Enhancing the role of biosphere reserves in Vietnam

Attending the event were Mr. Nguyen Van Tai - Director of the Department of Nature Conservation and Biodiversity ( Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment ); Mr. Dao Xuan Lai - Head of the Climate Change, Environment and Energy Department of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Vietnam; representatives of the Project Implementation Board from Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve, Cu Lao Cham - Hoi An Biosphere Reserve and Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve; members of the Steering Committee from relevant ministries, branches and project staff from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and UNDP.

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Vo Tuan Nhan, Head of the Project Steering Committee, spoke at the meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister Vo Tuan Nhan, Head of the Project Steering Committee, said: The BR Project was approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in 2019. Over the course of 5 years, the project aims to comprehensively manage natural resources and effectively integrate biodiversity conservation goals into socio-economic development plans of the provinces where the project is implemented, and manage biosphere reserves in Vietnam. Currently, the project is implemented by the Department of Nature Conservation and Biodiversity (formerly the General Department of Environment) in coordination with UNDP and the 3 Management Boards of Dong Nai, Cu Lao Cham - Hoi An and Tay Nghe An biosphere reserves.

In 2023, many key project activities were implemented at the central and local levels, such as continuing to develop and complete technical guidelines, developing regulations and plans for biosphere reserve management, developing forest restoration plans in biosphere reserves, developing tourism in biosphere reserves and activities to support community livelihoods, and implementing small-scale funding activities. The results of 2023 are the foundation for completing project implementation in 2024.

Ms. Tran Huyen Trang, BR Project Coordinator, Department of Nature Conservation and Biodiversity, updated the project's 2023 results.

Updating the specific results of the project, the UNDP representative said that to date, about 1.22 million hectares of forest are being managed and protected in 3 biosphere reserves through restoration and protection management activities, development and implementation of the Biosphere Reserve Environmental Protection Management Plan. At the end of the project, the equivalent amount of carbon absorbed will be calculated. The number of beneficiaries from the project reached nearly 11,000 people (an estimated 4,438 of whom are women), exceeding the set target. About more than 2,600 households have increased their income thanks to sustainable livelihood development.

Regulations on biosphere reserves have been institutionalized in the Law on Environmental Protection and Decree 08/2022/ND-CP guiding the implementation of the Law. Regulations on management of biosphere reserves have been developed and submitted for approval; while the Environmental Protection Management Plan for biosphere reserves is being developed.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Trung, Deputy Head of the BR Project Implementation Board in Nghe An province, shared about the local results.

At the meeting, representatives of the Project Management Board, UNDP and 3 Project Implementation Boards in Dong Nai, Quang Nam and Nghe An reported on the implementation results of the BR project in 2023 and made proposals and recommendations to the Project Steering Committee. In the biosphere reserves participating in the project, activities on sustainable use of natural resources, conservation area management and biodiversity-friendly development are integrated into management work.

According to the representative of the Management Board of Cu Lao Cham - Hoi An Biosphere Reserve, the project has consulted with the community and stakeholders to develop a management plan for the Marine Protected Area for the period 2024-2028. To date, the Management Board has completed the procedures to submit to the People's Committee of Hoi An City for approval according to regulations. Sustainable livelihood activities for the buffer zone community have also been implemented to reduce pressure on biodiversity and ecosystems.

Mr. Dao Xuan Lai - Head of Climate Change, Environment and Energy Department of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Vietnam - representative of the BR Project Management Board spoke at the meeting.

According to the representative of the Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve Management Board, through the implementation of the project, the awareness of local people and management staff about forest protection, biodiversity conservation as well as people's livelihoods has been improved. However, because the area is located in 5 provinces, the consultation procedure to develop the Management Board's operating regulations has been prolonged, and to date the regulations have not been approved. Some small-scale project support for communes in the buffer zone is difficult to implement. Because the regulations on the management board mechanism are unclear, there is no basis for the locality to allocate operating expenses for the management board after the project ends.

It is expected that in 2024, the project will develop a nomination dossier for at least one new biosphere reserve. At the same time, it will continue to promote the process of completing and submitting for approval guidelines, regulations, and management plans at biosphere reserves; sustainable forest management and restoration of degraded forest areas; sustainable resource use, livelihood support for people in reserved areas as well as communities in biosphere reserves; monitoring and surveillance of indicator species; training, communication and awareness raising at biosphere reserves and project summary and evaluation activities.

Ms. Hoang Thi Thanh Nhan, Deputy Director of the Department of Nature Conservation and Biodiversity, spoke at the meeting.

Through the results of the project, Deputy Minister Vo Tuan Nhan assessed that the project has basically met the requirements set out in terms of quantity and quality of products, especially having significance in terms of macro management policies. In practice, localities have also implemented many activities with good quality.

Based on the recommendations of the Project Management Board and the local Implementation Board, the Deputy Minister agreed in principle to request an extension of the project implementation period until February 2025 to ensure the completion of necessary procedures as required. The Deputy Minister directed the Department of Nature Conservation and Biodiversity to coordinate with relevant agencies to carry out the procedures for requesting an extension, and at the same time, study and consider the regular expenditure source from the environmental career source to serve the maintenance of the activities of the Management Board of Vietnam's biosphere reserves in the coming time.

Regarding the acceleration of the process of completing and submitting for approval guidelines, regulations, and management plans at biosphere reserves, the Deputy Minister requested the Department of Nature Conservation and Biodiversity to continue to synthesize opinions and advise the Ministry's leaders to issue documents urging localities if necessary. In addition, synthesize appropriate policy proposals to supplement and amend Decree 08 in the coming time.

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