In this study was analysed collection and utilization of non-timber forest products in rural areas of central Vietnam. This is an important issue for better understanding of household-forest interactions in rural areas near natural reserves, particularly in developing countries with rapid economic growth. This research aim was to (i) document forest products collected in the nature reserve and purposes of their use, (ii) understand driving forces for intended commercialization of those products, and (iii) document future expectation of local households on forest resources capacity and use.

The survey shows that the majority of the forest products in Phong Dien Nature Reserve were used as food, medicine or construction material, particularly at a subsistence level. Nevertheless, highly-demanded plant products, such as rattan or licuala palm, were gathered in bulk amount and commercialized via middlemen. Households collect forest products to supply the demand for food during the time of food shortages as well. Both strategies might lead to forest depletion, which was already documented via perceived decrease in occurrence of most forest products by local households. Collection of the forest products was maintained mainly by the households with limited farm size, lower income diversification and annual-cropsbased farming. Thus, alternative incomegenerating farming systems together with awareness of households about the importance of biodiversity should be considered in any further development activities in the area. That might not eliminate future collection of the forest products, but keep it at a sustainable level.