Coordination between state support and community self-governance: Institutional lessons from China for village-level forest governance in Vietnam
Published: September 7, 2026
Abstract
This study examines the lessons Vietnam can draw from China regarding coordination between state support and local cooperative self-governance in village-level forest governance. Based on a thematic synthesis of relevant literature, the study identifies seven interrelated areas. The findings show that effective governance emerges from adaptive institutional arrangements in which the State provides legal recognition, secure rights, technical and financial support, coordination, and accountability oversight, while communities retain substantive authority over rule-making, monitoring, benefit sharing, and conflict resolution. The study therefore argues that China’s experience should be regarded as a source of adaptable institutional principles rather than a model for direct replication.
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