Shifting Cultivation in Vietnam: Impacts of various policy reforms

nationalfigure masked a myriad of issues and challenges faced by local people. Each newpolicy brought new challenges that affected shifting cultivators eitherpositively or negatively. However, with new mechanisms such as REDD+ emergingat a global level,itis important to reflect on how shifting cultivators might be more effectivelyinvolved with implementation, rather than being construed as either the victimsor the causes of failure. Based on literature reviews, recent surveys andinterviews with local farmers and provincial officials in the country’snorthwest region between April and June 2012, this chapter provides an overviewof shifting cultivation practices in Vietnam, the key policy interventions andtheir impacts on livelihoods, land use and the environment, as well as insightsinto how shifting cultivators could benefit from new incentives such as REDD+.