Whilst active measures are needed in Vietnam to conserve natural forests where this is still possible, there is no doubt that in other areas forest rehabilitation programmes are urgently needed.
At the same time, for NWFPs for which a strong demand exists, cultivation of the wild species is the only sure way to relieve the pressure on and promote the actual conservation of natural forest stocks. A large reforestation programme is well under way in Vietnam. With more attention to the role which NWFPs can play in this connection, the programme can become much more successful than it presently is.
Taking the needs and aspirations of the people living in or near these areas as a point of departure for reforestation in barren areas and for enrichment planting in degraded forest, holds out the best promise. Examples from all over the world show that when the people concerned are not convinced of the benefits of forest rehabilitation programmes, reforestation becomes a difficult and expensive venture.
Hence, one could proceed as follows: start by making an inventory of the NWFPs people use at the household level for food including game, fuel, medicine etc. Then include forest species relevant to these needs in the replanting scheme. Next, after a careful assessment of future domestic and foreign demand for commercial NWFPs, promote the trees and plants selected in the areas which are most suitable for their cultivation. The use of species indigenous to an area, rather than exotic species, as cash crops has the advantages of genetic conservation, conservation of extant biological diversity, and of ecological stability as well as cultural familiarity and value.
In this way a forest will regrow which is interesting from the point of view of the people living in the area; a forest that consists of mixed stands of multi-purpose trees and other trees and plants, some of which are more valuable for direct use in local households and others that are valuable commercially and sooner or later, depending on the species, will bring in cash income to the households involved.
True participation of local people in reforestation could so be achieved. Such an approach requires a great deal of patience, as well as thorough basic scientific research. Research into indigenous forest management systems as well as into biological and ecological aspects, extensive field trials and organized extension efforts to put research results into practice, are required.