Forest Resources Dependency of the Rural Community: A Case Study in Bokeo Province Lao PDR

by Bounmy Somsoulivong

This study used the Rapid Rural Appraisal Technique (RRAT) to examine the socio-economic situation of the rural community in Bokeo Province, Laos. It assesses the contribution of the forest resources to the rural community household’s economy and addresses the problems associated with this forest dependency. This study aims to estimate the quantity and monetary value of various timber and non-timber forest products (TFPs & NTFPs), and the products cultivated and harvested from forestlands (CFLPs) on an annual basis. It also measured the rural household’s income derived from these products and those intended for annual household consumption needs. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data and measure the rural community’s forest dependency in the 12 villages of the Nam Nhou and Nam Choam areas, Bokeo province, Laos. Three kinds of nature of forest dependency were discussed in this study: (1) dependency for subsistence (2) dependency for inputs into the household production system and (3) dependency for income and employment.

  • Publication Year: 2002
  • Country: Lao PDR
  • Sector: Green
  • Type: Individual Research Grant
  • Research Area: Forestry
  • Research Topic: Forest Conversion to Other Land Uses
  • Analytical Framework: Explicative Research
Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia