Workshop on enhancing the management effectiveness of Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An World Biosphere Reserve
On September 27th, 2023, the Management Board of the Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An World Biosphere Reserve (WBR) organized a workshop to enhance the effectiveness of Biosphere Reserve management (as part of the BRi project) at Le Pavillon Hotel in Cam Chau ward, Hoi An city.
Attending the workshop were leaders of the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Agency, Viet Nam (NBCA); representatives of the Man and the Biosphere Program (MAB Viet Nam), the Center for Ecological Community Development (ECODE), the Quang Nam Tourism Association, and delegates from various provincial departments of Quang Nam.
Hoi An city, including representatives of the People’s Committee, the Biosphere Reserve Management Board, some city agencies and departments, wards and communes also participated. Additionally, representatives of local enterprise, cooperatives, community groups (in Tan Hiep, Cam Thanh, Cam Kim communes), and members of the BRi project and WLP project implementation teams also joined the workshop.
View of the workshop
Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An was recognized as a World Biosphere Reserve (BR) by UNESCO on May 26th, 2009, with the diversity of natural and human resources, which demonstrates the harmony between humans and nature, based on the principle of “Conservation for Development and Development for Conservation.”
Mr. Nguyễn Thế Hùng, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hoi An city and Head of the Biosphere Reserve Management Board, gave the opening speech at the workshop
After nearly 15 years of management and operation, the BR has continuously strived to conserve and promote the local values. In particular, the Cu Lao Cham – the core zone of the BR, has attracted nearly 3 million visitors, including 517,260 international tourists, with revenue over VND 130 billion (in revenue from core zone of BR entrance fees).
It is noteworthy that Tan Hiep is one of two communes in Hoi An city recognized as meeting new countryside standards in 2018 and advanced new countryside standards in 2021 by the Quang Nam Provincial People’s Commitee. Up to now, Tan Hiep commune has poor households left, and the average per capita income (PCI) exceeds VND 45 million per person per year.
Cu Lao Cham – the core zone of the BR
Ms. Hoàng Thị Thanh Nhàn, Deputy Director ofNBCA, said at the workshop “The World Biosphere Reserve title is awarded by UNESCO to areas with special natural and biological diversity values to promote and implement harmonious solutions between conservation and socio-economic development. Currently, Viet Nam has eleven BRs recognized by UNESCO, and the second country with the highest number of BRs in the Southeast Asia region. In particular, Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An BR is the only in Viet Nam that has both high biological diversity value, especially marine biodiversity, and high cultural value with Hoi An ancient town. The recognition as a BR is not only a source of pride but also demonstrates the responsibility of the country and locality in conserving and promoting the values of the BR, creating opportunities to enhance cooperation and promote initiatives to protect the environment, sustainably manage natural resources, and contribute to achieving sustainable development goals.”
Particularly since 2019, the NBCA has implemented the project “Mainstreaming natural resource management and biodiversity conservation objectives into socio-economic development planning and management of biosphere reserve in Viet Nam” (abbreviated as the BR project) with the participation of three BRs: Dong Nai, Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An, and Western Nghe An. The project supports Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An BR in implementing activities such as overall assessment of natural resources and biodiversity, building regulations for the biosphere reserve, implementing livelihood models, forest restoration, communication, and capacity building through training workshops and knowledge exchange, ect.
In the context of global challenges such as biodiversity loss and the profound impact of climate change on sustainable development, the approach to BR management is one of the important methods to effectively manage natural resources and biodiversity conservation, associated with the community livelihoods and lives.
“We appreciate the efforts and results achieved by the Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An BR in the last times and the implementation of the BR project especially. We hope that Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An BR will continue to leverage its achievements in the future,” said Ms. Hoàng Thị Thanh Nhàn.
To enhance the management of Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An BR, the NBCA suggests the BR Management Board and stakeholders to coordinate in implementing the following actions:
– Firstly, continuously improve the legal framework to enhance the effectiveness of BR management, integrating management goals into the socio-economic development planning of Hoi An city and Quang Nam province.
– Secondly, enhance the roles and responsibilities of the BR Management Board and stakeholders participation of government authorities in the management of the BR.
– Thirdly, mobilize the full participation of the entrepreneurs, communities and stakeholders in conserving and developing the BR. Diversify and mobilize resources to support BR management activities.
Ms. Hoàng Thị Thanh Nhàn, Deputy Director of the NBCA, spoke at the workshop
Written by Lê Công Tuấn – Cu Lao Cham MPA
iBR: The project “Mainstreaming natural resource management and biodiversity conservation objectives into socio-economic development planning and management of biosphere reserve in Viet Nam”.
