New forest protection initiative announced in Cat Tien National Park

Inside Cat Tien National Park

On the morning of June 16, at Cat Tien National Park (Nam Cat Tien commune, Tan Phu district, Dong Nai), a multi-stakeholder cooperative group was launched to protect forests and conserve biodiversity.

Local people protect the forest together

This model belongs to the Biodiversity Conservation Component implemented by the World Wildlife Fund in Vietnam - WWF Vietnam, within the framework of the Sustainable Forest Management and Biodiversity Conservation Project funded by the United States Agency for International Development USAID.

This is the first time in Cat Tien National Park that a pilot model of cooperation between the local community and the Park, called the "Multi-stakeholder Working Group", has been established.

This multi-stakeholder working group aims to engage with the buffer zone community to participate in biodiversity conservation activities in Cat Tien National Park.

Peaceful scenery in Ta Lai commune, Tan Phu district, Dong Nai, buffer zone of Cat Tien National Park

Inside the Rescue, Conservation and Development Center of Cat Tien National Park

Multi-stakeholder working group to join hands to protect forests and conserve biodiversity has just been launched.

The "Multi-stakeholder Working Group" includes representatives from the Cat Tien National Park Management Board, the community of people in the buffer zone communes and the Women's Union of the communes. They will jointly organize events, meetings to exchange ideas, and engage stakeholders to address specific challenges such as conflicts of interest between livelihoods and conservation priorities or issues related to forest environmental service payment policies.

Environmental education to generations of students

“The establishment of a formal community engagement mechanism will contribute to enhancing the biodiversity conservation potential as well as understanding and respect for the social benefits of Cat Tien National Park, which plays an important role in the global ecosystem,” said Nick Cox, Director of USAID’s Biodiversity Conservation Component, implemented by WWF.

Pham Xuan Thinh, Director of Cat Tien National Park, said that community participation plays an important role in the management of Cat Tien National Park. "The establishment of the 'Multi-stakeholder Working Group' not only contributes to enhancing the participation of local communities in protecting our natural heritage but also improves the effectiveness of the conservation strategy. By building cooperative relationships and sharing common responsibilities, we are working together to protect the unique ecosystems of Cat Tien National Park as well as ensuring the livelihoods and development of communities living near the forest," said Pham Xuan Thinh.

Mr. Pham Xuan Thinh speaking at the event

Mr. Nick Cox, Director of USAID's Biodiversity Conservation Component, implemented by WWF

Speaking further with Thanh Nien Newspaper reporter, Mr. Pham Xuan Thinh said that in Tan Phu District, Dong Nai alone, there are about 30,000 school-age children, so educating them about forest protection and biodiversity conservation of Nam Cat Tien National Park is extremely important. Up to now, environmental education for the generation of students here has been integrated into extracurricular activities, life skills, and included in the local education program of the students.

"With the USAID-funded Sustainable Forest Management and Biodiversity Conservation Project, we will continue to implement many projects to reach more students with environmental education, so that when they grow up, study and mature, wherever they go, they will be proud of the forest and have many contributions and initiatives to join hands in protecting the forest," Mr. Thinh said.

Peaceful green space in Cat Tien National Park

Along with the initiative to establish a "Multi-stakeholder Working Group" in Cat Tien National Park, the Biodiversity Conservation Component has also supported similar models in a number of protected areas in the list of 21 in the project area in Vietnam. The initiative aims to introduce different approaches for local communities to participate in the management of protected areas, including finding solutions to common problems and environmental education to the general public.

The USAID-funded "Sustainable Forest Management and Biodiversity Conservation" (VFBC) project has been approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

According to the approved decision, the VFBC project will be implemented in 11 provinces including: Lao Cai, Son La, Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh (Vu Quang National Park), Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam and Lam Dong (focusing on Bidoup Nui Ba National Park) and 3 National Parks under the General Department of Forestry (Cuc Phuong, Bach Ma, Cat Tien).

The project aims to: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration in Vietnam's natural and planted production forests; Conserve biodiversity.

The Biodiversity Conservation Component alone includes four sub-components: Promoting conservation-friendly production and business for forest-dependent communities; Strengthening the management of special-use and protection forests; Strengthening the effectiveness of the law enforcement system against forest and wildlife crimes; Reducing consumption through behavioral change methods. The component's activities are implemented over five years, from July 2020 to June 2025.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/sang-kien-bao-ve-rung-moi-duoc-cong-bo-o-vuon-quoc-gia-cat-tien-185230616103659524.htm