GEF creates sustainable income for people in Western Nghe An

After more than 4 years of implementation, with a series of activities and livelihood models to encourage the community to exploit natural resources in a sustainable manner, the BR project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) not only ensures livelihoods for people in Western Nghe An but also contributes to biodiversity conservation and environmental protection.

With more than 6.6 million USD, the Project "Integrating natural resource management and biodiversity conservation objectives into socio -economic development planning and management of biosphere reserves in Vietnam" (BR project) funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) started at the end of October 2020 in: Hanoi and 3 pilot biosphere reserves: Cu Lao Cham - Hoi An (Quang Nam province), Dong Nai (Dong Nai province) and Tay Nghe An (Nghe An province).

In Nghe An , the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve has an area of ​​nearly 1.3 million hectares, located in 9 districts, including: Ky Son, Tuong Duong, Con Cuong, Anh Son, Thanh Chuong, Que Phong, Quy Chau, Quy Hop, Tan Ky. This place is considered a green corridor connecting 3 core areas (Pu Mat National Park, Pu Huong Nature Reserve and Pu Hoat Nature Reserve) creating continuity in habitats and habitats, maintaining effective biodiversity conservation.

This area is home to 06 ethnic minority groups (Kinh, Thai, Tho, Kho Mu, H'Mong and O Du) with a tradition of close attachment to the forest. The BR project has implemented a series of activities and livelihood models to encourage the community to exploit natural resources in a sustainable way, ensuring both livelihoods and biodiversity conservation and environmental protection.

Planting the seven-leaf, one-flower tree in Na Ngoi commune, Ky Son district - (Photo: Thai Ba Tham/VNM-UNDP Project Management Board)

Over the past 4 years, the BR project has supported the construction of 2 medicinal plant nurseries in Xieng Lip village (Yen Hoa commune) and Dang village (Nga My commune) with 20 Thai ethnic households directly working in the nurseries. Currently, 5,000 purple Ba Kich plants, 2,000 Dioscorea seedlings, 1,000 Gynostemma pentaphyllum seedlings, and 3,000 Purple Khoi Tia plants have been successfully grown. Thanks to this model, local people not only reduce the cost of buying seeds but also have the opportunity to generate income from selling seedlings to serve the need to grow medicinal plants under the forest canopy in and outside the province.

Nurseries also play an important role in reducing pressure on forest exploitation. Providing high-quality NTFP seedlings helps people to grow and exploit sustainably, instead of depending on natural exploitation. This is a smart way to ensure a long-term income source while preserving valuable resources for future generations.

Planting Bach Bo trees in Chau Khe commune, Con Cuong district - (Photo: Thai Ba Tham/VNM-UNDP Project Management Board)

In addition to providing seedlings, the BR Project also implements models of growing medicinal herbs under the forest canopy with high economic value such as: Golden flower tea, Bon bo, Lung tree, 1-flower seven-leaf tree, taro tree, Huong bai tree and Met tree in the buffer zone communes of Dong Van, Thong Thu (Que Phong district); Tam Quang, Tam Hop, Luu Kien communes (Tuong Duong district); Chau Khe commune (Con Cuong district) and livelihood models in Pu Hoat Nature Reserve, Que Phong district.

Typically, up to 421 households participated. Enclosing, protecting, replanting, and sustainably exploiting 1,489.0 hectares of Lung forest. Preserving, developing, and sustainably exploiting Que Phong Yellow Flower Tea trees associated with forest protection on an area of ​​135.3 hectares. Preserving and developing Bon bo trees associated with forest protection, enriching poor natural forests, on an area of ​​92.6 hectares...

Acceptance of care, protection, enclosure, and sustainable exploitation of yellow tea trees in Na Hum village, Thong Thu commune, Que Phong district - (Photo: Nguyen Thanh Nham/Head of VNM-UNDP Project Management Board).

All activities are focusing on developing indigenous medicinal plants under the forest canopy with high economic value such as: yellow flower tea, bon bo, lung tree, 1-flower seven-leaf tree,... and many livelihood models of the BR Project in the Biosphere Reserve have proven that nature conservation is not only a responsibility but also an opportunity for socio-economic development for the people of Western Nghe An.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/gef-tao-thu-nhap-ben-vung-cho-nguoi-dan-mien-tay-nghe-an-208342.html