Promoting Sustainable Use of Indigenous Bamboo Forest in Nguyet An Commune, Ngoc Lac District, Thanh Hoa Province
Case Study C0232
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| Date | 2004 |
| Agency | Consultant Centre for Investment and Development of Science Technology and Environment of Thanh Hoa Province |
| Donor/support agency | GEF SGP |
| Project type | Implemented by agency |
| Context(s) | Productive landscape |
| Geographic coverage | Viet Nam |
| Locality | Nguyet An Commune, Ngoc Lac District, Thanh Hoa Province |
| Biodiversity focus | Species |
| Development focus | Local communities |
| Conservation goals | Promote the sustainable use of the indigenous bamboo forest resources |
| Poverty reduction goals | Contribute to increase the incomes of the ethnic minorities living in the project area |
Summary
Thanh Hoa is the province which has the largest area of indigenous bamboo in Viet Nam. Given the existing area of bamboo forests and community experience in bamboo forest plantation, Thanh Hoa has great potential in developing into a specialised bamboo area of high economic value. However, these bamboo forests have become degraded in terms of area and quality. Low community awareness on the importance of sustainable use of the bamboo forest and overexploitation of bamboo forest resources, resulted in these bamboo forests degradation. Land degradation and the exhaustion of forest resources, in turn, have significantly increased the poverty in the area. As a result, farmers in recent years have replaced areas devoted to bamboo with other crops for their short-term benefit.
To counteract this situation, the Consultant Centre for Investment and Development of Science Technology and Environment of Thanh Hoa Province, with the financial support of GEF SGP, launched in 2001 the project 'Promoting Sustainable Use of Indigenous Bamboo Forest in Nguyet An Commune, Ngoc Lac District, Thanh Hoa Province'. This project aims to promote the sustainable use of the indigenous bamboo forest resources, increase the acreage of bamboo forests, and generate higher income for the community. Through its activities, the project also aims to raise environmental awareness of local stakeholders on the issues of biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of bamboo forest resources. To achieve its objectives, the project conceived a model which promotes inter-cropping of bamboo trees and other indigenous wood species, and the transferring to farmers of appropriate silvicultural techniques in bamboo forest plantation and harvesting.
Conservation impact
The following are some of the results achieved by the project:
- the forest productivity increased from 800–1,200 trees/ha to 2,500–2,740 trees/ha, with an average increase of 1,540–1,700 trees/ha
- the project silviculture measures resulted not only in raising the forest productivity and quality but also in improving the environment in the area in general
- the understanding and knowledge of environmental issues in general, and of biodiversity conservation in particular, of the project grantee organisation staff and of local stakeholders were considerably enhanced
Poverty reduction impact
The following are some of the results achieved by the project:
- training classes, workshops and field trips were organised to raise awareness and capacity on sustainable use of biodiversity resources, and techniques in sustainable use of indigenous bamboo forest resources in Thanh Hoa for project participants and beneficiaries
- the economic efficiency of 1 ha of forest increased from 3 million VND annually to 6.5 million VND annually
- the total budget for the revolving loan programme was $13,320. The repayment rate was 85%
Strategy for Conservation/Poverty Linkages
Sustainable Use
Ecoagriculture
Reference 1
http://sgp.undp.org/index.cfm?Module=Projects&Page=ShowProject&ProjectID=4572
Related records above this one:
- Global Environment Facility (GEF) (Organisation O0026)