Digging for Gold in Nang River of Dao People in Banh Trach Commune, Ba Be District, Bac Kan Province

Abstract

Nang river flowing through Banh Trach commune, Ba Be district, Bac Kan province is an important part of the livelihood and social life of the Dao people in the commune. However, the illegal gold mining process since the 1980s has seriously damaged the quality of the flow’s environment, severely affecting the river ecosystem and the livelihoods of the Dao community. Based on field data collected from 2018 to 2021 in the Dao community in Banh Trach commune, the article examines the bilateral interaction between the Dao community and Nang River, from the destruction of the river environment by gold mining to a change in people’s awareness of the benefits of the Nang River for long-term livelihood activities and the need to protect the natural resources.