Inauguration of the bamboo walkway in Au Tho B and the study tour on co-management for Cu Lao Dung group

On 28th February, 2012, the inauguration of the bamboo walkway took place in Au Tho B village of Vinh Chau town. It is the first 160 m bamboo walkway in the village, made entirely from natural materials like bamboo and rattan. This bamboo walkway makes it easier for local people to go to the mudflat to collect aquatic resources. On the other hand, the walkway also helps reduce harmful impacts by people walking on young plants, thus, facilitating better forest protection.

Attending the event, beside local people, Au Tho B village also welcomed a visiting group of people from Cu Lao Dung. Since the co-management model in Au Tho B village, Vinh Hai commune, Vinh Chau town, has achieved some positive results in effective management and sustainable use of aquatic and mangrove forest resources, this model has been replicated and initiated into two other coastal areas in Tran De and Cu Lao Dung in 2012. Therefore, a study tour to Au Tho B village was organized for a group of more than 60 farmers (resource users) of Vo Thanh Van village, Cu Lao Dung and representatives of the local authority (head of the An Thanh Nam commune, head of the village, representatives of the Forest Protection district team, DARD district team...).

After the opening ceremony, people had a short field trip for the bamboo walkway sight-seeing. Then, people gathered at Mr. Thach Soal (leader of the Au Tho B co-management group)’s house to listen to presentations of Mr. Hoang Dinh Quoc Vu and Mr. Thach Soal on co-management process in Au Tho B, the benefits of mangrove forest protection and zonation. The agreed regulations for different zones in Au Tho B co-management were explained. By the end of the program, Mr. Thach Soal led an ordinary monthly meeting of the sub-group 4. The study tour was organized for local people and local authority of the Cu Lao Dung group to observe, listen and learn directly from reality and practical experience shared by the co-management group in Au Tho B village.

Opening Ceremony of the Bamboo Walkway

Mr. Xe, head of the Soc Trang Sub-department of Forest Protection also attended the Opening Ceremony



Greetings from Mr. Kiet, representative for the Cu Lao Dung group



Mr. Thach Soal, head of the Au Tho B co-management group, giving opening speech for the bamboo walkway


Visiting the Bamboo Walkway


On the way to the bamboo walkway



Welcoming banner and information sign



The bamboo walkway






Experience Sharing about Au Tho B Co-management


MC AD




Mr. Hoang Dinh Quoc Vu, representative of the Vinh Chau district project team talking about co-management in Au Tho B village





Mr. Thach Soal talking about the benefits of mangrove forest protection and zonation in co-management






Mr. Thach Soal explaining about the agreed regulations for different zones in Au Tho B co-management



Cu Lao Dung visitor asking questions on co-management



AD helping Mr. Thach Soal in answering question from the Cu Lao Dung visitor






Monthly Meeting of Sub-group No. 4 in Au Tho B village



Mr. Thach Soal leading the monthly meeting of the Sub-group No.4






Lunch