Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 97 (2003) 317–344 Agrobiodiversity conservation and development in Vietnamese home gardens L.N. Trinh a , J.W. Watson b , N.N. Hue c , N.N. De d , N.V. Minh e , P. Chu f , B.R. Sthapit g , P.B. Eyzaguirre h,∗ a Plant Genetic Resources Center, Vietnam Agricultural Sciences Institute, D7 Phuong Mai Dong Da, Hanoi, Viet Nam b Genetic Resources, Science and Technology Group, International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Via dei Tre Denari 472/a, 00057 Maccarase (Fiumicino), Rome, Italy c Plant Genetic Resources Center, Vietnam Agricultural Sciences Institute, D7 Phuong Mai Dong Da, Hanoi, Viet Nam d Mekong Delta Farming System Research Institute (MDFSRI), Can Tho University, Cantho City, Mekong Delta, Viet Nam e Oil Plant Institute of Vietnam, (OPI), 171-175 Ham Nghi St., District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam f Phu Quy Fruit Crop Research Centre, Phu Quy, Nghia Dan District, Nghe An Province, Viet Nam g International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, 3/202 Buddha Marg, Nadipur Patan, Kaski District, Pokhara 3, Nepal h Anthropology and Socioeconomics, Genetic Resources, Science and Technology Group, International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Via dei Tre Denari 472/a, 00057 Maccarese (Fiumicino), Rome, Italy Received 12 September 2001; received in revised form 25 November 2002; accepted 3 December 2002 Abstract The cultural, ecological, and commercial forces that influence Vietnamese home gardens are explored in this 3-year Inter- national Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) study. Home gardens located in four different ecosystems within Vietnam were surveyed to determine species composition, area, structure, commercialization, household socio-economic status, and gender division in decision-making. Four key species were chosen for in depth ethnobotanical and genetic diversity studies; preliminary results from participatory appraisal workshops are reported including farmer varietal preferences, descriptors, and a seasonal calendar. Cultural importance of home gardens and their species in Vietnam is also discussed. The study concludes that richness and stability of home gardens make them important sites for in situ conservation within ecozones, and great scope exists for the utilization of this information to improve nutritional and income-generating development projects. © 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Home garden; Vietnam; Agrobiodiversity; Gender; Commercialization ∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +39-06-6118267; fax: +39-06-61979661. E-mail addresses: jessicawwatson@yahoo.com (J.W. Watson), b.sthapit@cgiar.org (B.R. Sthapit), p.eyzaguirre@cgiar.org (P.B. Eyzaguirre). 1. Introduction 1.1. Sociocultural importance of home gardens Home gardens, known in Vietnamese as vuon nha, reflect complex layers of meaning to the farmers who create them. The diverse species within home gardens are used in overlapping ways as food, spices, stimu- lants, medicines, beverages, fodder and shelter. They 0167-8809/03/$ – see front matter © 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/S0167-8809(02)00228-1