Delegation of IUCN, Oxfam, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, Tien Giang visiting Soc Trang

On April 25^th 2013, representatives from DARD, Forest Protection Department, People’s Committee at district and commune levels of Ben Tre, Tien Giang and Tra Vinh provinces came to Soc Trang for a 2-day visit, which had been organised by IUCN and Oxfam. The aim of the study tour was to learn about the mangrove co-management model which is being implemented by the GIZ project in Soc Trang.

On Thursday 25 April, the delegation of 26 people was welcomed at GIZ office in Soc Trang. Ms. Bianca Schlegel, the Technical Advisor of the GIZ CZM Soc Trang gave an introductory presentation about the project with emphasis on the mangrove co-management model, its key elements, principles, steps, prerequisite, differences between state management, community forestry and co-management and results so far from the co-management pilot-village of Au Tho B in Vinh Chau town. There was a dynamic discussion after the presentation with many questions from the delegation. Mostly people wanted to know about main difficulties in implementing the model, how to resolve alternative livelihood issues and conflicts arising in negotiation process etc.

On Friday 26 April, the delegation visited Au Tho B village in Vinh Chau, the first pilot site for mangrove co-management in Soc Trang. Participants had the chance to see one of the bamboo walkway which restricts access to the mangrove forest to certain areas and to meet the co-management group and sub-group leaders. Mr. Thach Soal, head of the co-management group told the delegation about the process of co-management establishment in Au Tho B. Mr. Trinh Hiep, representative from DARD Soc Trang, and Mr. Nguyen Van Vu, representative from Soc Trang Forest Protection Department, who have been involved in the process from the beginning, also helped clarifying some questions from the delegation.

The delegation also visited the bamboo T-fences, a close-to-nature solution with the aim to reduce erosion by reducing wave energy and stimulating sedimentation in Vinh Tan in Vinh Chau district. During the debriefing after lunch, the representatives of each province presented shortly their lessons learnt and potential for application of the models at their localities.Overall the representatives were very impressed by both, the co-management model and the natural bamboo T-fences, and identified opportunities and places to implement the models in their provinces.

26.04.2013 Visiting Au Tho B co-management group

Visiting the bamboo T-fences in Vinh Tan

ICM Study tour in Danang

 

Group photo in front of DONRE Danang, 10 April 2013

Following last year trainings and workshops to support the integrated coastal management (ICM) process in Soc Trang, from 8 to 10 April 2013, a study tour to Danang has been organised for representatives of local authorities from three coastal districts and members of the Interdisciplinary Planning Team. Aim of this study tour is for the participants to learn from practical experiences of Danang’s good practice on ICM application.

Before dinner on Monday 8 March, the vice director of Danang DONRE welcomed the delegation from Soc Trang and presented briefly about Danang’s achievements. On Tuesday 9 March, we visited Khanh Son landfill, Hoa Cuong wastewater treatment plant in the morning and some developments, tourist sites along the beach of Son Tra peninsula, climbing up to Marble mountain in the afternoon. On Wednesday 10 March, we listened to presentations about the ICM implementation in Danang and the ECUD GIZ project at Danang DONRE in the morning and visited the sustainable community model in Tho Quang ward in the afternoon and then flying back to Saigon.

Danang’s achievements

Danang is a new established city as it has just been separated from Quang Nam Da Nang province in 1997 to become an independent first-class city (central controlled). In 2000, Danang was selected as one of the national demonstration sites for integrated coastal management (ICM) in the framework of the regional program on Building Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA). Since then, Danang has consistently implemented the ICM framework and process and has had a comprehensive boom. Marketing and educational campaigns on sea and environment have been conducted. Data about the sea has been collected. Resources from the seas are used to improve coastal communities. High value of the sea has become its trademark with regulation for environmental protection. Environmental protection is considered as a crucial factor to the sustainable development of the city. Danang has refused 2 big steel and paper production projects because of their potential pollution to environment. Drainage system, wastewater treatment and solid waste management have been improved. All wastewater is collected and treated before going to the sea. Danang has developed the strategy of environmental protection for Danang up to 2010, and has conducted the project of “Danang – towards Environmental City” up to 2020. In 2011, Danang gained the “ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable City” Award and the National Environmental Prize.

The economy has grown fast with its structure shifting step-by-step towards service-industry and reduction in agricultural sector. Its macro policy has recognised the sea as a valuable front door of the city. From beginning of the renovation process, the city has applied land use planning and successfully relocated hundred thousands of households with reasonable compensation based on the fund from land auction for development projects[1]. As an international sea harbour, having both the sea and the mountains, the Cham museum, Danang has taken advantage of its unique condition to promote tourism, particularly with spiritual tourism in Kuan Yin pagoda, Ba Na pagoda. Nowaday, Danang has been famous as the most livable city in Vietnam. It is also the host for some international events such as the yearly fireworks festival. The city is also proud of its beautiful bridges, the unique rotatable Quay bridge, the dragon bridge, etc. which serve not only for transport but also for decoration.

The city has successfully implemented its ambitious “5 NO” campaign: no hungry households, no illiteracy, no beggars, no drug addicts, no murder/robbery. Danang has no longer hungry households under poverty line. Danang is the only city in the country without wanderers for begging. The city has been continuing the campaign with “3 YES”: housing, jobs and urban cultural & civilized lifestyles. More apartments/condominiums and 60 new residential areas have been built to provide more housing. More job trainings have been conducted. Education is considered as an important pillar for development. Poor students get tuition remission. There is a gifted high school for excellent students with scholarships. On the other hand, there are policies, endowment to attract talents to work in Danang.

Khanh Son landfill

Khanh Son landfill had been built from 2004 – 2006 with funding from World Bank and has been in use since 2007. Its designed lifespan is for 12 years (up to 2020). We can easily observe the informal waste separation right at the site. The landfill has 5 cells in total. Two cells had been used up so far and the 3^rd cell is currently in use. The leachate is collected and then goes through wastewater treatment system. The effluent meets Vietnamese standard (except color parameter). The odor treatment is good there (using some kind of biochemist enzyme). Operational cost of the landfill is about 6 billion VND per year. The collected fee is 29,000 VND per tonne of municipal waste. It is planned to build here additionally the sludge treatment system.

Khanh Son landfill


The incinerators

Medical waste and other hazardous industrial waste are treated separately in the 2 incinerators next to the landfill. These two incinerators are made in Vietnam and the construction cost in total about 3 billion VND. The collected fees are 10,000 VND/kg and 6,000 VND/kg correspondingly; which means 10 million VND per tonne for medical waste and 6 million VND per tonne for other hazardous industrial waste. The cost is much higher in these cases because of the fuel used. The incinerators consume about 350 litres of diesel per tonne of these wastes. Normally, 1.4 tonnes of these hazardous wastes are burnt every two days in 7 hours. The incinerator has 2 chambers, one for burning waste into ash (which then is compressed into bricks and then will be buried carefully) and the other chamber is for burning smoke. The fuel is used mostly to burn the smoke completely therefore no smoke escape from the system.

Hoa Cuong wastewater treatment plant

Danang has 4 municipal wastewater treatment plants (Hoa Cuong, Phu Loc, Son Tra and Ngu Hanh Son) using anaerobic technology for both domestic and industrial wastewater and 1 specific wastewater treatment plant (Tho Quang) using combining aerobic and anaerobic technology for wastewater from aquaculture.

Hoa Cuong wastewater treatment plant has been operated since 2007 and received domestic wastewater from Hai Chau, Cam Le and Hoa Vang districts. The plant’s capacity is 110,799 m³ and the flow is about 30,000 m³/day. There are 2 parallel anaerobic ponds. To ensure anaerobic condition, the ponds are covered with HPDE geotextile layer.

Operation is simple since the water flow by gravity. The wastewater is collected by the system along Han river with pumping stations. There is a primary settlement for sand and big size waste removal. Then the wastewater flows through 4 channels into 2 parallel anaerobic ponds. The anaerobic pond comprises 2 chambers. The first chamber is smaller but deeper and it is where substrates such as sludge from septic tank are added regularly to provide microorganism for the anaerobic treatment process. After flowing through the first chamber, wastewater is separated into liquid and solid phases. The water (liquid phase) continues to flow through the second chamber and the sludge (solid phase) remains at the first chamber. The wastewater stays in the ponds totally for 3 days (retention time) and then the treated effluent goes to Cam Le river. The effluent meets level B of Vietnamese standard.

The advantages of this anaerobic technology are simple design, high capacity, low cost for both operation and maintenance. On the other hand, the disadvantage of this anaerobic technology is odor because of H₂S, NH₃ generated. However, considering the high volume and the low level of pollution concentration of municipal wastewater, this simple technology is okay and practical.

Hoa Cuong wastewater treatment plant

Development and tourism along Son Tra peninsula

After lunch on Tuesday, 9 March 2013, we had chance to see some development and tourist sites along Son Tra peninsula. It was more like a sight-seeing tour. We visited the Kuan Yin (The Goddess of Mercy) pagoda which has just been built in 2010. People said that since then, no more heavy storm reaches Danang or even if there is storm, it changes direction and thus Danang is safe. Then, we visited the Ocean Villas, a real estate project of luxury residential area by the Vinacapital Cooperate. This is an example of turning unused and bare land into high value residential area. End of the excursion day, we had a short trip to Marble mountain.

Kuan Yin pagoda

Ocean Villas

Marble mountain

 

ICM implementation in Danang – Experiences and lessons learned

Mrs. Pham Thi Chin presenting about Danang’s ICM process

At the beginning, through MONRE, PEMSEA[2] approached several nominated coastal provinces including Nghe An, Khanh Hoa (Nha Trang), Danang to introduce about ICM as a tool to achieve sustainable development. PEMSEA saw the higher motivation, interest and willingness from Danang local authorities among others. Then in 2000, Danang has been chosen as the national demonstration site for ICM (2000 – 2004). Agreement was signed between PEMSEA and Danang in which PEMSEA committed to contribute 450,000 USD and Danang contributed 907,000 USD as counterpart fund. These fund was mostly be used for capacity building and integrating interdisciplinary approach in management, not for infrastructure investment.

In the preparation step, the project office, project coordination unit, management board, monitoring program were established. Stakeholders were identified. Core staff got trainings from PEMSEA. Then data of all sectors were collected. Workshops were organized for consultation to identify environmental issues and setting priority. Environmental profile for Danang was compiled. Vision for Danang in 50 years has been built. Based on the vision, strategy and 44 action programs have been developed. Danang has assigned DONRE to lead the city on the way towards becoming one of the top 10 low-carbon-development cities in the region. The action programs are regularly revised and adjusted. In recent year, climate change concern has been added into the strategy.

After the project finished, the project office has become VASI’s office in Danang and they still keep contact with PEMSEA and PEMSEA continues giving technical advice. The ICM project has been an important initiative for Danang towards sustainable development. It has strengthened Danang’s coastal governance through[3]:

§ Creating a multi-disciplinary co-ordination mechanism for coastal resource and environmental management

Most of the programs and development plans for the city, which are related to coastal resources and the environment, have been prepared in consultation with all relevant departments and districts. Community awareness-raising, as well as capacity building for local staff, contributed remarkably to the success of ICM in Danang. The multi-disciplinary co-ordination mechanism helps investment projects to fit in with the city’s coastal strategy (which considers risk management, recovery and protection of habitat, waste management, prevention and mitigation of pollution), and action plans for coastal resource and environmental protection have been implemented synchronously and harmoniously. Such as action plans include: waste separation at source, public awareness-raising on beach cleaning, environmental monitoring, investigation of marine resources, and project planning for the coral reef protection zone in the Southern part of Son Tra peninsula.

Danang’s ICM co-ordination mechanism

§ Creating technical tools to support integrated coastal resource and environmental management

Based on the ICM strategy approved in 2001, Danang’s Peoples’ Committee issued regulations for the management and protection of coral reefs and ecosystems related to the coastal areas from Chao islet to Nam Hai Van and the Son Tra peninsula.

Zonation planning for Danang’s coastal use includes categorization of coastal spatial uses, regulations on coastal use, a coastal use zoning plan and an institutional framework for implementation. This zoning plan has had a big impact on the achievement of reasonable coastal use and the mitigation of conflict.

The Integrated Environmental Monitoring program was approved by Danang’s People’s Committee on May 4, 2006 with 47 monitoring points for water (covering rivers, the sea, lakes and groundwater), sedimentation, soil, and air quality. Since then, DONRE has co-ordinated with other related departments to conduct regular monitoring, as well as irregular monitoring, in order to evaluate environmental quality in the whole city, and to assess the state of the coast.

The Integrated Information Management System (IIMS) has been established as a socio-economic, resource and environmental database system for Danang for risk management, developing strategies, environmental monitoring, and coastal use zoning, as well as other related activities supporting state management.

§ The integrated coastal resource and environmental management model has been widely applied by organizations, faculties, and authorities, as well as communities

Components of the environmental protection model, such as waste separation at source, planting trees, etc., have been implemented by many social organizations and unions. The movement, Green-Clean-Beautiful Sunday, has spread all over the city. The model of the “Community club of coastal sustainable economic development” developed by the Farmer Association of Tho Quang ward, has been a typical model which would be replicated in other places in the city.

§ Organizing inspections and conducting checks on the implementation of regulations and coastal resource and environmental protection

In recent years, inspections, and conducting checks on the implementation of regulations on ICM have been actively conducted, particularly in Son Tra and Ngu Hanh Son districts.

Limitations and lessons learned

Since ICM is a new management approach, knowledge and experience on ICM of local staff is still limited. There is a lack of information related to resource values, as well as a lack of human resources. Moreover, there is lack of experts in new areas such as zonation of coastal uses and institutional arrangements. Following are the lessons learned from the implementation of ICM in Danang.

(1) Ensuring capacity for project operation, management and implementation

The establishment of the Project Co-ordination Board, with the Board’s Chairman being the Vice-president of Danang’s People’s Committee, and with members being heads of relevant departments and districts, has created a synchronous and united management and co-ordination system for Danang. This has helped to mobilize the active participation of all stakeholders in the planning and implementation of the project. The Project Office was also founded with the selection of qualified personnel to advise and assist the Project Co-ordination Board.

(2) Organizing public awareness-raising activities as soon as possible

Awareness-raising activities on ICM have been organized and developed quickly for staff of local authorities as well as for the community, in order to build a consensus of appreciation of the importance and values of the coasts for the city’s sustainable development. This helps to create a high level of commitment and agreement from all stakeholders in the application of ICM.

(3) Building consensus among stakeholders

The support of stakeholders is essential for the success of the project. The commitment and active direction of Danang’s Peoples’ Committee shows a high level of determination and support for the project. This creates favourable conditions for ICM implementation, as well as mobilizing the interests and participation of stakeholders. Support from individuals and the community is a prerequisite for sustaining project activities. The active participation of departments, faculties, local authorities and communities helps the project to identify possible challenges in its implementation, and thereby be able to recommend solutions for problem-solving.

(4) Role of experts

The expert group plays an important role in providing technical advice. Danang has organized a multi-disciplinary expert group, which includes scientists, engineers and managers. Throughout the project, from building strategies to implementation of sub-projects, the advice of the multi-disciplinary group has been listened-to and considered as part of an integrated approach to complete the project’s products and to ensure their feasibility.

(5) Information collection

Right from beginning, Danang started collecting relevant information for the project. All information on environmental resources, and economic, social, cultural, and historical aspects have been collected and analyzed for building the database. This database is vital for the ICM implementation.

 

Eco-city and climate friendly urban development project (ECUD, GIZ Danang)

Ms. Dinh Le Quan presenting about the GIZ ECUD project at Danang DONRE

The GIZ ECUD project in Danang started in July 2011 and will end by March 2014. Its commissioning party is BMZ – the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and its implementing partners are DPI, DONRE and Department of Construction (DOC). The project aims to support Danang to effectively implement target programs on environment and climate change through interdisciplinary co-ordination mechanism. The project consists of 4 components: Environmental development strategy (1), Environmental monitoring, assessment and report (2), Environmental friendly master planning (3), Pilot studies on climate change mitigation and adaptation (4).

Danang has decided to become environmental friendly city in 2020, however the objectives have been just limited mostly to satisfy national standards on clean air and water rather than broader theme related to sustainable development, green growth and resources conservation. There is also lack of basic indicators and strategy to achieve the objectives. Therefore, the ECUD project aims to provide consultancy to support policy identification, building route for action plans and developing general strategy for environmental and climate friendly urban development.

For environmental monitoring and assessment (2^nd components), activities of the ECUD project are building inventory of emission sources, including detail information, emission map; causes & effects modeling of environmental state in Danang and roles of polluters (polluters pay principles); developing emission reduction plan and action plan; revising impacts of suggested action plans by life cycle assessment.

Danang University of Technology with funding from the Rockefeller developed flooding model. On the other hand, CDM Smith consultant company with funding from World Bank developed the urban drainage model for Danang. None of these models has been used in policy analysis. The master plan and infrastructure decisions have been made without support of modeling. Therefore, the ECUD project aims to combine these flooding and urban drainage models into one integrated model, developing respectively scenarios to analyse policies for recommendation on development strategy and master planning of the city.

The ECUD project also conducts pilot studies on composting, climate-resilient house for replication in Danang and other cities in Vietnam.

The GIZ project Environmentally and Climate-friendly Urban Development (ECUD) in Da Nang has received a certificate of merit by the People’s Committee of Da Nang City in January 2013. The honorary certificate is awarded annually to groups and individuals in recognition of their contribution to Da Nang’s socio-economic development.

Sustainable development community in Tho Quang ward

Mr. Nguyen Dinh, head of the Farmer Association of Tho Quang presenting about the club for sustainable development of coastal community at People’s Committee of Tho Quang ward
 
The club for sustainable development community in Tho Quang ward, Son Tra district has been established in 2010. It serves as the pilot model for later replication into other places in the city. Goals of the model are raising legal awareness on coastal environmental and resources protection and management, improving coastal environment through mobilizing public participation, sustainable use of resources and economic development at Son Tra peninsula.

The club has 37 members and they have meetings quarterly. The regulation on coastal environmental protection has been developed and agreed among the club’s members. This core group then has mobilized a larger number of people in the community to sustainably use the coastal resources and to protect the environment. The club has taken care of the environment along 2.5 km coastline in Tho Quang ward. They have detected and timely prevented 2 incidents of illegal seaweed collecting in the forbidden zone along Son Tra peninsula.

With support from the ICM project, since October 2010, three trainings, workshops have been organized for farmers and fishermen in the area to raise public awareness on community role in integrated coastal management and environmental protection. The club has distributed 1000 flyers on roles of farmers in building environmental friendly city. Together with the Farmer Association, the club has mobilized people to participate in 12 environmental events of “Green, Beautiful, Clean Sunday”. Moreover, 25 members of the club have joined the rehearsal on responding to environmental risks organized by the city.

The club has encouraged members and other aquaculture/fishermen households in the coastal area to apply alternative livelihoods; so far, 5 households have shifted from aquaculture to tourist services. Three small capacity vessels have been converted into tourist boats, creating jobs for 14 people, including 5 club members.

Mr. Dinh, head of the club mentioned that they want to support more and more households’ livelihood, but the most difficult thing is the limited funding. It was recommended from the discussion that they can focus more on the task of raising community’s awareness because supporting alternative livelihoods for people there would be beyond their capacity and that can be taken care by other bigger projects.

 

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[1] From Danang’s perspective, this initiative of land auction policy is a successful tool to create fund for the city’s urban development. On the other hand, from the state perspective, there is some legal violation related (see the link below). In my opinion, Danang has taken innovative policies and they have their reasons.
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/government/69035/conclusions-about-da-nang-s-land-related-violations-have--legal-basis-.html

[2] PEMSEA members including China, Japan and 10 Southeast Asian countries

[3] Some old notes from the ICAM training in June 2012 are put additionally in this session.

Quang Binh Study Tour on Green Village Development Planning

 Group photo in front of the cultural house of Cu Lac 2 village

From 9 to 12 April 2012, with the support of GIZ CZM Soc Trang, a group of Soc Trang representatives visited Quang Binh in a study tour to learn more about integrating natural conservation in building participatory economic and social development plan at village, commune and district levels in the buffer zone of Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park. The group had meetings at the GIZ Quang Binh and the Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park offices, listened to their presentations on the project in general and especially on green village development planning (VDP). On April 11, the group also had chances to visit some livelihood models suggested from the VDP and attending a meeting with local people in Cu Lac 2 village, Son Trach commune.

The “Conservation and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park Area” is an eight year Vietnamese – German cooperation project. Located 500 km away from Hanoi and 50 km from Dong Hoi city, the Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park has been recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage since 2003. The project site comprised of 3 main areas, (1) the core area of 85,754 ha, (2) the extension area of 31,071 ha and (3) the buffer zone of 225,000 ha, embracing 13 communes (7 communes of Bo Trach district; 5 communes of Minh Hoa district and 1 commune of Quang Ninh district) with 155 villages and a population of 60,000 people.

Map of the project area

General goals of the project are integrating sustainable socio-economic development in management and conservation of natural resources and biodiversity of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park, reducing pressure on natural resources in the national park area and improving livelihood conditions of local people in the project area. Three key operating areas of the project are (1) protection and management of the national park, (2) development of the buffer zone and (3) sustainable tourism development. In the field of development of the buffer zone, since 2011, two key activities of (1) building conservation-oriented/green village development plans and (2) alternative livelihood models had been conducted with technical support from GIZ Quang Binh.

Green Village Development Planning (VDP)

The buffer zone of the project had faced many challenges. The communities in the buffer zone had high poverty rate with low awareness on natural conservation. Most livelihood activities of local people here were based on exploitation of forest natural resources such as grazing, burn shifting cultivation, reclamation, hunting and trading wildlife, forest wood, minerals. On the other hand, income from tourism had been limited and other alternative livelihoods had not been applied effectively. Though the provincial socio-economic development planning had been implemented, it had not considered yet natural conservation, especially biodiversity conservation and heritage protection in the national park region. The imbalance between economic development and natural conservation in the context of climate change would make the situation worse. Therefore, it is critically essential for the buffer zone to take into account conservation in their socio-economic development planning (conservation-oriented or green development planning).

From January to June 2011, GIZ Quang Binh had supported building 157 green development plans at village level and 13 green development plans at commune level in the buffer zone. One guideline handbook on green development planning at village and commune levels had also been compiled. So far, the green commune development plans of 13 communes in the buffer zone had been approved and these now become important inputs for the 5 year development and investment plan of the buffer zone.

Conservation-oriented socio-economic development planning aims to ensure that village, commune and district development plans (VDP, CDP and DDP) do not exacerbate threats to the biological diversity of Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park’s core and buffer zones; any harmful impacts or encroachment to the core zone are prevented. On the other hand, livelihood activities, identified in the VDPs, CDPs and DDPs, which have potential to reduce threats to the biological diversity of Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park are prioritized for investment. Local socio-economic development, in association with poverty reduction and hunger alleviation is improved in a sustainable way.

Mutual awareness of both local communities (in terms of Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park’s biodiversity values and conservation management issues) and the national park management board (in terms of local people’s livelihood needs and aspirations) is enhanced. Positive relationship between the national park authorities and local communities is strengthened. Solidarity among local communities is also created.

Since it is a process where villagers participate in developing their own village socio-economic development plan, this participatory and bottom-up approach can enhance the implementation of grassroots democracy as well as the effectiveness of investment projects and public services which would be better met with local people’s demands. 

The green village development planning is a micro planning process, applying the participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tools and is based on the Decision No. 1309 (2008) of Quang Binh People’s Committee on the participatory socio-economic development planning procedure at commune level in Quang Binh province. Complementary to the Decision No. 1309, the green VDP procedure integrates conservation orientation such as introduction of the national park values, participatory assessment of livelihood impacts, analysis and selecting of livelihoods with conservation-oriented criteria… Main steps of the green VDP procedure applied in Quang Binh are summarized in the following (more details can be read in the guidelines and handbook for Green VDP).

Step 1 – Preparation
This step is very important to provide information, facilities, conditions, guidelines, policies, methods and planning skills as inputs for planners before implementation in the village. Useful information on natural conditions, livelihoods, socio-economy, implemented policies, previous socio-economic development plans, supporting projects… were collected to helps planners image the village situation before developing plan. Necessary stationeries, facilities, documents were also be prepared. High agreement on policies and implementation methods was made with local authorities, departments and unions such as Women Union, Farmers Association. Skills and methods for planning were trained for planners/facilitators. They should have knowledge on ecology, conservation, socio-economy, new agro-forest techniques, sustainable development… in order to support local people in analyzing situation, restoring ecological balance, guiding sustainable development activities, building alternative livelihood models.

Step 2 – First village meeting
In this step, the need, goals and process of participatory conservation-oriented socio-economic development planning were introduced to villagers. Biodiversity and other values of the national park were also introduced to villagers to raise awareness on conservation. A VDP working group was formed. Villagers chose about 15-20 people (at least 30% should be women) who had experience and capacity to give good contributions in the planning process and who represented for different stakeholders such as local authorities, unions, Women Union, Youth Union, ethnic groups…

Step 3 – Planning meetings
In this step, participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tools were used for participatory impact assessments. Current livelihood activities were listed. Those activities threatening conservation were analyzed to be ranked by the levels of impacts and finding solutions for mitigation. Current land use was analyzed through people drawing their own village’s current land use map and ecological cross-section. Through current land use map, the boundary of the national park was identified for people not to encroach. Then, potentials and solutions of alternative livelihood models, vocational training, public services were analyzed, ranked and selected with conservation-oriented criteria. Priority for forestry activities, non-timber forest, industrial crop, cash crop and livestock were identified. Future conservation-oriented land use plan was drafted.

 Flipchart listing of livelihood activities having impacts to conservation and suggested solutions 

 

Two guiding posters on livelihood activities with positive (left) and negative (right) impacts to biodiversity of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park on the wall of the Cu Lac 2 village’s cultural house.

 Flipchart describing current ecosystem in Cu Lac 2 village with cross-section through forest, plantation, lakes, garden, rice areas; their current situation, difficulties and suggested solutions.

Matrix of forest and non-timber trees with conservation-oriented criteria for assessment and identifying priority (Cu Lac 2 village)

 Ranking of livelihood, vocational training activities need for supporting (Cu Lac 2 village)

Step 4 – Drafting of the village’s 5 year action plan
At this step, results of the planning meetings were synthesized to help villagers and local authorities to see what activities would be conducted, when, how and who would be responsible. Draft of village development plan for 5 year in general and one year in detail was built.  This action plan served as the basis for the project to make more practical and people’s aspiration – based activities to support villagers and the community.

The draft five year action plan for Cu Lac 2 village

Step 5 – Final village meeting
The final village meeting aimed to create high agreement through discussion and supplementing the draft version of action plan and future land use that the VDP working group had built. Therefore the more villagers attended the meeting the better. The head of the village presented the draft plan and letting people to contribute their ideas. After the meeting, the conservation-oriented village development plan was completed.

Step 6 – Building participatory commune socio-economic development planning (CDP)
In this step, the conservation-oriented village socio-economic development plans of villages in the commune were synthesized into the commune socio-economic development plan. This commune development plan was then presented to commune local authorities for consultation. A meeting for the commune development plan’s approval was held.

Step 7 – Integrating CDPs into the district socio-economic planning
At this step, the approved commune socio-economic development plans of communes in the district were submitted to the District People’s Committee. They would then be integrated into the socio-economic development planning of the whole district.

Step 8 – Periodically evaluation meetings
Meetings for evaluation of the conservation-oriented socio-economic development planning’s implementation results should be held periodically (6-monthly, yearly). 

The project acknowledged some challenges and limitations during deployment of the green VDP process. To conduct participatory planning for 157 villages in the 13 communes, it required quite a big amount of time and work. The participation of ethnic minority women was still limited. Skills training for participating officers as well as raising awareness for stakeholders was also an issue. In addition, some villages were in remote areas which made them not very easy to access. On the other hand, previous and other on-going projects in the area could have impacts to the project as some projects came with many expectations from local people and when these projects ended, people were left with some faith lost. Moreover, it was always a challenge between the project’s limited budget and the development demand of the villages.

After completing the village development planning, since October 2011, based on people’s wishes and the priority set, 6 alternative livelihood models of safe vegetables, chicken, VA06 weed, bamboo shoot, improved stove and sweet potato have been developed for 77 chosen households in 5 communes of Bo Trach district. Aim of the activity was job and income generation for local people, hence reducing pressure of natural resource exploitation. These livelihood models received both initial capital by KfW and technical support by GIZ. Local people were also required to contribute some reciprocal capital to ensure their responsibility and commitment.

On Wednesday April 11, we were divided into 2 groups, each group visited 6 livelihood models in different sites. Group 1 (Mr. Tran Van Ho, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Vinh, Mr. Pham Huu Lai, Mr. Phan Van Xe, Mrs. Trieu Thy Thanh Thao, Mr. Nguyen Van Ngo, Mr. Pham Van Vung and Ms. Pham Thuy Duong) went to Phu Dinh and Hung Trach communes. Group 2 (Mr. Tran Van Thanh, Mr. Nguyen Van Thu, Mrs. Lam Thi Thanh Diem, Mr. Ngo Dang Son, Mr. Tran Thanh Long, Mr. Le Hoang Nhin, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Phuong and Mr. Ho Thanh Kiet) went to Son Trach, Phuc Trach and Xuan Trach communes. 

Safe vegetables model in village 6, Phu Dinh commune

 

 Chicken for meat model in village 6, Phu Dinh commune

 

VA06 weed model in Khuong Ha 3 village, Hung Trach commune

 

Bamboo shoot model in Khuong Ha 3 village, Hung Trach commune

Improved stove model at Mr. Nghien’s house, Khuong Ha 4 village, Hung Trach commune

Sweet potato model at Mr. Son’s house, Khuong Ha 5 village, Hung Trach commune

Because they were first pilot models, the lessons learned and experiences can be taken into account for future planning and selection of alternative livelihood models. For example, the improved stove model would not be recommended as it turned out to be quite complicated in operation. Moreover, alternative livelihood models should link to sustainable tourism development to provide more jobs and income for local people as well as to preserve the natural resources.

Although conservation activities take time to show their effectiveness, to some extent, this participatory, grass root approach had brought out many benefits to all stakeholders. Local communities’ awareness on biodiversity and natural heritage values of the national park and other conservational issues was enhanced. In addition, through participation in the planning process, people’s roles were empowered; their aspirations were heard and better met. For the national park, the planning process was a good chance to widely disseminate its conservation message and to consolidate its cooperation relationship with local communities. For local authorities, their socio-economic development planning methodology was improved in a more sustainable way.

In general, the conservation-oriented socio-economic development planning in Quang Binh could and should be replicated in other places, particularly where there are conservation issues. In the case of Soc Trang, though natural conditions of the province are different compared to Quang Binh (delta rice field compared to karst and mountains), the mangrove forests along the coastline of Soc Trang are valuable resources that should be conserved and developed. On the other hand, since our project in Soc Trang has already some pilot activities on mangrove co-management, this can be an advantage to integrate the conservation-oriented socio-economic development planning into the co-management processes. If that is the case, more in-depth training on PRA tools and other implementing skills should be organized.