Forest and Forestry Ecocultural System in Central Highlands, Vietnam

In the mindset of ethnic minority communities, Northeastern & Northwestern Truong Son, Central Highlands, Vietnam refers to a forest-related & cultural ecosystem. Living and social space of the ethnic minorities in Truong Son - Central Highlands are deeply forest-related. Researchers often call it "mountainous culture", "highland culture" or "upland culture". Similar to many other ethnic minority groups in the Northeast and North West, Truong Son, ethnic minority groups in Center Highland “have eaten” the forest, have their livelihood based on forest, and create the rich forest-related cultural tradition. However, wars, reclamation and economic development policies, consequences of migration, and others drivers together have damaged significantly the forest-related & cultural ecosystem in Central Highlands, Vietnam. Ecological environment has been ruined rapidly while cultural spaces have been also been seriously damaged. This article aims to examine roles of forests in the preservation of traditional cultural values ​​of the Central Highlands, and to provide recommendations to ensure green and sustainable  development for local communities in Central Highlands and Vietnam.