Bio-diversity

Vietnam is located in the tropical zone and considered one of the ten centers with high level of biodiversity in the world, with 1200 plants with vascular system, 3200 medicinal herbs, 276 mammal species , 828 bird species, 240 reptile species, 80 amphibian species, 2470 fish species, 5500 insect species. 40% of plant species, 100 bird species, 78 mammal species are endemic. In agriculture and forestry, plants and animals specific to each area are very diverse. Thanks to many years working on their own land, people have gathered substantial experience as well as local knowledge, upon which they develop techniques to exploit resources of biodiversity, climate, earth and water suitable for their requirements. Thanks to profound local knowledge, people can evaluate the strengths and weaknesses and opportunities to adapt to changes, hence bearing less risks. It can be seen that the loss of biodiversity resources in agriculture and forestry has been caused by erosion and disappearance of local knowledge in their exploitation and usage. In Vietnam, programs and projects aimed at biodiversity conservation, traditional knowledge are at works but people do not place special importance to collecting and documenting of this valuable knowledge. One of the priority activities in the cooperation between GEF SGP and the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) is building capacity for the community in collecting and documenting traditional knowledge in preserving biodiversity in agriculture and forestry. In April 2003, GEF SGP and IPGRI organized training TOT for representatives of Asian grantees of GEF SGP in Malaysia. At the end of the training each representative attending developed a scheduled program, aiming to promote collecting and documenting of traditional knowledge in the community with suggestions from governmental agencies with jurisdiction and GEF SGP in their nation. Objectives of the project - To build capacity to collect and document traditional knowledge for preserving biodiversity - To raise awareness on the importance of the documentation of traditional knowledge for preserving biodiversity - To exchange results obtained and share experiences in collecting traditional knowledge for preserving biodiversity - To suggest activities in the field of documenting and using traditional knowledge for preserving biodiversity for Vietnam GEF SGP Results and main activities: - Organize trainings fro 80 representatives about the theory and practice, analysis of results in documenting traditional knowledge for preserving biodiversity After the training, representatives develop action plans for documenting traditional knowledge for preserving biodiversity to propose to GEF SGP and local authority

Vietnam