Bio-diversity

The project meets the goal of the GEF/SGP by contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources and the riverine wetland ecosystem of Van Long, a local nature reserve in Gia Vien District, Ninh Binh Province. Due to the community low environmental awareness and low standard of living, the local community has overexploited the Reserve resources for their daily livelihoods, resulting in the biodiversity loss and deforestation. In addition, illegal hunting from local residents and outsiders is also a big problem in the area and a major threat to biodiversity conservation. Although the Province has designated the area as a local nature reserve, there is very limited investment in the Reserve management and protection. The project will develop a management model which promote the community participation in establishing and strengthening the management and protection of a local nature reserve. Through its activities, the project aims to raise community environmental awareness, to establish a commune management authority and build capacity of the local communities and leaders in nature reserve management, and reduce community pressure on the Reserve resources by creating alternative livelihoods for the local community, hence contributing to poverty alleviation in the area.

Vietnam