Pham Duc Chien1, Pham Quang Vinh2
1 Forest Science Institute of Vietnam  2 Forestry University of Vietnam

Traditional knowledge has been developed and used by 54 ethnic minorities of Vietnam for ages. It is very important issue in terms of balancing the ecological environment and creating income for local people. Understanding and using appropriate traditional knowledge particularly in the context of current global warming and commercialization are crucial to sustain natural resources and livelihood of local communities. 

This paper presents the traditional knowledge on cultivation and uses of Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in the Northwest of Vietnam, where 23 ethnic minorities settle. To get insight into the issue, three ethnic minorities of Thai, H’Mong, and Kho Mu in Dien Bien Province of the region were selected for the study. For each ethnic minority, the methods of PRA and RRA were applied in typical villages to attain necessary data and information.

The results showed that there are many NTFPs species growing in natural forests of the region. Even though the NTFPs species normally scatter in natural forests, they are very important resources for the livelihood of local people, mostly ethnic minorities. Many of NTFPs species have been locally harvested and used for food, medicine, material, daily uses and commercial purposes using traditional knowledge. Some local communities have their own regulation to manage and harvest main NTFPs. The traditional knowledge is rarely written or published, but transferred from family to family and from generation to generation. Each ethnic minority has its own knowledge and culture in using and managing NTFPs.

Due to a fast growing population and bad management of natural forests, NTFPs resources recently have been severely declined. Furthermore, the environment and land are getting worse for growing and cultivating NTFPs. This leads to the investment of modern technology as a mechanism of the government to improve living standards of local people. However, modern technologies in many cases are helpless to solve the problems because they are not in line with the indigenous way. This is even more serious in the context of global warming and commercialization currently happening.
In short, we suggest that traditional knowledge on NTFPs cultivation and uses should be comprehensively researched and developed in the region. Furthermore, modern technologies applied should base on or in line with traditional knowledge. Finally, in order to improve local economy and sustain the ecological environment, ethnic minorities should be further involved in the development activities such as planning, monitoring and evaluation.