Community-owned ecotourism, forest protection & livelihood security: Sai Duan village of Phin Ngan commune, Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province, Vietnam

During the last three decades, there are a lot of changes in the ethnic, mountainous regions of Vietnam. Economic growth and investment promotion brought about poverty reduction, but also imposed social and environmental impacts on local communities. Forest degradation, soil erosion, shortage of land and widen social disparity become an increasing challenge against the poor people’s livelihood security. In this situation, the Culture Identity and Resource Use Management (CIRUM) chose to tackle one of the most burning and pivotal issues, namely forest land rights for ethnic indigenous communities in Northern, Central regions and Central Highland of Vietnam.