Improving the livelihoods of ethnic minorities associated with community-based tourism...

On November 6, in Buon Ma Thuot ward, the Vietnam Forestry Science and Technology Association of Dak Lak province in collaboration with the SRP/UNDP Program under the United Nations Development Program organized a national scientific seminar: "Improving the livelihoods of ethnic minorities associated with community tourism, ecosystem services and forest restoration in Dak Lak".

The seminar attracted a large number of managers, scientists, development partners, businesses and representatives of ethnic minority communities in the province.

Speaking at the seminar, Dr. Tran Ngoc Thanh, Chairman of Dak Lak Forestry Science and Technology Association, said: Dak Lak is located in the center of the Central Highlands, with 49 ethnic groups living together; possessing rich biodiversity resources and a cultural space imbued with traditional identity, especially the Central Highlands Gong Cultural Space, which has been recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. These are invaluable potentials and advantages for economic and social development, especially eco-tourism, community tourism and source tourism to create livelihoods for local ethnic minorities.

Dr. Tran Ngoc Thanh, Chairman of Dak Lak Forestry Science and Technology Association, spoke at the seminar.

However, due to the fragmented, small-scale agricultural production, lack of linkage and low economic efficiency, combined with the increasingly serious impacts of climate change and the decline of forest resources, the livelihood problem has become urgent.

Meanwhile, the huge potentials of tourism, forests, and ecosystem services, which are considered valuable ecosystems of the Central Highlands, have not been exploited adequately. Local communities, who preserve indigenous cultures and live closely with the forests, are largely outside the value chain and have not truly benefited from the resources they are protecting.

Delegates discussed at the seminar.

At the seminar, delegates discussed the following contents: Forest restoration associated with community tourism and ecosystem services: Opportunities to improve sustainable livelihoods for ethnic minorities in Dak Lak; restructuring the development model of the revolutionary base area of Dak Lak province: Current situation and policy recommendations; current situation, potential and orientation of community tourism in Dak Lak province; the role of indigenous intellectuals in forest resource management of ethnic minority communities in the Central Highlands with sustainable tourism development; community learning tourism - ecological and technological approach for sustainable development in Dak Lak province...

Delegates attending the seminar.

Through the discussion, managers, scientists and businesses together identified and proposed to the Party Committee and government scientific solutions, breakthrough mechanisms and policies to promote the improvement of ethnic minority livelihoods associated with community tourism, ecosystem services and forest restoration in Dak Lak province.

Nguyen Cong Ly

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/cai-thien-sinh-ke-dong-bao-dan-toc-thieu-so-gan-voi-du-lich-cong-dong-va-phuc-hoi-rung-tai-dak-lak-400796.html