Project’s title

Developing wetland friendly certifications with local communities to overcome climate change threats in U Minh Thuong National Park

Project’s partner/ collaboration

U Minh Thuong National Park

Sponsor/Donor

IUCN

Total budged

Project’s period/duration

EUR 19,712

01/2021 – 12/2021

Principal Investigator (PI)

Co-PI

Project’s member

ThS. Ly Van Loi

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Giao

Overall objective

 Specific objectives

Apply ecosystem – based adaptation options to improve local communities and U Minh Thuong National Park capacity to cope with climate change threats; and enhance value of products relevant to the Ramsar site through the close collaboration among local farmers and U Minh Thuong National Park.

• Developing an evaluation framework and a set of evaluation criteria for granting the "Ramsar label"
• Training protected area staff on assessment methods for granting the "Ramsar label"
• Proposing measures to develop “Ramsar label” products
• Connecting businesses, scientists, managers and communities to promote products with "Ramsar label"

Contents

• The project has developed an evaluation framework to grant “Ramsar Label” with 18 evaluation criteria covering the fields from conservation to socio-economic. This assessment framework is simple, easy to apply, does not require too many resources to implement, so protected area managers can carry out the continuous assessment themselves.
• The project trained UMTNP staffs on an overview knowledge of conservation, ramsar as well as detailed instructions on how to implement an assessment framework for granting Ramsar label.
• Conduct an assessment of potential Ramsar-labelled products in the buffer zone of the park
• Promote Ramsar-labelled products through multi-stakeholder networking workshops.

Expected outcome

• The project has attracted at least 100 participants.
• At least 200 people know the meaning of Ramsar label and over 70% think that products with Ramsar label will be cleaner and safer than products elsewhere;
• The project has changed the community's thinking about products with Ramsar label, about 90% of respondents agree to buy products with Ramsar label at 5-10% higher than market
• Produced 01 short film about value of the Ramsar site and the buffer zone as well as the meaning of the Ramsar label (link here)
• 01 brochure introducing the natural resource values of U Minh Thuong National Park has been compiled and designed with high aesthetics for local tourism activities
• 01 experiential learning tour has been proposed to connect the conservation area and the buffer zone community
• Practical measures have been proposed to promote the development of products granted "Ramsar label" include: exploitation of ecotourism combined with local products; providing educational and research support services in parallel with ecotourism; supporting local communities in processing raw products; develop a model of “forest garden” for buffer zone communities
• The project has attracted the attention of various stakeholders including: 03 universities, 09 state agencies (such as provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Center for Trade Tourism and Investment Promotion, Department of Science and Technology,...); 03 social enterprises (Mekong organics, Abavina; Thao Dien Phu My); 06 protected areas in the Mekong Delta; 02 NGOs (IUCN & WWF); entrepreneurs, journalists and practitioners.

Contact address