before planting dry rice for the year, the Dao would seek permission from the local authorities for farming swidden fields. Based on the requirements presented by the Dao, the local authorities would designate certain areas of barren land where villagers would be allowed to practice swidden farming freely. The designated area, however,was usually small and insufficient for cultrivation. In addition, the local authorities only designated barren land for swiddening. Very often, the designated area overlapped with the areas used by villagers for grazing their cattle.The expansion of swidden fields into grazing areas reduced the latter substantially, which in turn led to conflict among households in the village. Recent attempts by the village to impose regulations totally prohibiting free animal grazing have also failed, as evidenced by the damage still being done by grazing animals.