Co-management training for start-up group in Cu Lao Dung

On 21.12.2011, we had the first training for the start-up group in Cu Lao Dung. For pilot co-management in Cu Lao Dung, Vo Thanh Van village in An Thanh Nam commune has been selected. We agreed that Mr. Ngo, chairman of An Thanh Nam commune would be the start-up group leader while Mr. Dang Quoc Chi would be the responsible person in coordination with GIZ project. The start-up group includes 9 people:

Mr. Hồ Thanh Kiệt – Director of sub-division DARD CLD district, DPT coordinator (absent on 21.12)

Mr. Đặng Quốc Chí – Vice director of sub-division DARD CLD district

Ms. Trần Lệ Hằng – Leader of Women Union, CLD (absent on 21.12, substituted by Ms. Nguyễn Thị Tới)

Mr. Nguyễn Văn Ngộ – Chairman of An Thanh Nam commune

Mr. Nguyễn Trung Quốc – Officer of Forest Protection sub-department in CLD

Mr. Hà Văn Lùng – Vo Thanh Van village head

Mr. Trần Văn Thành – Chairman of Farmer Association in An Thanh Nam

Mr. Nguyễn Văn Đẹp – Leader of sugarcane planting cooperation group

Mr. Ngô Pạch - Leader of sugarcane planting cooperation group (another group)

It was the first time that i gave a presentation in such a training for people in the district and commune. I presented general introduction to co-management, its 4 principles and 4 steps. After a short break, AD gave more practical examples and lessons learned from Au Tho B village's co-management experiences.

There was positive signal because of high local agreement and motivation for co-management pilot activity in Cu Lao Dung. However, the most concerned and difficult issue that people mentioned in this meeting is that the number of outsiders coming to exploit the forest is very much bigger compared to number of local people.

It was agreed that there would be another meeting on 26.12.2011 where we would discuss on action plan for the first months of 2012.

Me presenting introduction to co-management, its 4 principles and 4 steps

AD giving more practical examples and lessons learned from Au Tho B village's co-management experiences

The start-up group

Following up the start-up group training on 21.12.2011, on Monday 26.12.2011, we had another meeting at People's Committee of An Thanh Nam commune, discussing about action plan for first months of 2012.

Before going to discuss on action plan, we had a review where people took turn to say about what they learned on co-management last time, their opinions, comments, feelings, any ideas... 

There was a helpful point mentioned, it is the community development as one benefit of co-management. Co-management can help promoting the community spirit, social interaction, social sharing and supporting in the community. Or in other words, we can say that co-management, activity for better community help in strengthening social capital which is very precious and essential for sustainability.

There will be one start-up group meeting per month.

There will be 4 locations with 60 potential local households (about 60% is Khmer people but they can speak Vietnamese well) that we aim to approach (about 15 households per location). 

The start-up group is divided into 2 teams.

Team 1:

Mr. Hồ Thanh Kiệt

Ms. Trần Lệ Hằng

Mr. Nguyễn Văn Ngộ

Mr. Nguyễn Văn Đẹp

Team 2:

Mr. Đặng Quốc Chí

Mr. Nguyễn Trung Quốc

Mr. Hà Văn Lùng

Mr. Trần Văn Thành

Mr. Ngô Pạch

For consultation with local people, the plan was discussed that we would have 4 meetings per day with all 4 locations, 2 meetings in the morning and 2 meetings in the afternoon. That means each team will be responsible for 1 meeting in the morning and one in the afternoon.