Land Cover Changes and Resource Use Patterns of Selected Communities in Phou Phanang National Protected Area, Sangthong District, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR

Abstract

The study determined the relationship of land cover changes and resource use patterns from 1989-2011 of the selected three villages in the Phou Phanang National Protected Area (PPNPA) located in Sangthong District, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR. It adopted the concept of co-evolution of the communities and the ecosystem for its framework. It is a process in which human communities with their social-system exert selective pressure on the naturalresource base and biodiversity of a given ecosystem and how the resulting changes and alterations within this ecosystem in turnexerts pressure over the given community in terms of the quality of livelihood. The study had shown the positive relationship between population growth rate and land cover change. The positive population growth rate was attributed more on voluntary resettlement induced by the economic opportunities brought about by the government support to lowland agricultural intensification. This condition contributed to decline of the communities’ dependence on forest resources. Without the corresponding technical expertise and budget, the national government failed to regulate resource access in the area resulting to widespread illegal occupation and resource extraction. The result had enumerated six recommendations that may contribute to the development of the management strategies for the conservation of Phou Phanang National Protected Areas.