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Impact of Hydroelectric Dam Development and Resettlement on the Natural and Social Capital of Rural Livelihoods in Bo Hon Village in Central Vietnam

Author

Listed:
  • Hien Thanh Nguyen

    (Centre Rural Development in Central Vietnam, Hue 530000, Vietnam)

  • Ty Huu Pham

    (Department for the International Cooperation and Science-Technology, Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue 530000, Vietnam)

  • Lisa Lobry de Bruyn

    (School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, 2351 NSW, Australia)

Abstract

The study examined the natural and social capital of Bo Hon villagers in central Vietnam, before and after resettlement within Binh Thanh commune due to the building of Binh Dien Hydroelectric dam on the Huu Trach River. (1) Background: The two-fold aim was to develop solutions to the impacts of resettlement on natural and social capital, and strategies for timely intervention and new livelihoods after households were resettled. (2) Methods: Livelihood survey of all 46 households was conducted in 2010, and villagers were asked about 2004, before resettlement, and about 2009, when the occupants of Bo Hon village had been moved to a new location 15 km away from the original one. The research employed mixed-methods by using household surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. The impacts of displacement and resettlement on production activities and daily life of rural people were examined in the following areas: (i) land resource; (ii) access to common-pool natural resources; (iii) income structure; (iv) agriculturally based livelihoods; (v) material assets; (vi) customary practices; and (vii) social relationships. (3) Results: The most significant impact was on the type of production activities that could be conducted after resettlement and reduction in land area to grow profitable commodities such as Lồ Ô Bamboo. Specifically, land for growing rice and other crops were significantly affected with the land area substantially reduced or flooded. Also harvesting of common pool resources from the forest (NTFPs) were reduced such as honey and rattan, and only 25% of the villagers continued to fish in the river. (4) Conclusions: Strategies were put in place to reduce the level of disruption to the villagers’ livelihoods, but some parts of the compensation package were short-lived or inequitably distributed (e.g., land), while infrastructure developments such as sealed roads have made the village far more accessible to Hue City some 25 km away.

Suggested Citation

  • Hien Thanh Nguyen & Ty Huu Pham & Lisa Lobry de Bruyn, 2017. "Impact of Hydroelectric Dam Development and Resettlement on the Natural and Social Capital of Rural Livelihoods in Bo Hon Village in Central Vietnam," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:8:p:1422-:d:107886
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pham Huu Ty & A. C. M. Van Westen & Annelies Zoomers, 2013. "Compensation and Resettlement Policies after Compulsory Land Acquisition for Hydropower Development in Vietnam: Policy and Practice," Land, MDPI, vol. 2(4), pages 1-27, November.
    2. Thi Bui & Pepijn Schreinemachers, 2011. "Resettling Farm Households in Northwestern Vietnam: Livelihood Change and Adaptation," International Journal of Water Resources Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(4), pages 769-785.
    3. Hien Thanh Nguyen & Lisa Lobry de Bruyn & Richard Koech, 2016. "Impact of hydropower dam development on agriculturally based livelihoods of resettled communities: a case study of Duong Hoa Commune in central Vietnam," International Journal of Water Resources Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(6), pages 978-996, November.
    4. Cernea, Michael, 1997. "The risks and reconstruction model for resettling displaced populations," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 25(10), pages 1569-1587, October.
    5. Webber, Michael & McDonald, Brooke, 2004. "Involuntary Resettlement, Production and Income: Evidence from Xiaolangdi, PRC," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 32(4), pages 673-690, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiang Li & Shuang Xu & Yecui Hu, 2020. "Understanding the Rural Livelihood Stability System: The Eco-Migration in Huanjiang County, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-18, August.
    2. Hong Sun & Valentina Hartarska & Lezhu Zhang & Denis Nadolnyak, 2018. "The Influence of Social Capital on Farm Household’s Borrowing Behavior in Rural China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-20, November.
    3. Castro-Diaz, Laura & García, María Alejandra & Villamayor-Tomas, Sergio & Lopez, Maria Claudia, 2023. "Impacts of hydropower development on locals’ livelihoods in the Global South," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    4. Cochard, Roland & Gravey, Mathieu & Rasera, Luiz Gustavo & Mariethoz, Grégoire & Kull, Christian A., 2023. "The nature of a ‘forest transition’ in Thừa Thiên Huế Province, Central Vietnam – A study of land cover changes over five decades," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    5. Xuedong Liang & Dongyang Si & Jing Xu, 2018. "Quantitative Evaluation of the Sustainable Development Capacity of Hydropower in China Based on Information Entropy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-18, February.

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