DONORS

ICCO
mcknight
CC
BROT

News

Promoting traditional culture of ethnic minorities in forest management, use, protection and development

  • That is the main theme of the conference held by Agriculture and Rural Development Department, CODE[1], in collaboration with Kontum Union of Scientific and Technological Association (KUSTA) on 28th August 2015.
     
    Attending the conference were Mr. Nguyen Huu Hai – member of Provincial Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of Kontum People’s Committee, leaders of ministries and departments, leaders of city and district People’s Committee, and representatives of some districts and forest protection communities.
    During the conference, the participants have discussed the policies and the actual use of the land and forest management rights of the ethnic minorities (EM) throughout economic and social development phases. The conference mentioned the result of the livelihood support program that closely connected with the cultural forest space, forest land and ecological environment protection for EM community in Ho Moong Commune (Sa Thay District) and Po E Commune (Kon Plong District). Besides, the representatives of the communities also shared their experience in forest management and protection.


    The conference emphasized that the land and forest allocation programs must support livelihoods, while promoting EMs’ traditional culture and customary laws in forest protection. Moreover, it will help increasing people’ income from forest and protect the water source for agricultural production.
    The participants analyzed the threats and challenges under the current circumstance of deforestation caused by cultivation, and pushed for awareness programmes to encourage the EM community to promote their customary laws and unite to protect the forest.
    At the conference, CODE stated that forest and forestry land is the power, resources, assets and basic materials for the life and livelihoods of EM. CODE stated the importance of respecting the resource co-management regime among communities and within a community, prioritizing allocating the traditional forest that attached to people’s cultural life such as scared forest, and focusing on forest protection and restoration based on customary laws and awareness of the EM.

    (Source: Kontum Online)


    [1] CODE is a LISO partner with CIRUM