Contributing to Biodiversity Conservation of Cat Ba National Park through Community Activity
Case Study C0242
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| Date | 2003 |
| Agency | Women Union of Cat Hai District, Hai Phong City |
| Donor/support agency | GEF SGP |
| Project type | Implemented by agency |
| Context(s) | Protected area |
| Geographic coverage | Viet Nam |
| Locality | Gia Luan and Viet Hai communes, Cat Hai District, Hai Phong Province |
| Biodiversity focus | Species, Ecosystem |
| Development focus | Local communities |
| Conservation goals | Maintaining the biodiversity of terrestrial and marine ecosystems in the Cat Ba National Park |
| Poverty reduction goals | Diversify income sources for the community living in the core and buffer zones of Cat Ba National Park |
Summary
Cat Ba National Park is located in the Cat Ba archipelago, which is part of Ha Long Bay, declared World Heritage Site in 1994, and includes Cat Ba Island, several small islands nearby, and the surrounding surface waters. The Park is listed as the highest national conservation priority in Viet Nam, thanks to its unique characteristics: highly valuable biological resources of the limestone ecosystems; presence of the only primate population of the Golden-headed langur, which is a global conservation priority; a marine environment. However, the Park is currently facing ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss due to the overexploitation of its resources, especially the animals. The main threats to the biodiversity of the Cat Ba National Park are hunting, firewood collection, illegal timber cutting, grazing, fire, agricultural encroachment and uncontrolled tourism.
The main purpose of this project is to maintain the biodiversity of terrestrial and marine ecosystems in the Cat Ba National Park, by raising environmental awareness of local stakeholders and community, thus generating their support for the conservation of Cat Ba National Park, and developing models which suit local conditions to diversify community income sources. This will be achieved through conservation awareness activities, participatory development and application of local regulations for biodiversity conservation, and the development of agricultural production models aiming to increase community income, thus reducing their strong dependence on the Park resources for their daily subsistence and livelihoods.
Conservation impact
The understanding and knowledge of environmental issues of the project grantee organization staff and of local stakeholders were considerably enhanced thanks to the project implementation and management, and training activities, such as training workshops, study tour, exchange on project management.
Poverty reduction impact
The project successfully developed income-generating models aimed at increasing community income and reliving the pressure on the natural resources of the national park. The following are just some of the activities carried out by the project: 1) 15 training courses on the techniques for growing vegetables, orange trees and bee keeping were conducted; 2) 4 models of vegetable plantation were constructed in Viet Hai Commune with total land area of 42.5 acre. 70% of vegetable-growing households reportedly had higher incomes, the remaining 30% households all had some incomes, none of them had no incomes or lower incomes compared to previously; 3) a model of bee-keeping was built with participation of 10 households with 39 behives. Altogether, the model yielded 102 kg of honey, 89 kg of wax, the net profit was VND 19 million.
Strategy for Conservation/Poverty Linkages
Provision of alternative livelihoods
Enabling local participation in policy-/decision- making processes
Reference 1
http://sgp.undp.org/index.cfm?Module=Projects&Page=ShowProject&ProjectID=4146
Related records above this one:
- Global Environment Facility (GEF) (Organisation O0026)