Promoting the role of the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve
On September 18, 2007, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officially recognized 9 mountainous districts in the west of Nghe An province as a World Biosphere Reserve (WBR) with a total area of nearly 1.3 million hectares.
Strengthen communication and promotion of featured products
This is the largest terrestrial biosphere reserve in Southeast Asia. It has high biodiversity values with 3 core areas: Pu Mat National Park, Pu Huong Nature Reserve and Pu Hoat Nature Reserve, creating many beautiful and majestic landscapes and is also the common home of 6 ethnic groups: Kinh, Thai, Tho, Kho Mu, H'Mong and O Du with many traditional cultural features.
In 2024, thanks to the good implementation of the advisory work of the Provincial People's Committee to implement the tasks assigned by UNESCO, the Vietnam Man and Biosphere Program Committee, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Office of the Management Board of the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve completed its assigned tasks. During the year, the Office closely coordinated with the local authorities of Anh Son, Ky Son, Quy Chau and Que Phong districts to organize 42 commune-level communication sessions, with a total of 1,890 delegates participating.
As a result, basic information about the World Biosphere Reserve title was conveyed to the delegates (Concept of World Biosphere Reserve; introduction of the Management Board, climate change situation, introduction and promotion of images, typical cultural values, biodiversity of Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve...); contents about the role and significance in forest protection and development management activities and forest fire prevention and fighting in Nghe An province; The form of communication ensured flexibility, suitability with local customs, practices and practical conditions. In addition, over 60 news and articles were published on popular media and social networking sites; and over 27 domestic and international conferences and seminars were participated.
Along with that, the Office of the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve connects with localities to participate in trade promotions through booths displaying typical products such as: Medicinal herbs, brocade weaving, fruits... In particular, a typical example is participating in the exhibition at a series of events organized by the Hanoi Center for Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion in coordination with Vincom Mega Mall Commercial Center, the program "Agricultural Products Festival,OCOP productsHanoi 3rd time in 2024" from May 30 to June 2, 2024 to connect, promote and promote output for agricultural products to domestic and international consumers. The Festival program has a scale of about 110 booths of nearly 100 enterprises and over 1,500 product lines, processed foods, typical OCOP products, handicraft products, traditional craft villages of Hanoi City and 25 provinces and cities nationwide.
The booth of the Office of the Management Board of the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve includes products from 3 units: Hoa Tien brocade weaving is a typical product from Quy Chau district. Kim Nhan herbal medicine is a brand from the mountainous district of Anh Son. Pu Mat medicinal herbs are grown in Con Cuong district such as products: tea bags, extracts, instant tea of Solanum procumbens, Gymnema sylvestre... meeting 4-star OCOP standards.
In scientific research, the Office of the Biosphere Reserve Management Board has developed a plan for biodiversity conservation and species conservation in Ky Son district; Surveyed and built a trial planting of Ardisia silvestris Pit. under the forest canopy in the area managed by the Pu Huong Nature Reserve Management Board, in Quy Hop district; Surveyed and selected a location in Chau Binh commune, Quy Chau district to support the construction of a model for intensive cultivation and conservation of yellow tea species under the garden canopy, creating a basis for proposing the expansion and development of livelihoods for people in the Western Nghe An region; Supported 4 models for oyster mushroom development in Que Phong district; Investigated, evaluated, and proposed solutions for conservation and development of forest ecosystems and improved the efficiency of providing forest environmental services in the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve...
In 2024, the Office of the Management Board of the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve has done a good job of supporting the Project "Integrating natural resource management and biodiversity conservation objectives into socio-economic development planning and management of biosphere reserves in Vietnam" (BR Project). This is a project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), with a total budget of 6,660,000 USD implemented in 5 years (from 2019-2024) by the Department of Nature Conservation and Biodiversity, under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The project implementation location is Hanoi and 3 D zones
The biosphere reserves are Cu Lao Cham Biosphere Reserve - Quang Nam province, Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve - Dong Nai province and Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve.
Promoting biodiversity values
During its operation, the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve has received attention from domestic and international organizations investing in projects and scientific research topics in the fields of environment; biodiversity conservation, forest protection and development. Investment activities to develop production have gradually created sustainable livelihoods for people, such as: Global Environment Facility (GEF); United Nations Development Program (UNDP), UNESCO; International Development Organization headquartered in the Netherlands (SNV); Mekong River Basin Biodiversity Landscape Fund (BLF) funded by the United Kingdom; Wildlife Conservation International (FFI); Save Vietnam's Wildlife (SVW) ...
To carry out the task of managing and protecting the natural heritage environment in the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve, in 2025, the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve will focus on investigating, researching and developing a program to restore degraded natural ecosystems; Planning and establishing areas with high conservation value, forests with species conservation value and forests that are rare or endangered ecosystems in the core zone of the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve.
Preserve and promote cultural values, develop environmentally friendly tourism. Promote the sustainable forestry development program in the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve. Synthesize documents and materials on indigenous knowledge related to the management, protection and exploitation of biodiversity resources of communities living within the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve.
Continue to promote and advertise local specialties, agricultural, forestry and handicraft products of the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve in association with tourism economic development; Support the construction of sustainable livelihood models (plan to implement purple Morinda officinalis and yellow tea models). Investigate and survey to develop plans for biodiversity conservation and species conservation in Que Phong district.
In order to manage and coordinate activities to better meet UNESCO's criteria for the World Biosphere Reserve, and at the same time, promote the three functions of the Biosphere Reserve (conservation, support, development), in the coming time, the Management Board of the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve will actively cooperate with international organizations to participate in the activities of UNESCO, IUCN, UNDP, GEF, MAB/UNESCO, the network of world mountain biosphere reserves... Take advantage of support and implement projects that bring the highest efficiency. Effectively implement programs and tasks deployed by agencies such as: Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, National Committee of the Vietnam Man and Biosphere Program, UNESCO Vietnam... Proactively advise and propose programs, projects, attract investment to ensure sustainable development in the locality...".
Mr. Nguyen Danh Hung - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief of Office of the Management Board of the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve