Linking conservation with biodiversity development

Phu Loc Forest Rangers overcoming hardships to protect forests

Positive impacts

Hue is home to many unique cultural and natural landscapes. Its natural ecosystems, such as the Tam Giang – Cau Hai Wetland, Bach Ma National Park, Sao La Nature Reserve, and Phong Dien Nature Reserve, serve as a shared habitat for an incredibly diverse range of species. Especially, some globally significant species have been discovered recently, further adding value to this cultural heritage site. However, during the process of development, these natural ecosystems have been under immense pressure, leading to the risk of biodiversity degradation.

In response, Thua Thien Hue Provincial (now Hue City) People’s Committee has prioritized conserving natural ecosystems to the highest extent possible when formulating economic and social development strategies. Additionally, it has partnered with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in Vietnam to implement various projects aimed at enhancing sustainable management of natural resources, raising community awareness, and improving local livelihoods. Among these initiatives, the CARBI 2 project has been deemed an exceptional success.

Funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety through the German Development Bank (KfW), CARBI 2 was jointly implemented by the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Hue City, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Quang Nam province, and WWF. Over its six-year span (2019-2025), the project has yielded remarkable results.

According to leaders from the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Hue City, CARBI 2 has significantly improved forest connectivity index within project areas. The frequency of wildlife sightings has increased in the Quang Nam Sao La Reserve and the Hue Sao La Nature Reserve, including rare and endemic species. In addition, the presence of threats to biodiversity has declined from 64% in 2011 to just 17% in 2024.

Mr. Le Ngoc Tuan, Director of the Forest Protection Department, stated that these achievements were made possible by the collective efforts of all stakeholders. The project has helped maintain a network of forest patrol teams across various conservation zones, removing traps, preventing illegal wildlife hunting, and monitoring biodiversity.

Ecosystem restoration

Evaluating the project’s effectiveness, Vice Chairman of Hue City People's Committee, Mr. Hoang Hai Minh, emphasized that after six years of implementation, CARBI 2 has successfully connected development partners, government agencies, local authorities, and relevant sectors with communities to protect and restore forests and endangered wildlife species. The project has also improved livelihoods for people reliant on forest resources and enhanced the technical capacity for forest rangers in biodiversity conservation.

Additionally, the project has supported 30 hamlets or villages in the project area by establishing a revolving loan fund to develop community-based livelihoods. This initiative gradually fosters behavioral changes among local people, reducing pressure on natural forests and wildlife populations. Furthermore, the project has upgraded and expanded the Thua Thien Hue (now Hue City) Sao La Conservation Area into the Hue Sao La Nature Reserve. This initiative plays a crucial role in protecting the habitats of many endemic plant and animal species, preserving biodiversity, and maintaining the genetic resources of these species. The reserve also contributes to restoring degraded natural forest ecosystems, including remnants of primary forests in the Central Truong Son region.

Mr. Hoang Hai Minh, Vice Chairman of Hue City People's Committee, highlighted that over the past 25 years, Hue City and its related agencies have collaborated with WWF Vietnam, receiving support for various programs to sustainably protect and develop natural resources. The CARBI project has not only strengthened forest governance in conservation areas but also expanded into community forests, enhancing connectivity between conservation corridors and high-priority biodiversity zones. Hue City People's Committee is committed to continuing the launched initiatives and will actively seek additional and effective investment and support to better protect the forests and biodiversity of Central Vietnam and Hue City.