Fieldwork at Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve.

From the 25^th of September to the 1^st of October, 2016, Centre for Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (CRES), VNU conducted a fieldtrip to Biosphere Reserve of Western Nghe An. This is the following trip after Cat Ba Archipelago’s Biosphere Reserve that is part of the nationally independent research project: “Developing a set of criteria and process of monitoring and evaluation of management effectiveness of biosphere reserves in Viet Nam”, managed by Ministry of Science and Technology and implemented by CRES. The aim of this fieldtrip is to review the current state of management related to conservation and development activities at the Biosphere Reserve of Western Nghe An

Meeting and working with the people committee of communes in the buffer zone and transitional zone of Biosphere Reserve of Western Nghe An.

Joining this trip has various scientists having expertise in natural, social researching and policy analyzing from many research institutes and universities such as: Centre for Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (CRES), Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR), Vietnam Environment & Sustainable Development Institute (VESDI), Institute of Anthropology, Hanoi University of Science, Hanoi University of Agriculture, and Vietnam MAB National Committee.

During this trip, the research group has worked with Board of Management of Biosphere Reserve core areas (including Pu Mat National Park, Pu Huong and Pu Hoat Nature Reserves). For local government agencies, the research group has met with People’s Committee of Districts in the buffer and transitional zone of the Biosphere Reserve (such as: Con Cuong, Tuong Duong, Quy Hop and Que Phong districts)

In this trip, the group’s experts focused primarily on the following information including: (i) functions, tasks, resources and organizational structure as well as raising issues of the local government agencies; (ii) roles and levels of participation of the organizations and local government in planning, tasks implementation and monitoring, and management efficiency evaluation of Biosphere Reserve of Western Nghe An; (iii) difficulties, challenges and proposed solutions for overcoming confronting duties of the Biosphere Reserve.

Discussing with Management Board of Pu Mat National Park and Pu Huong Nature Reserve

The research group has received a very enthusiastic reception of the local government agencies and satisfactorily gathered enough essential information. Besides, experts from the research groups has exchanged frankly and given recommendations to local agencies and authorities for better implementation of missions and promoting the strengths of local area in social-economic development, community based tourism and ecotourism, orientation for sustainable development and conservation of natural resources.

The results, obtained from the fieldwork at Biosphere Reserve of Western Nghe An and incoming field trip at other biosphere reserves, are going to help the project to fulfill its main mission – “building criteria and process building of monitoring and evaluation of management effectiveness of biosphere reserves across Viet Nam”, that contribute to the better management of the biosphere reserves and support effectively in conservative activities and sustainable development of Viet Nam.

Examine khe Kèm tourist area, Lục Dạ commune, Con Cuông district (Core area of Pu Mat Nation Park)