Economic reforms and mangrove forests in central Vietnam

Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) is increasingly viewed as especially suitable for promoting the sustainable development of common-pool resources. It is considered an alternative to state control or privatization because it ostensibly brings about decentralization, meaningful participation, and conservation. Although attracting international attention, CBNRM has not been widely implemented in Vietnam, where the main strategies are centralized management by state agencies and assignment of management responsibility to individual households. Findings are presented of a study of mangrove forest use and management in a commune in central Vietnam since the introduction of economic reforms in 1986. This article argues that the promotion of nationalization or privatization, rather than solving problems of resource degradation and overexploitation, has deprived many rural households of their livelihoods. Further research is needed to define what mix of economic incentives and state and community regulation will best achieve and maintain sustainable and equitable management of local resources.