Abstract

Forest land in tropical areas is being used for many forestry and non-forestry purposes by a number of stakeholders based upon their needs, rather than according to the official land use status.
An inter-disciplinary approach on strategic forest land-use planning was developed in two case studies in Laos and Vietnam. It outlines how governments in tropical countries could interact with local stakeholders to promote a land use that is sustainable both for the society at large and for the individuals. The approach, that links government based and farm based planning, emphasises the need to consider historical developments and accurately assess the current situation when elaborating land use strategies. The capture and analysis of the forestry, agriculture and socio-economic data and information is based upon internally supportive methods from the natural and social sciences (e.g. sampling, remote sensing, participatory rural appraisal, use of official sources, a simulation model and stakeholder dialogues).
A feasible method for estimation of actual land use “field point sampling with local key informants” was developed. It integrates local knowledge (e.g. on land use history, tenure, market) and controlled area sampling.
A planning tool, the Area Production Model was used for elaborating scenarios based on historical information, e.g. land use, economic growth, forest cover, population, and agriculture production and consumption. In order to explain forest and land use dynamics (and model deforestation) in shifting cultivation areas, it was necessary to apply a gross area concept, i.a. both cultivated land and fallow must be considered as agriculture land.
There were significant discrepancies between the data used in official planning and the actual situation as estimated by field point sampling. Areas officially classified as “not yet used land” or forest land were actually used for food production. With reference to the Vietnamese Five Million Hectares Reforestation Programme, the study concluded that such "harmonised" (negotiated) data is not feasible for use in strategic planning.

Keywords

area production; data capture; multi disciplinary; point sampling; policy

Published in

Acta Universitatis Agriculturae Sueciae. Silvestria
2001, number: 178
ISBN: 91-576-6062-X
Publisher: Department of Forest Resource Management and Geomatics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

SLU Authors

• Sandewall, Mats

  • Department of Forest Resource Management and Geomatics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science


Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/107977