural settings to sustain their agriculture and livelihoods. This study is an attempt to investigate the methods of traditional farming system of Khonoma, a mountain village in the Eastern Himalayas. This study is based on primary data/ information collected through household survey using semi-structured household survey schedule, participatory rural appraisal (PRA), focus group discussion (FGD), and interviews with key informants and personal field visit in early 2021. The terrace-based panikheti, adopted by the people of Khonoma village, has been proved a location specific eco-friendly method for soil and water conservation. The Alder tree-based jhum practice, as opined by the villagers, is a sustainable livelihood option in the context of the mountain ecological setting and unique cultural values of the people.

A practical tool to enable Indigenous enterprise planning and development grounded in culture

Globally, Indigenous people seek to develop sustainable livelihood options that enable them to practice their culture, look after their traditional estates and generate economic development outcomes for their wider community. Enterprise development can and may provide one such pathway. However, challenges can arise with regard to reconciling the core drivers of ‘economic development’ with aspirations to practice and preserve culture. Current enterprise development approaches and models do not always suit Indigenous contexts. In this paper, we present a practical tool to enable Indigenous leaders, their partners, and others, to consider enterprise development options grounded in culture that may generate multiple benefits including economic outcomes. Our tool combines critical review of alternative development models, with empirical research to outline a set of foundational principles, building blocks and potential enterprise development options. We apply the practical tool to a case study of a nascent enterprise from the northern Australia Indigenous-led bush products sector. The case study illustrates how enterprise development planning is integral and discussions should consider how to enable cultural governance, protection of Indigenous cultural and intellectual property, potential benefits and sharing, access to resources, as well as the ‘building blocks’ for enterprise development and consideration of different enterprise approaches. The practical tool aims to ensure development pathways build on local economies and ecologies, do not compromise culture and recognise the influence of extra-local political economies on lived experiences and outcomes.

Exploring the vulnerability of the coastal wetlands of India to the changing climate and their adaptation strategies.

Changing climate exerts significant pressure on coastal wetland fishery, ecosystems and livelihood at the eco-regional level. In the present study, an indicator and scoring-based vulnerability assessment framework was developed to assess climate change-induced potential impacts and vulnerability of the coastal wetlands through stakeholder perception and primary data collection on ecology and fisheries. The study was conducted in 12 coastal wetlands in the Gangetic estuarine regions of eastern India. Analysis of rainfall, temperature and extreme climatic events was also carried out. The climate variability in the region was analysed and discussed in the context of ecosystem health and sustainability indicators. The results indicated that anthropogenic stress has a greater influence on ecosystem services than climatic stress. However, the nature and degree of vulnerability of fishers to climate change vary with their capacity to adapt to such changes and alternate sources of livelihood. Altogether, 34 fish species were documented, belonging to 11 taxonomic orders, and categorized as per intensity of resilience using selected criteria. Perception-based climate-resilient adaptation strategies have also been discussed. Developing appropriate adaptation policies and implementing climate-resilient practices and management can minimize vulnerability and increase the adaptive capacity of fishers ensuring sustainable livelihood options.

Communally established cattle feedlots as a sustainable livelihood option for climate change resilience and food security in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review

Climate change poses a significant threat to agriculture and livestock production in sub-Saharan Africa, a region heavily reliant on livestock for smallholder farmers’ livelihoods. This systematic review investigates the potential of communally established cattle feedlots as a sustainable strategy to address the interconnected challenges of climate change resilience and food security in the area. The review focuses on the intensification of climate change, marked by rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns, posing a direct threat to the livelihoods of millions in the region. Conducting a systematic literature review, we meticulously analyzed 72 articles that centered on communally established cattle feedlots in sub-Saharan Africa. The inclusion criteria considered studies within the context of climate change resilience and food security, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Published articles, grey literature, and relevant reports were systematically sourced from academic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and Web of Science, complemented by manual searches of journals, conference proceedings, and organizational websites. The synthesis of findings reveals a nuanced landscape of successes and challenges associated with communal feedlots. Through a narrative synthesis, studies were categorized based on key themes, unraveling the impact of communal feedlots on livestock health, economic viability, and socio-economic dynamics. The review highlights the role of communal feedlots in mitigating climate-related shocks, enhancing livestock productivity, and fostering economic opportunities for smallholder farmers. However, challenges related to land tenure, community engagement, and resource allocation emerged as critical considerations. In conclusion, communally established cattle feedlots offer a holistic and sustainable approach to address climate change challenges in sub-Saharan Africa.

Empowerment of Tribal Communities Through Innovation and Entrepreneurship: A Path to Sustainable Progress

Tribal communities worldwide face various challenges related to economic development, education, healthcare, and cultural preservation. The intersection of innovation and entrepreneurship offers a transformative approach to address these challenges while respecting cultural heritage. This article explores how innovative business models and entrepreneurship can contribute to traditionally preserve the occupation, economic empowerment, sustainable livelihood enhancement, and education and skill development within tribal communities. Three hypotheses are formulated to investigate the relationships between these objectives: 1) Innovation and entrepreneurship contribute to traditional occupation preservation and economic empowerment; 2) Entrepreneurial initiatives provide sustainable livelihood options beyond subsistence agriculture; and 3) Innovation in education and skill development enhances access to training and opportunities for tribal youth. By examining these hypotheses, this article contributes to a comprehensive understanding of how innovation and entrepreneurship can foster sustainable progress while preserving the rich heritage of tribal communities. Keywords: Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Economic Empowerment, Sustainable Development

Remote Sensing Based Deforestation Monitoring at the Change Hotspot Area in Hindu Kush Himalayan Region

Forests play an essential role in providing sustainable ecosystem services and livelihood options for a growing population. In the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region, forests have been continuously reduced due to increasing demand for timber, fuelwood, and agriculture. Identification of deforestation hotspots and monitoring changes in those hotspots will be highly useful for forest managers to prevent illegal deforestation. In this paper, we identified forest cover change hotspots and areas for annual monitoring in those hotspots. For that factors like land cover from 1990 and 2010, shuttle radar topography mission (SRTM) digitalelevation model (DEM), slope, curvature, and distance from the settlement and roads for all four countries which could influence loss in forest area and overplayed to determine forest hotspots, were considered. Land cover maps of 1990 and 2010 and other GIS layers were used for identification of hotspots using the model builder ArcGIS software. For monitoring of deforestation in the hotspot areas, Landsat 8 images (2013, 2014 and 2015) and geographic object-based image analysis (GEOBIA) technique was used. The method was validated in four study sites in Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan. The study revealed that the sites in Bangladesh have higher deforestation during 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 with forest loss of 1121.58 and 1773.18 ha respectively. The web-based forest monitoring system provides information on deforestation useful for forest managers to enforce annual management plans.

Social Factors Leading to Street Children Abscondment from Rehabilitation Centres in Iringa Municipality, Tanzania

This study examined social factors leading to street children's abscondment from rehabilitation centres in Iringa Municipality. Specifically, the study investigated the children’s peer pressure, social culture and children’s autonomy factors contributing to children's abscondment from the rehabilitation centres. A snowball chain was used to obtain 10 street children who absconded from the centres and Purposive sampling key informants. Interviews and documentary reviews were used for data collection. Thematic analysis technique (TAT) was used to analyze data. The results showed that social factors significantly influenced children's decisions to abscond from rehabilitation centres. The study found social factors that drive children’s decisions were peer pressure, social culture practised at rehabilitation centres and the desire for children’s freedom or autonomy played a significant role towards children's decisions to abscond from rehabilitation centres. These factors are rooted in their social experiences, relationships, and perceptions of the environment that they lived in before joining rehabilitation centres. To end the study, it concludes that children's abscondment from the rehabilitation centres was a result of a combination of social factors ranging from the influence of peer pressure, street children's autonomy and desire to regain self-independence as well as the social culture practised at the rehabilitation centres. The study recommends: (i) To rehabilitation centre, addressing social factors effectively requires rehabilitation programs to incorporate comprehensive vocational training, financial education, and sustainable livelihood options that cater to the unique needs and aspirations of street children (ii) The government must develop a coordinated multi-agency strategy to identify and share information about concerns for a children person’s safety when absconding from centres. (iii) Recommendations to scholars, the study recommends examining political ecology factors contributing to children's abscondment from rehabilitation centres to cover large areas to enable generalization.

Diversified Sustainable Income Generation Options For Rural Women in Odisha

Rural prosperity and women empowerment are the two sides of a coin. Promoting aquaculture and related enterprises among women holds immense potential for ensuring their livelihood and socio- economic empowerment. A study was undertaken in three villages namely Jaipur, Fakirpada and Paribasudeipur of Puri and Khordha districts of Odisha during the period 2012-13 to 2015-16. A random sample of 161 women from 10 Women Self-Help Groups (WSHGs) were selected as beneficiaries for disseminating ICAR-CIFA’s aquaculture technologies like carp seed rearing, carp culture (grow out), integrated fish farming, post-harvest technologies with value addition of fish and fish hydrolysate. The women were empowered with skill development in aquaculture and related enterprises. Due to frequent occurrence of natural calamities and environmental hazards, the women are forced to diversify their group activities in order to sustain their livelihoods. In the study area, women SHGs were encouraged to diversify their activities to mushroom cultivation, rice and vegetable cultivation, floriculture, mini-dairy, backyard poultry, mid-day meal preparation, coir work, etc. in order to strengthen their livelihood in a sustainable way. On the whole, the present paper explores different pathways for rural women to avail various opportunities in terms of multiple diversifications as Sustainable Livelihood (SL) options based on available natural resources, financial and human capital. Socio-economic impact of such changes on the beneficiaries was assessed and emerging issues were identified.&#x0D;

Activating and organizing village economic potential through continuously strengthening BUMDES: A community service

Abstract. The attainment of village independence cannot be isolated from BUMDES’ excellent management performance. This community service initiative aims to activate and organize remote communities' economic potential by continually strengthening BUMDES (Village-Owned Enterprises). BUMDES Tunas Harapan is a village-owned enterprise in Tanjung village, Riau, Indonesia, and its performance has suffered as a result of various internal issues. It is vital to solve difficulties and uncover local potential that may help Tanjung village's economic growth. The initiative intends to empower local communities and create sustainable livelihood options through a holistic strategy. Conducting a requirements assessment, providing training and capacity development, supporting resource mobilization, developing market links, addressing infrastructure needs, implementing monitoring and evaluation, and assuring long-term support are all important measures. The initiative aims to stimulate entrepreneurship, generate jobs, raise living conditions, and contribute to the general development of rural communities by harnessing the potential of BUMDES.

Development of novel tasar cultivation zones and conservation of vanya silkworms in ecologically-restored sites within degraded mined-out areas of Purnapani, Odisha

Aim: The aim was to develop tasar cultivation zones by introducing diverse tasar host plant species at mined out sites undergoing ecological restoration for generating sustainable livelihood option for local tribals. Methodology: The site selected for vanya sericulture was an integral part of ecologically restored 250 -acres limestone/dolomite mined out area of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).Tasar cultivation zones were developed by planting saplings of host plant species viz, Terminalia tomentosa (Roxb.) ex DC., Terminalia arjuna Wright &amp; Arn., Terminalia belerica (Gaertn) Roxb, Ziziphus mauritiana Lam., Terminalia chebula Retz. and Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels. These cultivation zones are currently scattered among nine forest communities that were developed by growing saplings of more than 260 native species of trees and shrubs, besides ground vegetation, using ecosystem approach. Women self-help groups were formed and trained in rearing of tasar silkworms as well as making tasar-based products to ensure continuous practice of tasar silkworm culture at these novel cultivation zones. Results: During early ecological stages of ecosystem redevelopment through restoration of the habitat, it was observed that wild tasar moths laid eggs and silkworms spun cocoons, albeit in very small quantity, indicating suitability of foliage as food for larvae. In the year 2019-2020 alone, an estimated one lakh cocoons were produced from DFLs procured from CTRTI, Ranchi,and sent to the market/stored as seed cocoon. The average income per member of self-help group from sale of tasar cocoons was Rs 7, 855 (INR) annually. Interpretation: The restored ecosystems in the limestone/dolomite mined-out areas of SAIL at Purnapani serve as an excellent model for conservation of Tasar gene pools and sustainable livelihood development that can be replicated elsewhere. Hence, this practise can serve as an excellent model for replication elsewhere. Key words: Biodiversity, Ecological restoration, Livelihood, Mined out areas, Self-help group, Tasar silkworm

Spatial-Temporal Changes of Limoto Wetland Land Use/Cover Before, During and After Restoration Activities in Eastern Uganda

Purpose: Limoto Wetland is an arm of the Mpologoma wetland system in the Kyoga basin and is a vital ecosystem that supports rural livelihoods through the provision of various ecological goods and services. However, this ecosystem has been undergoing rapid degradation arising from competing land uses particularly paddy rice growing. In turn, this led to reduced capacity of the wetland to provide ecosystem services, thereby reducing the resilience of both the ecosystem and the livelihoods of adjacent communities. Interventions through a restoration program that introduced alternative livelihood options were instituted. It’s important to document these changes to obtain insights that can aid decision-making for effective restoration and conservation. This study, therefore, sought to examine the spatial-temporal changes in Limoto wetland land use/cover transitions for the years 2015, 2020, and 2022.&#x0D; Methodology: To quantify the wetland changes, remotely sensed imageries for 2015, 2020, and 2022 were utilized in classifying land use and land cover dynamics on Limoto Wetland through the Maximum Likelihood algorithm. A total of 500 points were collected from different land use/cover types and used as reference points to develop the image error matrices. Overall accuracy, producer’s and user’s accuracies as well as Kappa statistics were generated from the error matrices. A Kappa test was carried out to measure the extent of classification accuracy; the Kappa coefficient, K, being a coefficient of agreement. It reflects the difference between the actual agreement of classification with reference data and the agreement expected by chance.&#x0D; Findings: Results generally showed that five years after the restoration program (2020), Limoto wetlands regained over 50% of previously converted wetlands to farming. Papyrus coverage also more than doubled from 3.4% to 11.35% of the total wetland coverage. Farms degraded over the past years (1986-2019). However, in 2022, wetland coverage declined drastically as farming took up more than half of the coverage (55%) land, and built-up areas also increased. These changes between 2015-2020 were majorly driven by the introduction of alternative livelihood options which vacated communities from the wetland.&#x0D; Recommendation: The changes after 2020 were due to the unsustainability of the livelihood options and the effects of the Covid-19 lockdown which rendered only farming as the socio-economic activity, coupled with movement restrictions that curtailed monitoring and control of activities in wetlands by enforcers. The study recommends community-tailored, tenable, and sustainable alternative livelihood options to influence community-led wetland restoration and conservation to curb the continuous loss of this wetland.&#x0D;

Factors influencing livelihood strategy choice and food security among youths in Mashonaland East Province, Zimbabwe

Several governments and development practitioners view youths as critical to the strategy of enhancing food and nutrition security and sustainable livelihoods in rural Africa. Despite youths being at the centre of food and nutrition security, their contribution to household food security remains understudied. The lack of such evidence has made it difficult to develop and implement effective and sustainable solutions to food insecurity and poverty in rural Africa. Thus, the study examines the factors influencing livelihood strategy choice and food security among youths in three districts of Mashonaland East Province, Zimbabwe. A total sample of 200 randomly selected youths was analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results show that agriculture was the main livelihood strategy followed by remittance dependant, self-employment, migration, and cross-border trading. In terms of remuneration, cross-border trading was found to be the most remunerative livelihood strategy followed by remittance dependant, self-employment, migration, and agriculture. The youths associated their choice of livelihood strategy with factors such as gender, age, land ownership, access to the internet, social group membership, access to credit and level of education. The study also finds food insecurity, notably severe food insecurity to be a general characteristic among the respondents. The nature of the livelihood strategy of the youths, their socioeconomic characteristics and livelihood capital were found to significantly influence household food security. The study recommends that the government implements strategies to make agriculture a sustainable livelihood option and policies to support youth in the non-farm sector should be a priority.

Linking marketing imperfections to sustainable entrepreneurial prospects and sustainability: the case of Indian medicinal and aromatic plants businesses

Purpose Drawing on the extant literature that suggests marketing imperfections are an opportunity to create and establish a foundation for sustainable entrepreneurial prospects and sustainability, this study aims to delineate a marketing mix strategy for Indian medicinal and aromatic plant (MAP) resources to optimize the benefits derived from their existing MAP business and address its marketing imperfections. Design/methodology/approach A case study research design was used to investigate the MAP sector, and 37 in-depth interviews were conducted to collect the primary data. Given the study’s exploratory nature, an inductive approach was used for data analysis, and conventional qualitative content analysis was performed to analyze the data. Findings The findings reveal that a marketing mix strategy is relevant for linking MAP businesses to the country’s sustainable livelihood options, entrepreneurial prospects, resource management and the economy and for improving the sector’s global competitive position. Originality/value To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study is the first to explore and present a marketing mix strategy for Indian MAP resources. Thus, it extends the marketing and entrepreneurship literature regarding natural resource businesses to advance sustainable entrepreneurial prospects and sustainability. The study concludes by offering strategic clues for implementing the marketing mix strategy in the Indian MAP sector and businesses.

Poultry farming: A sustainable livelihood option for tribal and rural women in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh

Poultry farming: A sustainable livelihood option for tribal and rural women in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh

From displacement to resettlement: the stakeholders strategies to mitigate impoverishment risks of the Ghazi Barotha Hydropower Project Pakistan

ABSTRACT Involuntary displacement caused by the construction of large hydropower projects has disastrous consequences due to poor planning, government institutional capacity limitations, and a lack of involvement of local communities in the development planning process. As a result, significant synergy among major stakeholders is critical for implementing long-term livelihood projects in affected areas. In this context, the study will critically investigate the relationships of significant players who have been involved in mitigating the risks of poverty linked with the Ghazi Barotha Hydropower Project’s affected people. The Water and Power Development Authority of Pakistan (WAPDA) collaborates with major stakeholders such as project NGOs and international financial institutions like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank to develop sustainable livelihoods restoration initiatives such as Employment Opportunities, Improved Resettlement and Social Inclusion, Social Mobilization, Integrated Regional Development Plans, Advocacy, and Land Compensation. The study found that the outcomes of these implemented strategies provided support in preventing poverty and considerably imparted sustainable livelihood options to affected communities.

Ecotourism and Rural Livelihood Nexus: An Assessment of the Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary Reserve

Ecotourism has been envisaged not only as an alternative to mass tourism, but also as a livelihood diversification strategy for rural people. Researchers have presented mixed arguments regarding the relationship between Community Based Ecotourism Projects and rural livelihoods. This study therefore examined the link between rural livelihoods by conducting an in-depth assessment of the Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary Reserve. The research employed a cross sectional design with a mixed research approach. Questionnaires were used to collect data from 214 respondents in Kpanfa, Pellinkpari, Dochere, Dornye, Talawona and Tuole. Series of in-depth interviews were also carried out using interview guides and field observation. The study found that, the emergence of ecotourism in the area caused the emergence of some new livelihood activities while some traditional livelihood activities saw a decline while others were completely abandoned due to the enactment of some conservation bye- laws. Respondents were dissatisfied with the contribution of ecotourism livelihood activities to sustainable livelihoods coupled with unequal sharing and distribution of ecotourism benefits among sanctuary communities. The study recommended for more sustainable livelihood options to be developed by the Sanctuary Management Board to help improve the situation of the poor rural farmer on who’s livelihood ecotourism activities have a direct bearing and to also develop and implement a strategic policy framework to facilitate benefit sharing among catchment communities.

Economic impression of on‐farm research for sustainable crop production, milk yield, and livelihood options in semi‐arid regions of central India

AbstractFarming system research (FSR) is on‐farm research that brings cutting‐edge agricultural technologies to growers to enhance farm production, family income, and livelihood status. In 2007, an on‐farm study was started on FSR in central India, and the effect was assessed after 5 yr (2012–2013) of implementation by comparing adopters and nonadopters of FSR‐based promoted technologies. Further, in 2018–2019, the status of adoption of introduced technologies was also assessed. The study revealed that improved practices such as pre‐sowing irrigation, high‐yielding varieties, and crop protection measures collectively improved the system productivity of the adopters by 28%; the improved productivity was mainly due to increased yield of blackgram (Vigna mungo L., 157%), groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L., 34%), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L., 12%). Adoption of ration balancing and healthcare practices promoted under the FSR project accentuated the milk yield of farm animals (200 L yr–1 cattle–1) of adopters. The farm diversification and sustainable production practices under the FSR‐based interventions increased family income of adopters by 35% (US$1,517.7 yr–1) and employment by 42%. Adopter households averaged a 33.76% higher return per unit of investment than nonadopters. The estimated change is primarily due to the non‐neutral technological change. The findings of the study offer important lessons for the promotion of FSR‐based interventions for improving the livelihood of resource‐poor farmers in arid and the semi‐arid regions across the world.

The Importance of Socio-economic Development to Sustainable Natural Resources Management in Rural Areas: A Case Study of Sustainable Livelihoods and Forest Management in Xuan Nha Nature Reserve in Northwestern Vietnam

Sustainable forest management is facing threats such as deforestation, forest degradation, and biodiversity loss due to socio-economic conditions, a weak governance capacity, and lack of public participation. In Xuan Nha Nature Reserve, about 50% of the total population are living below the poverty level and their livelihoods are depending on forest. The community’s activities have been creating pressures on the forest by reducing the forest area, increasing forest land degradation, and through illegal logging. The objectives of the study were to (i) identify sustainable livelihood options; (ii) the most suitable livelihood practices with the purpose of reducing poverty for local communities and their dependency on forest resources; and (iii) recommend suitable policies to reduce the conflict between socio-economic development and forest management. In order to achieve these objectives, we used the LIFE (livelihood, income, forest condition, and equity); the Sustainable Livelihood Framework; and the Advocacy Coalition Framework. The results showed that fruit orchards and beekeeping were two suitable livelihood options for the buffer areas since there were more convenient assets such as roads, markets, and human knowledge, while fruit orchards and local pig farming were suggested for the ERA (ecological restoration area) and SPA (strictly protected area) to solve the problem of land degradation and maintain the traditional habits of the local community. Regarding policy changes, support for livelihood practices and improvement of the community’s and authorities’ awareness on forest protection was necessary for all the sub-areas for reducing poverty and the pressures on forest resources of the community.