Divergent Pathways Of Peri-Urban Transformation: Livelihoods, Local Knowledge, And Agricultural Landscape Change In Da Lat, Vietnam
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26905/adj.v2i02.17618Keywords:
peri-urban transformation, livelihood transition, local knowledge, agricultural landscapes, community institutions, Da LatAbstract
Peri-urban regions are increasingly shaped by urbanization, agricultural modernization, tourism development, and market integration, resulting in profound transformations of rural livelihoods and landscapes. This study examines how peri-urban transformation influences livelihoods, local knowledge systems, community institutions, and agricultural landscapes in two peri-urban communes of Da Lat, Vietnam: Xuan Tho and Xuan Truong. Using a comparative qualitative case study approach based on interviews, observations, and secondary data, the study identifies two distinct pathways of peri-urban transformation. Xuan Tho is characterized by agricultural intensification and greenhouse expansion, which have increased productivity but also accelerated the shift from traditional ecological knowledge toward technical and market-oriented knowledge systems while contributing to landscape fragmentation. In contrast, Xuan Truong follows a hybrid pathway that combines traditional tea and coffee farming with tourism-related activities, helping maintain local knowledge and cultural landscapes but creating new pressures associated with tourism commercialization. In both communes, livelihood transition has altered community institutions and reduced opportunities for intergenerational knowledge transmission. The study argues that livelihood transition functions as a key intermediary mechanism linking peri-urban transformation to changes in local knowledge, community institutions, and landscape dynamics. The findings highlight the need for differentiated planning strategies that balance economic development, landscape conservation, and community resilience in rapidly transforming peri-urban regions.
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