The Inception Workshop:

Time: 10 - 11 April 2001

Venue: Buon Me Thuat, Dak Lak, Vietnam

Purpose: The workshop provided a first chance for all participants to develop a shared understanding of the research with regard to its purpose, expected results, relevance for the sector, envisaged processes, administrative procedures, and necessary communication for exchange and learning. It also served to discuss the research with decision-makers from Dak Lak province. The workshop produced a plan of operations for the year 2001.

Participants: 1) National level: representatives from Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development (Policy Department and Department of Forestry Development), Institute of Ethnology, and Institute of Economics; 2) Province level: representative from Department of Agricultural and Rural Development, Department of Land Management, Department of Science, Technology and Environment, Department of Planning and Investment, Department of Foreign Affairs, and local projects; 3) The research team; 4) Representatives from the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in the Lower Mekong Basin Project and Humboldt University.

The Preparatory Field Study:

Time: 9 May - 9 June 2001

Venue: Buon Me Thuat, Cu Jut and Krong Bong in Dak Lak, Vietnam.

Purpose: The main purpose of the exploratory study was to facilitate the research team and Scientific Support Team to gain first-hand knowledge about rural villages and forest land allocation in Dak Lak. In addition, the study provided the members of the research team and Scientific Support Team with an opportunity to get to know each other and identify key issues to be addressed in the research.

Participants: Mr. Nguyen Quang Tan conducted two village studies from 9 May - 3 June 2001. He was joined by Mr. Tran Ngoc Thanh and the Scientific Support Team from 4-9 June.

For more information about the study, please see Report No 1.

Workshop on the findings from the preparatory field study:

Time: 21 June 2001

Venue: Hanoi, Vietnam.

Purpose: The meeting served to discuss the findings from the exploratory field study to the members of the National Advisor Team.

Participants: Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Lung and Dr. Nguyen Hong Quan for tne National Advisor Team; Dr. Vuong Xuan Tinh and Dr. Cu Chi Loi for the Scientific Support Team; Dr. Nguyen Hai Nam for the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in the Lower Mekong Basin Project; Mr. Tran Ngoc Thanh and Mr. Nguyen Quang Tan.

Meeting among SMRP, SST and NAT

Time: 27 July 2001

Venue: Hanoi, Vietnam.

Purpose: The meeting discussed the activities of the National Advisor Team and Scientific Support Teams from April to July, proposed activities for the two teams in the coming months, and collaboration with other research projects working in the Son La province (Vietnam) and Thailand.

Participants: Dr. Hans Helmrich and Dr. Nguyen Hai Nam for the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in the Lower Mekong Basin Project; Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Lung and Mr. Pham Xuan Phuong for the National Advisor Team; Dr. Vuong Xuan Tinh and Dr. Cu Chi Loi for the Scientific Support Team.

Workshop at Humboldt University

Time: 1 October 2001

Venue: Humboldt University Berlin, Germany

Purpose: The meeting focused on the presentation and discussion of interim results from research project on land use changes in Daklak, and the discussion on the relevance of the current research project on FLA assessment methods to the situation in Vietnam.

Participants: Dr. Hans Helmrich for the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in the Lower Mekong Basin Project; Dr. Thomas Sikor for Humboldt University Berlin; Mr. Daniel Müller, Mr. Tran Huu Nghi, and Mr. Pham Manh Cuong from Göttingen University; Mr. Tran Ngoc Thanh and Mr. Nguyen Quang Tan; and interested people from Division of Resource Economics.