The contribution of non-timber forest products to the livelihoods of forest-dependent people: a case study in Hoa Binh province, Vietnam

ABSTRACT In Vietnam, most research has addressed important ecological and biological aspects of NTFPs, but research on the relationship between NTFPs and livelihoods of rural households is still limited. This research, therefore, seeks to fill a gap in understanding of the contribution of NTFPs to the livelihoods of forest-dependent people in Vietnam. Structured interviews were held with 100 households in three villages in Truong Son commune, Luong Son district, Hoa Binh Province, Vietnam with different types of household wealth ranking. The indirect opportunity cost (IOC) method was applied to provide an indirect estimate of the economic value of NTFP extraction by households. This research showed that NTFPs contribute moderately to livelihoods of all forest-dependent people in Vietnam, but that NTFPs are a more important livelihood source for poor households than for moderate and rich households. Significant determinants of a household’s dependence on NTFPs are the number of adults, other types of cash income (e.g. off-farm cash income, animal husbandry cash income, other forest activities cash income, pension, and salaries). The research findings suggest several implications for policymakers.