Abstract
The dynamic change of livelihoods in ethnic minority areas has become increasingly critical under the combined pressures of climate change, market integration and institutional reform. This study aims to identify how livelihood strategies have evolved among mountainous households in Quang Tri province, Vietnam and to explain why livelihood transition does not always reduce vulnerability. Evidence was collected from focus group discussions across three livelihood groups: forestry-based, non-farm and mixed-livelihood households. The findings reveal significant livelihood changes during the 2015-2024 period, shaped by the expansion of the East-West Economic Corridor, stricter forest governance, Payments for Forest Environmental Services and repeated climate-related shocks. Mixed-livelihood households showed stronger adaptive capacity due to diversified income portfolios and social networks, while forestry-dependent households remained vulnerable because of declining forest resources, limited market access and dependence on long-rotation plantations. Non-farm households achieved relatively more stable incomes but became increasingly exposed to labor market volatility. By applying a Drivers-Strategies-Outcomes analytical framework, this study clarifies the mechanisms through which institutional, market and environmental drivers translate into uneven livelihood outcomes. The findings contribute to livelihood adaptation research by showing that adaptive effectiveness is determined less by the type of livelihood activity than by households’ capacity to access markets, mobilize resources and organize production.
Keywords: Institutional Pressure, Livelihood Strategies, Livelihood Transformation, Mountainous Region, Vietnam.