Quang Tri and WWF Vietnam expand strategic cooperation for sustainable development

On July 15, in Quang Tri province, the World Wildlife Fund in Vietnam (WWF Vietnam) and the People's Committee of Quang Tri province held a conference to announce the Central Truong Son Biodiversity Conservation Program. This is an important step forward in the cooperation between the two sides, towards the goal of sustainable development associated with nature conservation and climate change adaptation.

At the conference, Quang Tri province announced two decisions approving a technical assistance program and a project to promote community participation in implementing the goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework and the national biodiversity strategy in Quang Tri province. Both programs are funded by WWF Vietnam, with a total implementation budget of more than 121.7 billion VND.

Conference to announce WWF Vietnam's Central Truong Son Biodiversity Conservation Program. (Photo: Truong Nhat/quangtri.gov.vn)

According to the Standing Vice Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee, Hoang Nam, the conference took place at a time when there were many changes in the organizational structure when Quang Tri and Quang Binh provinces merged into a new administrative unit. The merger posed urgent requirements in unified management of natural resources, environmental protection and sustainable development in a larger area. He emphasized that cooperation programs with WWF Vietnam need to be expanded in scale, content and depth to contribute to solving new challenges, towards long-term, strategic goals.

The relationship between Quang Tri and WWF is established on a solid foundation. In October 2023, Quang Tri became the first locality to sign a 5-year cooperation agreement with WWF, creating a framework for implementing key programs on sustainable forest management and development, biodiversity conservation, renewable energy, water resource protection, marine conservation and plastic waste reduction, as well as developing sustainable food systems...

After nearly two years of implementation, WWF has coordinated with the province to implement 14 projects with a total budget of nearly 163 billion VND (equivalent to 6.6 million USD). Among them, a large program including 5 component projects has just been approved by the Provincial People's Committee, continuing to affirm the international organization's long-term commitment to accompany the locality.

The Central Truong Son Biodiversity Conservation Program – the focus of this conference – aims to restore forest ecosystems, conserve biodiversity and enhance climate change adaptation capacity through nature-based solutions. The program also contributes to realizing Vietnam’s international commitments on climate, environment and sustainable development.

With a clear orientation, the support of international partners such as WWF is expected to help Quang Tri not only improve its resource management capacity, but also create a green economic development model, putting people and nature at the center. This is also a positive message from Vietnam to the world about its strong commitment to environmental protection and climate change response through effective multilateral cooperation.

The Central Truong Son (from Ha Tinh to Da Nang) is an ecological landscape of special value, where high biodiversity converges and many endangered and endemic species exist such as Saola, large-antlered muntjac, Truong Son muntjac, Truong Son striped rabbit... At the same time, this area is also home to more than 10 million people of more than 20 different ethnic groups, whose livelihoods are closely tied to forests and nature.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/quang-tri-va-wwf-viet-nam-mo-rong-hop-tac-chien-luoc-vi-phat-trien-ben-vung-214876.html