Conservation activities concern different stakeholders in which the implementation and management is complex and difficult. To have a rich picture of conservation activities, the study conducted a stakeholder’s analysis employing the CATWOE tool. The technique reveals that every stakeholder has different responsibility and interest in the process of conservation. This analysis is illustrated in Figure 10.
Clients: conservation brings a significant value for bio-diversity and biosphere not only to national level but also to global level. The value of flora and fauna needs to be maintained for the younger generation who are considered future clients. In fact, the direct beneficiaries are staff of Cat Tien national park, researchers, students, tourists, and partly local people in the buffer zone. For instance, staff of the park got salary from the government. They have been trained to gain knowledge and skills so they can effectively participate in the process of implementing projects as well as in tourism activities. They have a responsibility to conduct the activities and enforce the regulations of decision No.09/2001/QD-BNN-TCCB of Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development concerning the park (MARD, 2001). Researchers and students have also a place to research especially on matters of genetic, forestry, and biology. Domestic and foreign tourists can visit the park to enjoy fresh air, humming birds, flowing streams and ancient trees at day time. During night time, tourists can see and experience wild animals in the natural area of the park♦. Aside from this, a group of people in the buffer zone also takes part in the forest protection activities that in turn gets benefit through government’s subsidy. For instance the 29 indigenous households from village 4, Ta Lai commune who have a contract with the park. Generally, the local people in the buffer zone are considered as indirect beneficiaries of the project for conservation of Cat Tien national park with the objectives of improving the people’s living condition. However, Chau Ma and Stieng people are considered both as indirect beneficiaries and victims of conservation activities because they have a support from the project but are not allowed to collect forest products. The conflict of interest between conservation and livelihood activities are crucial points to consider. The government tries to reduce this conflict through projects and programs in the buffer zone in order to balance the initiatives between conservation and socio-economic development.
Actors: the direct actors include the staff of Cat Tien national park management board, staff of the park, forest guards, the households that were contracted and non government organizations. These actors directly implement conservation activities such as the monitoring of forest events, violations, research on flora and fauna. Indirect actors include Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development, People’s Committee at different levels, the police of Dong Nai, Binh Phuoc and Lam Dong provinces.
♦ The researcher observed the ecosystem inside Cat Tien National Park in early 2006. At day time, various species of forest tree, butterflies and streams are seen and birds are heard singing. At night time, the researcher and staff travelled around in the park using a special car and floodlight at about 30 minutes. Wild animals in forest such as wild boar, java mouse deer, and deer were seen for the first time (Field Diary).
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Figure 10: Depiction of the conservation activities in Cat Tien National Park Source: Overall analysis, Tran Duc Luan, 2006
Note: Connected to Village 4 (Please zoom 200% to see this figure)
Conservation activities in
Cat Tien National Park
Clients
Cat Tien National Park Management Board Researchers People in village 4, Talai commune
Chau Ma people Stieng people Kinh people
Students Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh city.
Other Universities Tourists Domestic tourists
Foreign tourists
Actors Direct
Cat Tien National Park Management Board Forest protection department Households (who has a contract with Cat Tien National park for protection) Others (WWF, WB, UNESCO)
Indirect
Ministry of Agriculture and rural development People's committee at different levels Universities/Institutions
People in village 4, Talai commune
Transformation Activities
Contributing the recommendation for policy maker to draw up forest law
Training for staff
Master students Short training courses Informal training courses Students
Implement projects
Project for conservation the Park
Reforestation in the buffer zone Providing agricultural inputs for people Project for forest
protection and rural development
Building infrastructure in buffer zone Providing agricultural inputs for people
Study tour
Learnt from other national parks in Vietnam
Learnt from other national parks in the world
Ujong Kulon National Park (Indonesia)
Bardia and Chitwan National Park (Malaysia) Umfolozi National Park (South Africa) Khao Yai National Park (Thailand)
Science Research
Research on Rhino Research on birds and other rare animals
Create landscape Restore gene of flora
Restore crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) Forest protection
Violation checking and judging Preventing and fighting forest fire Conservation education Other activities (eco-tourism,
education, etc.
Objectives
To conserve specific ecosystem (species, gene) To protect forest for Tri An hydroelectricity system To maintain the place for research, study and tourism To enhance people's living condition in the buffer zone World
view World wild fund Wild Animal
Conservation
World Bank Improve people's
living condition in the buffer zone
Ministry of Agriculture and rural development Maintain and develop
bio-diversity and gene
Cat Tien National Park Management Board
Implementation the objectives of the Park
People in village 4 Derive benefits from the Park in a more sustainable way
UNESCO Maintain the biosphere zone
Owners Ministry of Agriculture
and rural development United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
World Wild Fund World Bank Other NGOs
Environment Forest fire
Exotic species threats to native species and gene in the Park
Demand of agricultural land is increasing A hydroelectricity system threats to wetland ecosystem of the Park The outsiders abetted local people to collect forest products
The pressure of poor people to the park
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In addition, universities and institutions also contribute to the conservation activities through research. For instance, the park has co-operated with Centre for Nuclear Research of Ho Chi Minh City on investigating forest mushroom. Also the environmental institution of Ho Chi Minh City conducted an investigation to establish a record for underwater flora and fauna. Likewise Ping Tung University of Taiwan rescued nine bears and took care of them in the park. In the study site, people who are considered as indirect actors have also been improving their living conditions as effective strategies to carry out the conservation activities. The development of which will result in better access to the park for forest collection.
Transformation/process of conservation
This component relates to activities and objectives of conservation in Cat Tien national park.
The conservation activities include forest protection, project implementation, training skills for staff of the park, study tour, science research, eco-tourism, and environmental education. For forest protection, the forest fire fighting and prevention are important during dry season because fire can quickly destroy ecosystem of the park. The patrolling and handling of violations are necessary to ensure the objectives of conservation. In fact, it is difficult to achieve the objectives of conservation if not good practice on forest protection.
The environmental education is also noticed through the lessons on environment for pupils and children in buffer zone. The activities of projects have been implemented inside the buffer zone of the park such as forest planting and infrastructure. Moreover, the research and study tour on forest management and care for wild animals also contribute to the development of conservation efforts. The objectives of conservation are mentioned in the previous sections of this research. The main goals of conservation are to conserve the local ecosystem, preserve the watershed of Tri An Reservoir, provide research opportunities for national and international sciences as well as develop tourism destination.
Worldview: this component will bring out the different views of stakeholders. World Wild Funds are looking for wildlife conservation, World Bank is concerned the enhancement of people’s living condition in the buffer zone through the loan amount extended, the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development emphasizes the responsibility of maintaining local ecosystem and gene resources, the Management board focuses on the implementation and management of the park by following the regulations of activities of Cat Tien national park and UNESCO would like to maintain the biosphere for Vietnam and the world. The interesting issue is the concern of people in the buffer zone on ways of forest product collection without damaging the national park. This means that the activity of forest product collection would result to a more sustainable way.
Environment: This component highlights the direct and indirect threats to conservation activities in Cat Tien National Park. Firstly, the direct threats are forest fires in the dry season, the increasing water level when preserving the watershed of Tri An Reservoir affects the ecosystem in wetland area and the infiltration of exotic creatures into the park. Secondly, the indirect threats are the human pressures of 173,947 people who live inside and outside the park. Collecting and trading of forest products and finding cultivated land for them are critical issues for Cat Tien national park management board.
In summary, as earlier noted, there are many stakeholders involved with Cat Tien national park. One activity can mobilize many stakeholders while one stakeholder can participate in many activities. It has been clearly stated that some stakeholders are both beneficiaries and victims of the process of conservation in general and forest protection in particular.
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