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Actor-centered power and forest governance: Can a conceptual framework help us understand the conflict in managing national parks in Vietnam?

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  • Do, Nhinh Thi
  • Casse, Thorkil
  • Ton, Ta Viet

Abstract

Forests are often a battleground between officials and local people. Management of national parks (NPs) in Vietnam demonstrates this struggle well. Based on the Actor-Centered Power (ACP) concept, this study uses power mechanisms, namely coercion, incentives, and information to illustrate how park administration expanded its control of local people and forest resources. Establishing NPs in northern (Lào Cai) and central (Đắk Lắk) Vietnam led to a surge in tensions between park staff and local people concerning their constrained access to forest resources. Meanwhile, deforestation and biodiversity loss continued to happen inside the NPs since the forest management officers benefited from the new control of natural resources. The breakdown of power mechanisms allowed for a description and analysis of the use of power and local people's reactions. In future studies using the ACP approach, the outcome of the power struggles in forest areas is crucial, and the inclusion of a third party in the analysis is recommended.

Suggested Citation

  • Do, Nhinh Thi & Casse, Thorkil & Ton, Ta Viet, 2025. "Actor-centered power and forest governance: Can a conceptual framework help us understand the conflict in managing national parks in Vietnam?," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:forpol:v:174:y:2025:i:c:s1389934125000619
    DOI: 10.1016/j.forpol.2025.103482
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