27/06/2016
In addition to current scientific knowledge, during the livings long-standing closely linked with mangroves, local people in Ba Bể lake have accumulated a system of knowledge and livelihoods that is diverse, variable and valuable. Local knowledge is the experience formed and accumulated through many years of usage. Weaknesses are gradually improved through time; the best is refined and finally finalized and disseminated. Local knowledge is the experience that is appropriate with environment, local culture, communities and people.
Local knowledge in the Ramsar Convention
According to the Ramsar Convention, local knowledge in wetland management is a whole system of knowledge and experience on conservation and sustainable use of wetland resources of indigenous residents, or of a community living and developing in each context with the contribution of all members of the community in a Ramsar site (in a particular geography location).
Also according to the Ramsar Convention, to successfully implement the management of wetland, it is necessary to have the participation of local communities, in the principle that natural resources users are legal managers of natural resources and take responsibility for those natural resources.
The participation of local communities and indigenous people in management of wetlands is understood as the co-management method or mechanism by relevant stakeholders with different benefits and responsibilities, including: local communities, indigenous people, recreational group and state agency. The concept of “indigenous people” can be understood differently among countries as well as inside a country, the concept of “local community” can include relevant stakeholders that can live far away from the Ramsar site but they still have benefits originated from wetland resources (The 7th Conference of parties to the Ramsar convention, 1999).
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The core zone of Ba Bể National Park in Nam Mẫu commune, Ba Bể district is maintaining, inheriting and applying local knowledge |
The forming of local knowledge in Ba Bể lake
In the world, there are many studies on local knowledge in all social areas; in Việt Nam, studies on local knowledge starts to gain attention, including studies on natural resources management. In addition, in recent years, the important role of indigenous people in nature management and conservation, of which local knowledge in wetland management is increasingly paid more attention and recognized.
Along the history of existence and change of Ba Bể lake, the lake is the habitat of communities of some ethnic minorities, mostly Tày people followed by Dao and H’Mong since time immemorial. Therefore, with the existence history of Ba Bể lake is the existence of the culture of peoples habituating around the lake. To exist and develop, for many generations, ethnic minority people here have local knowledge and livelihoods relating the exploitation and conservation of wetlands in Ba Bể lake.
During the existence and survival linked anciently with wetland resources, indigenous people in Ba Bể lake have accumulated a diverse and valuable system of knowledge and livelihoods. There is a variety of the local knowledge system of indigenous people relating to wetland resources. In addition to the history and cultural aspects, local knowledge is an important knowledge that is indispensable in exploitation and conservation of natural resources in Ba Bể lake.
The importance of local knowledge in wetland resources management in Ba Bể lake
The local knowledge system of indigenous people relating to wetland natural resources is very diverse, in addition to historical and cultural aspects, local knowledge is an important knowledge that is indispensable in exploitation and conservation of natural resources in general and wetland resources in particular in Ba Bể lake.
Currently, traditional knowledge has contributed an important role in addressing local issues such as: agriculture (mixed cropping technique, animal husbandry, pest management, plant diversification, animal healthcare, plant seedling selection; biology (botany, fish farming technique); community health care (using traditional medicine); natural resources usage and management, including wetland management and poverty reduction in Ba Bể lake area.
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Traditional knowledge system applied in areas, livelihoods
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Note |
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1 |
Forest resource management |
Mostly exploitation of non-timber forest products. |
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2 |
Fish catching in Ba Bể lake |
No aquaculture activities in the lake. |
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3 |
Agriculture cultivation |
Mostly one crop rice and traditional crops |
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4 |
Post-harvest preservation and processing |
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5 |
Animal husbandry |
Mostly cattle and poultry |
Since its establishment (in 1992) the Ba Bể National Park has implemented development projects supported by international donors such as: “Creating protected areas for resource conservation using landscape ecology” (PARC) project supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP); “Preservation of biodiversity in forest ecosystem in Việt Nam” supported by German Technical Cooperation GIZ; Natural resources sustainable management and poverty reduction project supported by Helvetas… Knowledge and advanced science and technologies have been introduced and initially applied in Ba Bể National Park in livelihoods and natural resources management of local people.
In addition, indigenous people in Ba Bể lake and managers (Ba Bể National Park management board, Nam Mẫu commune, Ba Bể district) inherit and maintain the application of local traditional knowledge into the integration and wise use of wetlands resources in Ba Bể lake.
Currently, in Ba Bể National Park areas, most villages in the core zone of the Ba Bể National Park located in Nam Mẫu commune, Ba Bể district are maintaining, inheriting and applying traditional knowledge in some following areas:
According to indigenous people at Pác Ngòi village, Nam Mẫu commune, currently in addition to knowledge and updated methods and science applied by the Ba Bể National Park Management Board and Nam Mẫu Communal People’s Committee to support local people in applying in socio-economic development in locality, traditional knowledge has supported indigenous people, scientists, managers to address effectively complex issues, requiring time and deep understanding and adaptation and appropriateness with history, culture and traditional livelihoods of localities in natural resource management including wetlands.
In the storage of traditional knowledge system in Ba Bể lake, knowledge and methods on fish catching, exploitation and preservation of non-timber forest products, domestication of plants, creating rice and crop seedlings have added to the common knowledge treasure of the community and supported scientists, managers to adequately understand the principle, routines, customs in natural resources management, particularly wetland management.
Consequently, managers and scientists understand the role and the importance of traditional knowledge and flexibly applied in management and implementation of projects on development cooperation, poverty reduction, natural resources management, particularly management of wetlands in Ba Bể lake.
Former Deputy Director of Ba Bể National Park Mr. Nong Dinh Khue, informed that traditional knowledge on agriculture, agroforestry, plantations, pest management, land and many other knowledge on post-harvest, species conservation… are still maintained and applied to maintain their livelihoods. Scientists pay attention and study this valuable treasure...
Some recommendations, suggestions to relevant stakeholders
With benefits brought by traditional knowledge, from indigenous people to scientists, Ba Bể National Park Management Board and local authority are all aware of the value and the importance of traditional knowledge in socio-economic development in general and wetland management in particular, to conserve and promote values and positive contribution of traditional knowledge in wetland management in Ba Bể lake, the following solutions need to implement:
Enhancing awareness raising activities and widespread propaganda to local communities and relevant stakeholders on conservation and promoting positive and effective values of traditional knowledge in wetland management.
Developing appropriate mechanism and policies to conserve and promote positive values of the traditional knowledge system in wetland management in Ba Bể lake area.
Developing appropriate, effective and sustainable relationships between traditional knowledge and scientific and advanced intelligence in wetland management in Ba Bể lake area.
Implementing studies, assessing in a scientific manner on traditional knowledge system in wetland management in Ba Bể lake area, from which to propose subjective and feasible recommendations for sustainable management of wetlands in Ba Bể lake.
Relevant stakeholders, particularly local authorities and Ba Bể National Park Management Board needs to fully understand its role in supporting local communities to register ownership rights and usage of their indigenous treasure in wetland management in Ba Bể lake area.
MSc. Ngân Ngọc Vỹ
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
