Small-scale timber plantations for rural household livelihoods: Case study of Acacia timber production and commercialization system in central Vietnam
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Rural poverty alleviation implies economic development at local levels to which forests contribute to different extents. Smallholder-managed timber plantations form the backbone of wood supply in Vietnam. Of the planted tree species, <i>Acacia</i> (<i>Acacia auriculiformis</i> x <i>Acacia mangium</i>) hybrid is one of the most preferred by timber growers. Yet, the contribution of these timber plantations to rural livelihoods is currently unknown.<br /> This study explores the impacts of <i>Acacia</i> timber production and trade on rural livelihoods in Thua Thien Hue province, where the tree species has been cultivated widely since approximately 20 years. 300 household heads in Nam Dong and Phu Loc district were interviewed, following a stratified random sampling approach. We employed a combination of descriptive and inferential statistics to examine the contribution of <i>Acacia</i> hybrid timber income to household economies. In addition, three Foster-Greer-Thorbecke poverty measures and the Gini decomposition method were used to evaluate the effects of income from timber plantations on poverty and income inequality. The findings were validated in group discussions, key informant interviews and direct observations.<br /> The results demonstrated that <i>Acacia</i> hybrid timber plantations accounted for 33-56% of total annual household income. However, more wealthy households benefitted more from <i>Acacia </i>timber income especially in case of a well-developed market. Livelihood diversification using timber production notably reduced all three poverty indices in both districts. Given its highest share of total Gini and positive marginal effect on total Gini, <i>Acacia</i> timber income was the main contributor to the overall income inequality. While this income source reduced the Gini coefficient by 0.7% in Nam Dong, it increased Gini coefficient by 18% in Phu Loc district. Recommendations refer to improving the contribution of <i>Acacia</i> hybrid timber plantations to rural livelihoods.
Keywords: Human health and well-being, Sustainable forest management, Landscape management, Governance, Deforestation and forest degradation
ID: 3477875