Utilization of forest products and environmental services in Bach Ma National Park, Vietnam

70 households living in two communes in the buffer zone of Bach Ma National Park were interviewed in order to qualify and quantify their utilization of forest products from the protected area. The interviewees were also asked to specify the environmental services they receive from t he National Park. Utilization of forest products still plays an important role for supporting the livelihoods of marginal and poor households, but generally people appreciate the environmental benefits from the protected area, namely water storage, erosion control and, to a lower extent, also biodiversity conservation. That perception of the National Park opens opportunities to shift from a predominantly protective conservation policy towards encouraging sustainable systems for production of livelihoods benefits for the local population.