Agrobiodiversity conservation and development in Vietnamese home gardens

The cultural, ecological, and commercial forces that influence Vietnamese home gardens are explored in this 3-year International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) study. Home gardens located in four different ecosystems within Vietnam were surveyed to determine species composition, area, structure, commercialization, household socio-economic status, and gender division in decision-making. Four key species were chosen for in depth ethnobotanical and genetic diversity studies; preliminary results from participatory appraisal workshops are reported including farmer varietal preferences, descriptors, and a seasonal calendar. Cultural importance of home gardens and their species in Vietnam is also discussed. The study concludes that richness and stability of home gardens make them important sites for in situ conservation within ecozones, and great scope exists for the utilization of this information to improve nutritional and income-generating development projects. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.