Recently, I have a chance to participate in an environment research in Cat Tien, a rural, mountainous area in Vietnam. Before, I have thought that people who destroy the forest is guilty. I have thought they were selfish and did not respect the nature. I even did not understand why they can cut the trees, hunt wild animals when the harms are so clear. Just only, when I come to Cat Tien and take part in this project, put myself in their shoes, I change my perspective.

In this research, my tasks is visiting selected households there and asking them questions to complete the questionnaires. Most of questions are around their livelihood, their agriculture products, income. Finally, I understand the connection between: livelihood and forest destruction. When people do not have enough money to afford their life, agriculture and live stocks are not able to bring them enough food and payment for daily cost. They must think about going to the forest to earn something more for their life.

When I visited a household, they did not hide the truth that they go to the forest to collect some products: "The day we are still poor and hungry, we should think about forest as a source of exploitation". The first time in life I do not know should I hate them or not, people who go to the forest and cut our beloved trees. Their life is so harsh. Their annual income from agriculture is about USD 200, less than a monthly income of an officer in Ho Chi Minh City. This year, the weather and climate is difficult, their crops are lost. The status of income which is bad become worst.

We also asked them about the interventions in their area. The intervention most highly appreciated is the workshop that instruct them new techniques and provide knowledge in agriculture that help them to improve the income from agriculture products and make their livelihood become better. I realized sometimes environmental activities is not only about raising awareness or education, sometimes it should be a project to help them find a new way to earn money, if they have better income, they will not go to the forest and damage the nature. I believe so.

Come back to the question: destroy forest – guilty or not?

You never know until you step out from your comfortable city, go and see harsh life of other people in society.