Status and future needs for forest watershed management in Vietnam

This work was carried out as a part of Forestry Sector Review/Vietnamese TFAP, Project VIE/88/037 to study, review, and evaluate the present status of watershed management in Vietnam and to recommend a course of action so that the watershed degradation can be halted in the near future. The major causes of this degradation today are continued deforestation, resulting from agricultural expansion and shifting agriculture, and associated fires on the uplands which together account for about 350 000 ha (864,850 ac) area annually. This degradation is causing serious erosion resulting in loss of productivity, hence, poverty to millions of people in the uplands. The heavy investments made in various hydropower, irrigation, and flood control dams are also being fast negated. This is and will affect the lives of additional millions of people down-stream. During the review, it was found that practically no action is being taken to reverse this except for a partially successful program of resettlement of the upland minority tribes. The main reason for this inaction is a lack of funding at all levels for any watershed rehabilitation works. This has resulted in both a lack of trained manpower and well-tested and demonstrated technology for upland conservation. Recommendations have been made to alleviate these constraints through eight well-justified project proposals for technical assistance and investment (approximately US $241 million), mainly on the six up-stream watersheds which house the major existing dams. These projects are scheduled for up to a total of 10 years.