2ND CONFERENCE ON BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN 2019

The conference with the theme: “Collaborative Management of Natural Resources: Best Practices and Policy Recommendations” aims to create a forum for communities and social organizations to share models, and good lessons on managing natural resources.

The conference was taken place on June 29-30, 2019 in Da Nang, was co-organized by Da Nang Union of Science and Technology Associations; GreenViet Biodiversity Conservation Center; People and Nature Reconciliation (PanNature); Research and Teaching Group “Environment and Biological Resources”, University of Da Nang (DN_EBR). The conference aimed to create a forum for the communities and social organizations to exchange lessons learnt both in practices and policies, in order to recommend suitable policies in biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in Central – Highlands region, Vietnam.

The conference was attended by 150 local and international delegates from social organizations, forest owners, communities, scientists, governments, universities, colleges from all provinces of the country as well as the ex-pats in Vietnam. The delegates presented and exchanged various models of natural resource protection and governance from the Central – Highlands region highlighting the important roles of people in monitoring natural resource governance, and sharing information on ecotourism to promote sustainable development.

There were many noticeable presentations given by the participants. For example, MSc Nguyen Duc To Luu – Head of Natural Resources Management Division, PanNature gave a presentation on “Co-management of forests in Vietnam – approaches, and practices”. In the presentation, he outlined clearly the requirements for the effectiveness, sustainability, and equity in the management, the protection and sustainable development of special-use forests, as well as ensuring income for the people. In addition, the presentation gave an insight into the root cause of the forest resources decline problem from the local people’s livelihood perspective. After that, Mr. Luu shared lessons learnt about co-management and protection of forests to meet two goals at the same time. Improve the livelihoods of local people and conserve forests. 

Another remarkable presentation was about the model of water co-management in Lak lake – Dak Lak province shared by MSc Pham Dieu My of the Center for Social Research and Development (CSRD). Ms. My gave the results of biodiversity, the planning and resourcing exploitation in the project area. She also introduced reasonable and feasible activities towards sustainable development such as selection, restoration and capacity building for the Lak fishery association. Several positive results on turning in and training on natural resources, leadership skills, teamwork and production planning were achieved. From the analysis of challenges and advantages of the collaborative management models, the project has made recommendations suitable to the fisheries legal environment of the project area; The legal status of community groups and dependence on community capacity and financial capacity. The regulation was discussed and agreed upon including the manner of coordination and the responsibilities of the stakeholders. 

Other sustainability models also show that “Collaborative Management of Natural Resources” is a tool to support the harmonization of relationships between biodiversity conservation and Socio-economic development. At the world biosphere reserve of Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An, there are pilot models being implemented such as the waste co-management model; model of co-management of coral reef social-ecological systems; model of co-management of nipa palm forest ecosystem. Dr. Le Ngoc Thao shared the framework of research and development of these pilot models and showed how the contents and forms of the models depend on different objects in order to create appropriate eco-tourism activities and sustainability generate income for the local people. In addition, he proposed the recommendations on preparation and taking advantage of local resources and community capacity in ecological products and activities.

Several presentations were given by international delegates. Noticeably, there was a presentation on “Case study on Co-management of natural resources around Lake Biwa in Japan” by Assoc. Prof. Yoshika Yamamoto from Helan Jogakuin University, Japan. Ms. Yoshika shared the economic, environmental and social actors on how to manage nature conservation around Lake Biwa.

In Gia Lai province, the model of “Community forestry group” (CFG) aimed at increasing community participation in protection and sustainable development was implemented by four forest owners in Dak Rong Commune (Kon Ka Kinh National Park, Kon Cha Rang Nature Reserve, Dak Rong Forest Company, Tram Lap Company) Mr. Bui Van Tuan – Head of Science Research and Nature Conservation Department, GreenViet Center gave lessons experiences from this model. The modeled forest areas have high biodiversity. but are under pressure from natural exploitation and encroachment of forest land for agriculture because the livelihoods of local Bana people depend mainly on forest resources. Therefore, the CFG was established with the function of advising local authorities and forest owners to ensure the rights for local people; propagating and advocating households to participate in forest protection and development in their areas. In particular, all activities of CFG are voluntary for the common good of the community and recognized by the People’s Committee.

At the conference, the specific policy recommendations were also addressed through the presentation by Ph.D. Nguyen Dinh Anh from Da Nang Department of Science and Technology. He pointed out the problems of scarcity and natural resource decline compared with socio-economic growth. Despite the abundant potential of human, financial, and material resources, the policies on management and exploitation of the use of natural resources in Vietnam are ineffective. It led to the severe impacts on natural resources, environment and also agricultural production. 

 The2nd conference on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in Central – Highlands region, Viet Nam, with the theme: “Collaborative Management of Natural Resources: Best Practices and Policy Recommendations” achieved its initial goals. GreenViet Center learned from experiences and ideas shared by the participants and looks towards the next conferences.