This training workshop is one of activities in the of the project titled Socioeconomic Monitoring for Coastal Resource Management Projects in Vietnam & Cambodiathat has been implemented with the financial support of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the key coordination of Centre for Marelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD).
Traditionally, coastal resource management has primarily been concerned with natural resource components. However, it is increasingly recognized that marine resource management projects have serious implications for the socioeconomic wellbeing of nearby communities. Likewise, socioeconomic factors such as population structure, livelihood activities, attitudes, and social institutions have a direct bearing on the success of resource management initiatives.
In Vietnam and Cambodia, coastal communities, especially the extreme poor and most vulnerable to environmental changes and livelihood disruptions, are increasing and putting pressure on the ecological integrity of near shore marine ecosystems such as coral reefs. At the same time, it is also clear that many of the important coastal resources on which these communities depend, particularly coral reef ecosystems, are already in poor condition and that threats to the health of reef ecosystems are likely to be increasing. Unfortunately the relationship between these two aspects - coastal population dynamics and resource status – remains poorly understood.
The overall goal of this project is to improve the management of coastal resources in Viet Nam and Cambodia through the implementation of integrated coastal management plans that are guided by the results and recommendations of socioeconomic monitoring at four selected sites.
This training workshop provided to the participants detail understanding of steps, methodologies and required skills of SocMon implementation and instruction in the field; taking hance to practice SocMon implementation in the field; and sharing experience and understanding of SocMon among the participants to design the feasible implementation plans of SocMon in the project sites in Vietnam and Cambodia.
Many international experts and officers working on resources management participated in this training workshop from Khanh Hoa, Quang Nam, Ninh Thuan (Vietnam) and Fisheries Action Coalition – FACT (Cambodia).
In the opening speech, Ms. Ho Thi Yen Thu, MCD Deputy Director, expressed expectation “This training workshop not only brings knowledge and skills but also builds long-term cooperation relationship among provinces in Vietnam, Cambodia and in the region and towards to increase effect of coastal resources management for sustainable economic and society developing, so that “silver sea for golden life" comes true