On July 14, 2011, in Cat Ba, Hai Phong, the Center for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) coordinated with UNESCO Office in Hanoi, the National Committee for the Man and Biosphere Program (MAB Vietnam) in Vietnam to hold a conference with the aim to launch two biosphere projects.
The projects are “Biosphere Reserves for Environmental and Economic Security (BREES)” and “Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve – Enhancing resilience through strengthening natural resources management and sustaining community livelihoods”.
The conference drew the participation of Dr. Nguyen Van Thanh, Vice Chairman of Hai Phong City People’s Committee, Mr. Do Trung Nghia, Chairman of Cat Ba District People’s Committee, Ms. Katherine Munner – Marin, representatives of the Management Board of Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve, Cat Ba National Park, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, central and local media, some non-governmental organizations, and local schools and businesses.
Sharing the meaning of the projects for Hai Duong City, Mr. Nguyen Hoan Tri, Secretary General of the National Committee for the Man and Biosphere Program in Vietnam, said, “The two projects will boost sustainable development activities being currently implemented at localities. MAB Vietnam sponsored by UNESCO will cooperate with MCD to help localities build and carry out action plans to achieve sustainable development goals. For example, building and developing brands associated with the biosphere reserve for local products that meet the standards, promoting models on preserving and developing natural resources such as the management of aquaculture benefits, providing community-based ecological services, creating livelihoods for people, contributing to reducing pressure from human activities on conservation areas. Efforts in study and implementation also help to enhance the resilience and adaptation to climate change at biosphere areas.” On this occasion, UNESCO also granted awards for the students who won in the contest “Initiatives for Cat Ba Biosphere Environmental Protection”. The winning students will have an opportunity to make speeches and present their ideas and implementation plan in next four months.
It is expected that by late 2013, the community and stakeholders in Hai Phong City will improve their knowledge and capacity in response to climate change, effectively manage marine resources, develop livelihoods with adaptation measures to climate change which will be built and applied in Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve in connection with the construction of development policies on natural resource management and adaptation to climate change in Vietnam.
Bich Thuy- VACNE