Community Forest Management for Whom? Learning from field experience in Vietnam

What makes community forest management (CFM) work for forests and livelihoods? And how can policy help? To find out, the Forest Governance Learning Group Vietnam undertook a survey in Dak Lak and Thua Thien Hue provinces between December 2006 and April 2007. The survey aimed to provide insights into different forms of
CFM, the factors influencing successful CFM, and their contribution to poverty alleviation. This brief presents some major findings of the survey, focusing on three important
issues: (1) the rigidity or lack of flexibility in the implementation of state policies; (2) factors influencing the contribution of official CFM to poverty alleviation; and
(3) the role of external support in promoting CFM. Concerned stakeholders have already debated the findings in provincial and national workshops.