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e-Newsletter
IUCN - The World Conservation Union Viet Nam Country Office |
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| March 2007 Issue | ||||||||||
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| What's New | ||||||||||
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IUCN SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO REDUCE BIODIVERSITY LOSS IN LOWER MEKONG
IUCN is working in the Lower Mekong Basin to promote Countdown 2010 in Viet Nam, Lao PDR and Cambodia. Through this work, IUCN will aid these countries in pinpointing future partners in building awareness of the biodiversity target and in developing a plan to reach the target. IUCN will also support the three countries in publishing a scoping paper developed in consultation with stakeholders that will share the region’s findings on progress towards the 2010 Biodiversity Target. For more information, visit http://www.countdown2010.net or contact Ms. Laura Cunial, Environmental Law Intern, at lcunial@iucn.org.vn or +(84) 4 726-1575 ext. 282. |
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| Updates and Recent Events | ||||||||||
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In Viet Nam, 15 million people - many of whom rely on wetland resources for their livelihoods - live in the Mekong River Delta, which covers territory in Viet Nam and Cambodia. The Delta’s wetland, grassland, and river habitats support globally significant ecosystems and biodiversity, including the rare Mekong Giant Catfish and the Irrawaddy Dolphin.
To support the conservation and sustainable use of wetland biodiversity in this important area, in 2004 IUCN partnered with the United Nations Development Programme and the Mekong River Commission to create the Mekong Wetlands Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use Programme (MWBP), a regional programme involving the four lower Mekong countries. The MWBP was supported by the Global Environment Fund and other donors, and worked with focal government agencies in each country. In Viet Nam, MWBP’s site-level activities took place in Dong Thap and Long An provinces, where some of the last natural habitat remains from what was once the 13,000 km2 Plain of Reeds wetlands. Since 2004, the Programme has succeeded in improving wetlands management, raising awareness of wetlands management issues, and tracking important data through systematic research. The MWBP also assisted in the recovery of 2,371 ha2 of grassland habitat in Tram Chim National Park during implementation of the Programme’s Interim Water and Fire Management Strategy. As a result of the MWBP, wetlands management capacity of local authorities in the Plain of Reeds has been strengthened and local people have been provided with support in developing alternative livelihoods. “The Mekong Delta’s wetland habitat and ecosystems are irreplaceable. They contain many important and threatened elements of biodiversity, and they support the natural resource-based livelihoods of millions of rural people,” said IUCN Viet Nam Programme Coordinator Bernard O’Callaghan. In 2007, IUCN’s work to conserve Plain of Reeds wetlands habitat in Viet Nam - which consists mainly of grasslands, lotus swamps, and inundated forests - will build on the achievements of the MWBP. IUCN Viet Nam staff will assist local authorities in monitoring the effects of the Interim Fire and Water Management Strategy, which may be installed as a permanent management plan for Tram Chim National Park. At this time, additional support will be provided by WWF and the International Crane Foundation that will seek to link conservation activities in the area with other initiatives. The National Wetlands Support Programme, funded by the Dutch Embassy in Hanoi, committed to supporting wetland work in Viet Nam in the future. The Government of Viet Nam has also committed to continuing their support of wetlands conservation. During the final meeting of the National Steering Committee of the Viet Nam component of the MWBP, Dr. Pham Khoi Nguyen, Vice Minister, MONRE, pledged to allocate a portion of the national government’s environment budget specifically for wetlands work at the national and provincial levels. Visit http://www.mekongwetlands.org/ to learn about the MWBP’s activities. For more information, contact Mr. Ly Minh Dang, Wetlands and Water Resources Programme Manager, at dang@iucn.org.vn or call +(84) 4 726-1575 ext. 143.
Over the last year, IUCN has been undertaking a study of the 27 internationally funded conservation and development projects implemented on Cat Ba Island since 1995. The findings, unveiled at a workshop in Hai Phong on 1st December, 2006, culminated in 10 key lessons for future work on the Island. In order to be successful, the study recommended, future projects should seek to:
These findings are expected to serve as an important reference for future conservation and sustainable development activities on the islands. This initiative was funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and through AusAID’s VIDA program. Results of the study were presented at a workshop in Hai Phong City in December 2006 that attracted over 70 participants from the local government and international organisations and representing tourism, agriculture, and conservation projects across the island. For more information, please contact Mr. Ashley Brooks, Protected Areas Programme Support Officer, at abrooks@iucn.org.vn or call +(84) 4 726-1575 ext. 287.
Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) comprise various groups of products derived from forests, including rattan, palm leaves, bamboos, medicinal plants, oils and resins, tannin, dyes and products from wild fauna. They often provide income and sustenance for rural people. To increase the sustainable management of NTFPs in Viet Nam, IUCN Viet Nam is involved in the national NTFP Sub-Sector Support Project, which aims to conserve biodiversity, improve livelihoods, and contribute to national development goals. The Project recently conducted a series of villager surveys near demonstration sites in Quang Ninh, Bac Giang, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, and Quang Tri provinces. Responses were encouraging, as many villagers perceived that the Project had built livelihood capacities and had a positive economic impact. In the survey, which was conducted in late 2006, villagers most often reported that the Project had a positive impact on their knowledge, skills, and capacity to work in new ways and make more productive use of household labor. In addition, a high number of survey respondents also indicated that the Project had contributed to improving forest conservation and had created or increased income or employment opportunities. IUCN plays an advisory role in working with the Department of Forestry and other relevant departments in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The Ministry is leading the nation’s efforts to improve the role of NTFPs in the economy through the Forestry Sector Support Project and Programme, which includes the NTFP Project. In addition to providing technical advice for these Government efforts, IUCN and the NTFP Project also cooperate to support the Vietnam NTFP Network. This Network helps to make available information related to NTFP management, research, and related issues. IUCN and the Project will co-host a conference on NTFPs in Hanoi mid-2007. For more information, visit www.ntfp.org.vn or contact Fernando Potess, Chief Technical Advisor, NTFP Sub-Sector Support Project, at fpotess@ntfp.org.vn or +(84) 932-0971 ext. 105.
Stretching 150 km along the northern coast of Viet Nam to the Chinese border, the Northwest Tonkin Gulf covers 6,000 square km of the inshore waters of Hai Phong and Quang Ninh Provinces. A major seaway for imports and exports – particularly coal – from North Viet Nam, the Northwest Tonkin Gulf also contains key marine ecosystems, including extensive mangrove forests and sea grass beds and the northernmost range of coral reefs in Viet Nam. This important nursery and breeding area supports over 2,000 marine species, including the endemic shell fish ‘tu hai’ (Lutrana philippinarium), abalone (Haliotis sp.), black grouper (Serranidae sp.), dolphin (dolphinus sp.) and Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata). Cat Ba, Ba Mun and Co To islands in the Gulf have areas of rainforest with diverse and endemic species of mammals, reptiles and birds. Economic development plans of the Hai Phong - Quang Ninh - Ha Noi Development Triangle call for rapid expansion of coal, tourism, shipping and trade, cement production, and fisheries and aquaculture industries in the area over the next ten years. Achieving these ambitious goals presents a classic governance challenge of management for multiple uses and stakeholder interests, some of which potentially conflict. The project Building Capacity for Integrated Coastal Management in the North West Tonkin Gulf, Viet Nam, organized through collaborative efforts of the U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Ministry of Fisheries, and IUCN Viet Nam, aims to support the development of strategies for effective integrated coastal management. The first phase (2002-2005) of the project worked to address the need for enhancing coastal stewardship capacity, primarily in Quang Ninh Province; during this phase, a series of focused investments and activities aimed at broadening management perspectives, creating local capacity to collect and analyse information, and designing actions to enhance the effectiveness of management. December 2006 saw the kickoff of the project’s second phase. Phase II, which will operate through 2008, extends the scope of project activities to both Hai Phong and Quang Ninh coastal areas. Phase II activities will provide a regional model of integrated coastal management, which policymakers in the central government can use as a guide for developing approaches to coastal management issues and addressing the local community’s dependence on a weakening fisheries sector. Fostering cooperation between protected area sites in the Northwest Tonkin Gulf is a specific aim of Phase II, as is supporting the development of a management framework and a governance process that identifies and addresses management issues with a comprehensive, coordinated and integrated strategy. This project marks the first time Vietnamese and U.S. governmental agencies worked together to leverage resources and expertise in partnership with two leading environmental and non-governmental organisations, assembling the cultural, public policy, scientific and technical expertise, and the experience base needed, to address the complexities of operationalizing integrated coastal management. The project supports the broad interests of the United States and Viet Nam through the U.S.-Viet Nam Science and Technology Agreement. For more information, please contact Ms. Bui Thi Thu Hien, Marine and Coastal Programme Manager, at hien@iucn.org.vn or +(84) 4 726-1575 ext. 123. STUDY YIELDS INSIGHT ON ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT
A recent assessment of forest and land-use in Khe Tran village, located in Phong Dien district, Thua Thien Hue province in Viet Nam has provided useful information for policymakers and managers working to alleviate poverty through improving forest conservation, management and governance. The assessment was carried out as part of the regional Strengthening Voices for Better Choices (SVBC) programme, which works in sites in six tropical forest countries to improve forest governance arrangements. At the SVBC site in Viet Nam, the project approach focused on participatory forest and land-use planning. Khe Tran village was chosen as the site for this approach because the area presented an opportunity to review distribution of natural forest between the state and local people. Key recommendations made by researchers and experts after a study of barriers to sustainable and equitable forest management in Khe Tran included: firstly, to consult with local stakeholders to revise the current benefit sharing policies and procedures of the village; secondly, to improve local legal access so that local people are aware of their rights; thirdly, to consider handing over management rights of the area’s natural forest to local people; fourthly, to seek to improve local linkage to credit institutions; and fifthly, to ensure senior-level decision makers are involved during the entire process of revising and implementing new policy to provide opportunities to gain an understanding of field-level capacity and capabilities. These findings were presented at a national workshop on 25 January, 2007 in Hanoi, which was attended by legal experts, academics, and representatives of forest management organisations in Viet Nam. The SVBC project is supported as part of IUCN’s ongoing efforts to enhance forest law enforcement and governance, or FLEG, in Viet Nam and is conducted in partnership with the relevant agencies of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and with Tropenbos International in Viet Nam. For more information, please contact Mr. Pham Quang Hoa, National Project Coordinator, Strengthening Voices for Better Choices, quanghoa@iucn.org.vn or call +(84) 4 726-1575 ext. 217.
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), areas of sea dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biodiversity and of natural and associated cultural resources, are often areas of extraordinary natural beauty. They may contain unique geological, biological or physical features, may have high levels of biodiversity, and may be enhanced by rich cultural settings. Because MPAs are attractions for all of these reasons, they are increasingly drawing attention from tourists. With this increase in tourism activities and associated impacts, however, MPAs must be careful to develop integrated and preemptive planning for sustainable tourism into their management strategies in order to continue to effectively protect and manage the marine systems of each site. Well-designed sustainable tourism can provide alternate sources of income to communities and promotes conservation of the very resources which MPAs seek to protect. To ensure that tourism activities in the South China Sea impact MPAs in a positive way, the MPA Management Capacity Building Training Pilot Project recently held a training on sustainable tourism. From 6-11 December, 2006, representatives from the U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) joined international sustainable tourism experts to conduct a 6-day course for 36 managers and MPA staff representing southern China, Viet Nam, and Cambodia. From Viet Nam, representatives from Bai Tu Long National Park, Ha Long Bay World Heritage Site, Cat Ba National Park, Cu Lao Cham MPA, Con Chim Marine Sanctuary, Nha Trang Bay MPA, and Con Dao National Park attended. The interactive training was organized around modules which focused on 6 topical areas: sustainable tourism concepts, sustainable tourism impact assessment, managing visitor impacts, the tourism industry, site planning and zoning, and education and outreach. The training curriculum (500 pages) was also produced in the Vietnamese language. One of the training’s significant outcomes was that by the end of the week, all MPA managers and staff who attended had developed specific sustainable tourism plans for the MPA they represented. The training was supported by NOAA, the Ministry of Fisheries (MoFI), Conservation International, and IUCN Viet Nam through the Sida framework agreement. A follow-up training for MPA managers and staff on sustainable fisheries, MPA certification and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) will be held in 2007. For more information, please contact Ms. Bui Thi Thu Hien, Marine and Coastal Programme Manager, at hien@iucn.org.vn or +(84) 4 726-1575 ext. 123. A post-WTO boom in economic activities in Viet Nam will almost certainly impact Viet Nam’s ecosystems and biodiversity. Communication to the public about environmental issues is an important tool for building awareness and inspiring action. Environmental journalists play an important role in this effort – an effort which the Viet Nam Forum for Environmental Journalists (VFEJ) aims to support. The VFEJ is a forum for journalists, scientists, managers, and environmentalists to share information, expertise and experiences in environment related issues and to promote professional collaboration of environmental journalists. Its mission is to motivate and assist Vietnamese environmental journalists to actively contribute to environmental protection for sustainable development through journalism. VFEJ members were able to come together to share information and experiences in environment-related issues at a meeting in Hanoi on 16 December. At this meeting – the first-ever convening of members of the national network for environmental journalists – participants also discussed how they could best use the network to collaborate. Under the framework agreement between IUCN Viet Nam and Sida, IUCN Viet Nam provided technical and financial support to the VFEJ to host the meeting and for developing a monthly bulletin. The VFEJ will continue to work to expand the network’s membership and to build the capacity of environmental journalists. For more information, contact Ms. Dinh Thi Minh Thu, Communications Coordinator, at thu@iucn.org.vn or call +(84) 4 726-1575 ext. 124. In Central Viet Nam’s Huong (Perfume) River basin and its Tam Giang-Cau Hai lagoon, overexploitation and increasing degradation of resources, together with limited coordination between different management authorities, have created an urgent need for the development of an integrated management approach. IUCN and partners recently conducted a preliminary E-flows study in the Huong River basin, where one million people live and where many important ecosystems and wetlands habitat can be found. Also, an economic valuation initiative has been developed, with a strong linkage to the E-flows study. An economic valuation study of a river system assigns monetary values to the ecosystem goods and services that the river system provides, through which to develop economic instruments to aid management decision-making processes, while an E-flows assessment refers to determining the flow regime necessary for maintaining downstream ecosystems and services for river users. The studies found that in river basins like Huong - where the water flow is strongly regulated and with competing water and ecosystems uses - E-flows and economic valuation are very useful tools for sustainable and equitable use and management of the resources. E-flows and economic valuation studies can help further the effort towards integrated management in the Huong River Basin by providing quantifiable data that is easy for decision makers to understand. Financial experts can use the findings from economic valuation studies to show the long-term financial benefits of conservation activities, and E-flows can help water resource managers to bridge competing interests and work towards achieving a fair balance of water use. The initiatives were discussed at a Sida-funded workshop held in Hue on 7 November, 2006, organized by IUCN in collaboration with the Hue College of Economics and the Huong River Projects Management Board. At the workshop, participants discussed the studies’ findings and plans and opportunities to link to other on-going initiatives in the basin and lagoon. A representative from MONRE’s Department of Water and Resources Management shared information on the Government’s efforts on integrated water resources management (IWRM), especially those relating to incorporating E-flows into national water policy. The publication "Rapid Environmental Flows Assessment Report for Huong River Basin" was locally launched at the workshop. The publication can be downloaded at: http://iucn.org/places/vietnam/our_work/ecosystems/assets/song%20huong%20tieng%20anh.pdf For more information, contact Mr. Ly Minh Dang, Wetlands and Water Resources Programme Manager, at dang@iucn.org.vn or call +(84) 4 726-1575 ext. 143.
The Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) is critically endangered. In fact, it was thought to be extinct in the wild in Viet Nam until late 2006, when Siamese crocodile prints and droppings were found near Ha Lam lake in Phu Yen province. In order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation, a small team was established to monitor the populations of the crocodile in the area. This Community Conservation Team (CCT), supported by the Song Hinh district and Ea Lam commune People’s Committees, was formed during a recent field visit by representatives from IUCN and the Institute for Tropical Biology to the site. During the visit, members of the CCT were trained on techniques for crocodile surveys of the lake, on the identification of activities that could negatively impact the crocodiles, and were instructed on how they could share this new information with other lake users. It was noted that a dam is planned for the area, making the CCT’s fact-finding mission urgent. The CCT will continue to survey Ha Lam lake on a weekly basis for the next nine months. For more information, contact Mr. Ly Minh Dang, Wetlands and Water Resources Programme Manager, at dang@iucn.org.vn or call +(84) 4 726-1575 ext. 143. |
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| News from the IUCN Viet Nam Country Office | ||||||||||
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IUCN -The World Conservation Union is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Vu Van Trieu as the new Country Representative for the Viet Nam Programme. Dr. Trieu’s is a familiar face in Viet Nam’s environmental sector. Most recently he provided leadership as the Director General of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Fisheries (MoFI). Prior to his work at MoFI, Dr. Trieu was a Senior Expert at the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment’s International Cooperation Division, where for 12 years he was responsible for cooperation with organisations such as IUCN, FAO, UNDP, UNEP, and WWF. We warmly welcome Dr. Trieu to the IUCN family and look forward to continuing to make an important contribution with the guidance and experience of Dr. Trieu. Ms. Pham Thi Dung has been appointed as the National Project Coordinator for the Safeguarding Biodiversity for Poverty Reduction Project (SBPRP). Ms. Dung’s prior experience in community development and natural resources management makes her a valuable addition to the Project’s team. Ms. Tran Thanh Huong joins IUCN Viet Nam as the NTFP Project interpreter and translator. Ms. Huong, who studied English at Vinh University, is based in the North-Central Regional Office of the NTFP Project in Ha Tinh province. |
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| Announcements and Upcoming Events | ||||||||||
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A workshop to support the Development of the Biodiversity Conservation Component for the Master Plan for Environment Protection of Phu Quoc Island to 2010 and Vision to 2020 Project will be organized by VEPA, MONRE, and IUCN. The findings and recommendations of an independent consulting team on the balance between conservation and development on Phu Quoc Island will be discussed. For information, please contact Ms. Bui Thi Thu Hien, Marine and Coastal Programme Manager, at hien@iucn.org.vn or +(84) 4 726-1575 ext. 123. |
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| Publications | ||||||||||
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A guide designed to assist water resource managers in establishing E-Flows, which can ensure that enough water is left in rivers to provide downstream environmental, social, and economic benefits. FLOW offers practical guidance on technical issues and shares experiences from Australia, South Africa, and the United States. (Size 1.34 MB) Download PDF // More Publications
A practical guide that explains the most important steps and techniques for the valuation of ecosystem services and the incorporation of its results in decision-making. (Size 1.59 MB) Download PDF // More Publications
A guide to valuing ecosystems in water decisions. (Size 2.61 MB) Download PDF // More Publications
Request a copy // More Publications
Cac he sinh thai kem ben vung va viec lua chon khu vuc nghien cuu de xay dung mo hinh lang sinh thai. Request a copy // More Publications Request a copy // More Publications
Huong dan: Quan ly lua rung cho cong dong. Request a copy // More Publications
For more news from IUCN Viet Nam, visit www.iucn.org.vn For news from IUCN Worldwide, visit www.iucn.org Questions or comments? E-mail newsletter@iucn.org.vn |
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At
the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, Heads of State
committed together to “achieve by 2010 a significant reduction
in the current rate of loss of biological diversity.” A network, called Countdown
2010, was established shortly afterwards to review progress
in meeting this target and to facilitate collaboration among those
that committed to the 2010 Biodiversity Target.
The Cat Ba National Park area. The Park possesses
a variety of rare and endangered plant and animal species
(A. Brooks photo).
