USAID Green Annamites Newsletter Issue 09 by Minh Hanh Ta

GREEN ANNAMITES USAID GREEN ANNAMITES PROJECT | NEWSLETTER | ISSUE No. 9 | APRIL – JULY 2020

Mr. Ngo Tat Thang, Deputy Chief of the Central Coordination Office on New Rural Development, visited the pharmaceutical processing workshop and medicinal products & handicrafts display corner at the Tay Giang OCOP Center.

TOP OCOP OFFICIALS PRAISE OCOP PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT IN ASSOCIATION WITH BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

n May 14, 2020, a delegation including top officials from the Central Coordination Office of the National Target Program on New Rural Development (under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) – the management unit of the National 'One Commune One Product' (OCOP) Program made a visit to Tay Giang OCOP Center. The delegation also included the representatives of the Quang Nam Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Sub-Department of Rural Development, and the Tay Giang District People's Committee. The delegation visited the medicinal plant processing workshop, toured

exhibit spaces showcasing medicinal plant and bamboo-rattan products, and listened to a presentation on the progress of the grant ‘Sustainable livelihoods improvement for ethnic minority communities through the development of rattan and medicinal plant value chains to strengthen biodiversity conservation in QN’. Most of the products currently displayed at Tay Giang OCOP Center have been developed within the framework of this grant, which has been jointly implemented by the Vietnam Handicraft Exporters Association (VietCraft) and the USAID Green Annamites Project (the Project) in the mountainous districts of Dong Giang, Tay Giang and Nam Giang. The delegation learned and discussed

about the Project’s activities and results on livelihood improvement, forest management and biodiversity conservation. The delegation said they appreciated the Project's support to help local people improve their livelihoods and their contributions to the implementation of the OCOP Program and the National Target Program on New Rural Development. They also praised the Project’s work to develop OCOP products in association with biodiversity conservation. Tay Giang OCOP Center is located in Lang commune near the Tay Giang district center. It is expected to become a stopover for tourists on eco-tourism routes to Tay Giang and the majestic Annamites range. U SA ID G R E E N A N N AMI TES / 1

| EDITORIAL

he USAID Green Annamites Project is nearing the end of its journey. For the past four years, we have worked with government bodies, enterprises, and communities in Quang Nam and Thua Thien Hue provinces to foster sustainable development, reduce greenhouse gases, and increase resilience while strengthening the welfare of local communities and protecting nature.

In the past four years, we have been heartened by the positive results and sustainable impacts we have seen. In this issue of the Project Newsletter, we will share with you some of these developments. On page 5, you can learn about a large-timber enterprise in Quang Nam that collaborated with acacia farmers to increase the economic value of acacia forests through new planting and by transitioning to a large-timber forest with FSC® certification. Improving livelihoods while advancing conservation and improving climate change resilience is an approach the Project has embraced since its start. On pages 13 and 17, we will tell you stories about two companies working in the field of bamboo-rattan production and essential oil extracts. These companies collaborated with the Project to create jobs and increase incomes for local communities while preserving

rattan and cajuput plants in nature and ensuring the continued vitality of traditional occupations in these industries. On page 11, we will update you on the Project’s support to the Quang Nam government and Song Thanh Nature Reserve (NR) Management Board to develop a dossier on upgrading the NR to a National Park. On page 10, we take you inside trainings on forest fire protection the Project held for rangers, local leaders, and technical officials from enterprises. Fighting and preventing forest fires is a crucial skill that needs to be updated, as forest fires have happened more frequently in recent years, causing more and more damage to forests and biodiversity, while threatening lives and livelihoods. On pages 8 and 15, we present you with the inspirational stories of new cooperatives that have, with the Project’s support, achieved early success while demonstrating auspicious potential for future development. I hope that the newsletter not only brings you useful information about the work we’ve been doing through the USAID Green Annamites Project, but also allows you to feel the joy that we do as we work together toward a greener, more sustainable Annamites. Best regards, Daniel Lopez Chief of Party

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USAID GREEN ANNAMITES PROJECT 5th Floor | Senriver Building 223 Tran Phu Street | Hai Chau District Da Nang City | Vietnam Telephone: ++ 84 2363 616 781 Email: green-annamites.info@ecodit.com.vn Website: www.usaid.gov

THIS NEWSLETTER IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THROUGH THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID). THE CONTENTS OF THIS NEWSLETTER ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF ECODIT AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF USAID OR THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

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'GREEN OCOP' – BRIDGING CONSERVATION AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT DANIEL LOPEZ | CHIEF OF PARTY | USAID GREEN ANNAMITES PROJECT

‘Green OCOP' is an approach based on the developemnt of value chains of local products that contributes to sustainable natural resource management and biodiversity conservation.

he 'One Commune One Product' (OCOP) Program in Vietnam is an evolution of the 'One Village One Product' (OVOP) initiative, which was launched in the Oita Province in Japan in 1979. The OCOP program was initiated with the objective of developing sustainable agricultural products while fueling economic development throughout the country. In Vietnam, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) is the lead organization for OCOP. Since 2008, MARD has piloted the OVOP Program in some provinces. Following the success of the pilot program that started in the Quang Ninh province in early 2017, the Prime Minister instructed MARD to launch the OCOP Program. After 3 years of operation, the results are encouraging. OCOP has proven effective at its goals of creating jobs, improving incomes for local people, and attracting more young people to return to and stay in their hometown. The program has done

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this by developing products using a value chain approach and supporting local producers to add value to their produce and gain access to new markets via a OCOP certificate. The government has set specific goals for 2020, as well as longer term goals stretching to 2030, about:

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Building OCOP administration systems encompassing both the central to the local Providing training in business administration for government officials, enterprises, cooperatives, and households Promulgating criteria documents for evaluation processes, product classification, and standardizing products Applying advanced technology in rural production and services Organizing cultural and tourist villages; encourage further promotion

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Developing a product design and development center to encourage further promotion Enhancing trade promotion programs

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USAID has been successful in supporting several rural communities and small enterprises to join the OCOP Program, particularly in Quang Nam province, where the USAID Green Annamites Project has worked with communities living in and around forested areas to develop value chains for non-timber forest products (NTFPs). To date, a number of these products have achieved OCOP certification, such as the salted chili of the Ma Cooih Agro-forestry Cooperative (Dong Giang district) (see more in the Project Newsletter No. 8, pages 16 and 17), and the Dangshen Tea bag, Dien-truc dried bamboo shoot, and Morinda officinalis wine of the Tay Giang Agricultural and Medicinal Plants Cooperative (Tay Giang district) (see more on pages 15 and 16). The Project has cooperated with many other small companies and cooperatives in QN and Thua Thien Hue provinces to strengthen the capacity of these organizations and local communities in operations, management, eco-friendly practices and productions, and marketing and market linkages. These efforts have helped these enterprises and cooperatives to become more confident and will enable them to register many more products to the OCOP program in the upcoming years. Merging the national OCOP program with USAID’s conservation-friendly value chains is creating a ‘Green OCOP’,

a value chain approach that contributes to sustainable natural resource management and biodiversity conservation. This 'Green OCOP' will contribute to the implementation of the Viet Nam National Green Growth Strategy aimed at promoting the process of restructuring and improving economic institutions toward more efficient use of natural resources and improved competitiveness of the economy. It will also enable Vietnam to better implement the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan to 2020, Vision to 2030. 'Green OCOP' will contribute to national rural development goals and lead to improved livelihoods and environmental management. 'Green OCOP' products also have an added market value, and if marketed properly, this designation can help products access niche markets at higher prices. For this to happen, the product has to be top quality, and the supply chain (producer cooperatives and companies) need to be strengthened. OCOP is an important program under the New Rural Development Program 2020-2025. 'Green OCOP' strengthens MARD’s program by adding environmental conservation benefits to the already strong OCOP Program, making it more robust and opening opportunities to find new partners for implementation and new scaled up markets. For USAID, joining efforts with MARD is a strategic step to enhance the impact of its conservation work, improve sustainability, and further support forest depended communities on their journey to self-reliance.

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QUANG NAM HAS SUCCESS WITH FSC®-CERTIFIED PLANTATIONS TRAN VAN HUNG | FORESTRY ADVISORY | USAID GREEN ANNAMITES PROJECT

the remaining 156 ha of plantations. A model that enabled group certification and forged linkages between QNAFOR and 10 FSC® certification household groups in Tien Phuoc and Hiep Duc districts was then established with the participation of 412 households. In this model, QNAFOR provides guidance and technical assistance, while members of the forest certification groups directly implement activities. In addition, the Project has organized trainings on sustainable forest management standards of FSC®, and procedures for the implementation of sustainable forest management and FSC® certification for 548 households. At present, QNAFOR and these groups are preparing for a preliminary assessment, after which an official assessment will be carried out for FSC® certification. The model of collaboration between QNAFOR and the FSC® certification household groups is expected to foster long-term cooperation, which helps all stakeholders to receive their desired benefits.

he Quang Nam Forestry Development and Investment Joint Stock Company (QNAFOR) has set a goal to successfully build FSC®-certified plantations on an area of 10,000 ha with the participation of 2,500 households. To achieve this goal, the most feasible option is to create a linkage between QNAFOR and plantation households, i.e. a connection between wood producers and consumers, who jointly participate in the global timber value chain and this will create more added value for the wood production industry.

Since September 2018, the USAID Green Annamites Project (the Project) in collaboration with QNAFOR has implemented the initiative, ‘Promotion of Large Timber Plantation following FSC to Increase Income of Forest Growers and Wood Processing Enterprises as well as Contribute to Environmental Protection, Biodiversity Conservation and Removal of CO2’. The completed activities to date include establishment of a model of associated forest certification, supplying seedlings, afforestation, and thinning acacia plantations. As of May 31, 2020, through QNAFOR, the Project has supplied 1,570,360 acacia seedlings to 333 households, at the rate of 1,660 trees/hectares (ha). Local people have planted 860 ha, and 370 households have converted 1,344 ha of acacia in Phuoc Son, Tien Phuoc, and Hiep Duc districts. The Project and QNAFOR are continuing to support local communities to convert 5 / USAID GR EEN A NNA MI T E S

To maintain long-term cooperation, QNAFOR and ten FSC® certification household groups have signed agreements of cooperation. Accordingly, QNAFOR is committed to purchasing plantation timber from local people, including timber from trees broken by storms at the market price. For FSC®-certified timber, QNAFOR will buy it at a price that is 10-15 percent higher than the price of non-certified timber. In addition to the above FSC®-registered area, another 120 households are continuing to register for sustainable forest management for 830 additional hectares of forests. According to QNAFOR’s forecast, in the upcoming time, the plantation areas participating in FSC® certification will continue to increase. This is a positive sign pointing to heightened public awareness acknowledging the economic and environmental benefits provided by FSC® certification. To ensure the sustainability of this model, the Project has supported the training of six key staff from QNAFOR by letting them work alongside FSC® experts and regularly applying technical knowledge in their work. The knowledge and experience gained will enable QNAFOR to continue its support for people in sustainable afforestation and gradually convert to FSC® certification, helping the company achieve its goals, bringing long-term economic benefits to local communities, and encouraging people to make a more sustainable use of their available resources. This will also contribute to the success of the implementation process of QN's plan on developing FSC®certified large timber plantations.

BOOSTING THE POTENTIAL OF CLEAN VEGETABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION IN DAI LOC AND PHU NINH DISTRICT PHAN VAN QUY | LIVELIHOOD DEVELOPMENT OFFICER | USAID GREEN ANNAMITES PROJECT HOANG MINH HANH | COMMUNICATION OFFICER | USAID GREEN ANNAMITES PROJECT

Phu Ninh and Dai Loc districts possess great potential in clean agricultural production, as there are 19 cooperatives working in this field.

uang Nam (QN) has suitable soil and climate to grow and supply various agricultural products from fruits and vegetables to flowers. In 2017, the province’s total area of vegetables cultivated annually is more than 18,307 hectares (ha), the total production was 287,904 tons. However, the province’s full potential in vegetable production remains untapped. According to a survey conducted by the USAID Green Annamites Project (the Project), farmers buy seeds/seedlings from local markets and grow vegetables individually; as a result, the production cost is high. The main supply channels are through local traders in the Dai Loc and Phu Ninh districts. Traditional markets still play an important role in distributing vegetables. Vegetable prices in the market float freely, depending on market demand. There are six cooperatives in Phu Ninh district that produce vegetables on an area of 19 ha, of which 14 ha have received VietGAP certification. The cooperative’s main distribution channels include food shops in Tam Ky and door to door delivery via online orders from hundreds of local households. Currently, Truong Thanh Cooperative and Phu Ninh Clean Food Cooperative have over 600 online customers. However, around 15 agricultural cooperatives in Phu Ninh and Dai Loc districts do not have services such as input provision, quality control, and

marketing to adopt VietGAP standards. Therefore, they are unable to generate stable economic benefits for their member households. To support the local government and communities to develop to further enhance the development of agricultural products, the Project organized several activities in Phu Ninh and Dai Loc districts. Particularly, the Project organized technical training on VietGAP standards and climate smart agriculture for 164 vegetable production farmers (71 of which were women). Thirty-six members of cooperatives (17 of which were female) improved their capacity in business planning and production development, to strengthen the vegetable value chain and sharpen their marketing skills. The trainings enabled 15 cooperatives in Phu Ninh and Dai Loc districts to provide technical support to local vegetable growers. After the implementation period, there have been a few positive responses. For example, Phu My Agriculture Cooperative has signed a contact with Coop Mart Tam Ky and at least two other cooperatives to begin negotiating a partnership with supermarkets in Da Nang and Tam Ky cities. These initial successes were achieved thanks to the determination of cooperative leaders, the enthusiastic participation of local communities as well as support from the USAID Green Annamites Project. These efforts contribute to the overall goal of improving people's livelihoods through the adoption of environmentally friendly production practices like smart agriculture and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

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APPLY HIGH-TECH TO IMPROVE MONITORING & EVALUATION OF PAYMENT OF FOREST ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES LE QUOC HUY | PFES SPECIALIST | USAID GREEN ANNAMITES PROJECT HOANG MINH HANH | COMMUNICATION OFFICER | USAID GREEN ANNAMITES PROJECT

rom 2019, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development requested all provinces to apply modern technology in payment of forest environmental services (PFES) via internet banking or electronic payment (according to Decision No. 7491/BNN-TCLN dated September 26, 2018). To improve monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and electronic payment for PFES, while ensuring its transparency, fairness and efficiency as well as the smart management of PFES in Quang Nam (QN) and Thua Thien Hue (TT Hue), the USAID Green Annamites Project (the Project) supported the implementation of an M&E system on the WebGIS* platform (upgraded version 2.0), integrated with electronic payment via ViettelPay. The system was configured with brand new functions, including:

• integration of electronic payment; • dynamic data mining, and • filters in account management.

In addition, eleven other functions of the system have been improved to meet with practical and urgent requirements of the two provinces in PFES. The system was reviewed and handed over to QN and TT Hue on July 14 and 15, 2020 for up-scaling, monitoring, and long-term use. Additionally, the Project supported the capacity builidng of officials at all levels as well as local communities on the knowledge and skills needed for effective management, operation and use of the M&E system. In March and May 2020, the Project organized a training for core trainees with 29 staff from the Forest Protection Department and Forest Protection and Development Fund of the two provinces. * WebGIS is an advanced form of Geospatial Intelligence System (GIS) on the web platform. 7 / USAID GR EEN A NNA MI T E S

Trainings included manual presentations and hands-on practice on smartphones and multiple devices, along with group discussions to foster participation and interaction.

Participants were equipped with:

• An overview of the M&E system of PFES; • Practical skills on the system; and • Navigation and configurations to enhance the M&E system of PFES on the WebGIS platform to integrate electronic payments for PFES into the system.

In May 2020, the group of core trainers, with the support of Project experts, conducted seven replication training courses for 170 forest owners (forest management boards, forestry companies, officials at district and commune levels, communities, and representatives of household and household groups) in A Luoi and Nam Dong districts (TT Hue province) and the districts of Tay Giang, Dong Giang, Nam Giang, Phuoc Son and Bac Tra My (QN province). After the training, about 70% of the participants could use the system on tablets/smartphones for forest patrolling or send a report to the system. Sixty-six percent can successfully use ViettelPay electronic wallet without the support of trainers. The initial results are positive but it also shows the need to continue organizing additional trainings and replication courses in the future to help the target groups to use the new tools and systems. These efforts will help improve the transparency, fairness and efficiency of PFES, and contribute to effective landscape management in the two provinces.

‘RA DU RICE - HONG THUY, PA CO'S SPECIALTY' RECEIVES CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMITY AND COLLECTIVE MARK TRAN VAN TIEM | PROJECT COORDINATOR IN THUA THIEN HUE PROVINCE | USAID GREEN ANNAMITES PROJECT HO ANH VU | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FACILITATOR | USAID GREEN ANNAMITES PROJECT

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We are very fortunate to have the USAID Green Annamites Project and the relevant agencies at provincial and district levels work together with the local authorities, and in collaboration with the consulting units to achieve the outcomes we celebrate today. Firstly, the Cooperative was established; secondly, a Certificate of Conformity was granted for Ra Du rice; thirdly, a Collective Mark was granted for Ra Du - Hong Thuy. Our deepest thanks go to the Project as well as the concerned agencies for helping the people of Hong Thuy commune achieve these great outcomes. Mr. Truong Cong Duan | Vice Chairman | Hong Thuy commune People's Committee, A Luoi district, TT Hue province

Certificate of Conformity is legal evidence to confirm that Ra Du is a local rice variety developed for commercial and production purposes.

o increase the cultivation of Ra Du rice in Hong Thuy commune, A Luoi district, Thua Thien Hue province (TT Hue) (see also Project Newsletter No. 7, page 19), the USAID Green Annamites Project (the Project) is working to strengthen the brand name of Ra Du rice by uplifting the product image in the market; ensuring its sustainable output; helping people feel assured in production and commercialization; and aims to successfully replicate the conservation model of this indigenous rice variety of A Luoi district. One important step to enhance the commercial value of Ra Du rice is

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through quality certification. Therefore, the Project and Hong Thuy Agriculture Cooperative have prepared the necessary legal procedures and submitted the registration documents for Certificate of Conformity (COC) for Ra Du rice to government authorities. On November 28, 2019, the Center for Seed Testing and Crop Production in Central Vietnam (under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) issued COC No. 156/TNMT-2019 for Ra Du rice variety. The fact that a COC has been granted for Ra Du rice confirms that the quality of the variety produced by Hong Thuy Cooperative aligns with technical

standards. This certification will help encourage consumer trust, improve the cooperatives competitiveness in the market, and build its reputation and position as a trading enterprise of high quality rice with reasonable price. In addition, from August 2019, the Project also supported the Cooperative to implement procedures and submit documents to the National Office of Intellectual Property (NOIP) (under the Ministry of Science and Technology) to apply for a Collective Mark for 'Ra Du Rice - Hong Thuy, Pa Co's specialty’. The complete registration documents include geographical indications, regulations on

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management and use of Collective Mark, logo design, brand name identity, and other documents for the unified management and use of the Collective Mark. The documents will ensure the reputation, and improve the value and economic efficiency of Ra Du rice production and trade in Hong Thuy commune. On May 26, 2020, the NOIP issued Decision No.35501/QD-SHTT to grant a Collective Mark of ‘Ra Du rice - Hong Thuy, Pa Co’s specialty’. This achievement is owed in part to the Cooperative and its partnership with the Project under the activity framework of 'Promoting the production, consumption, and trade of Ra Du rice in association with forest protection and biodiversity conservation in A Luoi district, TT Hue province'.

On June 18, 2020, the event 'Announcing a Certificate of Conformity for Ra Du rice, granting a Collective Mark and technical guidance documents on Ra Du rice production' took place at the hall of the People's Committee (PC) of Hong Thuy commune. At the event, Mr. Tran Ngoc Chinh, Deputy Head of Sub-department of Agriculture and Rural Development of A Luoi district said, ''It is hard work to obtain a COC for Ra Du rice [...]. The USAID Green Annamites Project has worked on and obtained both Certificate of Conformity and Collective Mark for Ra Du rice over such a short time. There are many projects in the district to support local people, but what the Project has achieved is significant; the Project has done an amazing job.''

To ensure local communities continue employing proper cultivation techniques in the next seasons, the USAID Green Annamites Project has supported the compilation of 'Ra Du rice production technical guidelines'. These guidelines were completed based on the guidance and expertise of relevant departments from provincial to commune level and Ra Du rice production households. On April 8, 2020, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of TT Hue province approved the guidelines in an official Letter No.581/SNNPTNTTTBVTV. At the event, the Project handed over 300 guidebooks to households participating in the model and related units.

People of Ta Oi and Pa Co ethnicity call Ra Du rice the “sacred rice” and save it for important traditional occasions such as A Za Koonh Festival to worship Giang (Heaven and Earth) and a new rice festival, held around November to December each year and immediately after harvesting.

The announcement of a COC for Ra Du rice and a Collective Mark for 'Ra Du Hong Thuy, Pa Co’s specialty' once again proved that the agreement and support of the authorities at different levels, the efforts of Hong Thuy Cooperative and farmers as well as valuable support from the Project have resulted in very positive outcomes. Mr. Truong Cong Duan, Vice Chairman of Hong Thuy Commune People's Committee remarked "Hong Thuy Cooperative is now the leading unit in Ra Du rice production and market linkages. I hope that the Cooperative will do its best to connect with households

and other cooperatives in the district to expand cultivation, after that the Cooperative will be able to buy their products, expand markets, make connections with showrooms and fairs to advertise products, and develop more and more. Besides, we hope that the specialized agencies at district and provincial levels and consultancy units will continue to cooperate with, promote and pay more attention to the Cooperative so that we can grow sustainably." In the near future, the USAID Green Annamites Project continues to support

100 households in Hong Thuy commune to expand the Ra Du rice production model to 50 hectares in the crop season in the year 2020. Farmers sowed seeds around the beginning of May 2020. The rice is growing well and is expected to be harvested in early November 2020. The initial success has brought hope for an agricultural model that improves livelihoods of mountainous people, contributes to preservation and development of an indigenous crop with a lot of cultural and spiritual values, while increasing effectiveness of forest resource management and biodiversity conservation. U SA ID G R E E N A N N AMI TES / 9

LOCAL PARTNERS LEARN TO PREVENT AND FIGHT FOREST FIRES NGUYEN THI THANH | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER | USAID GREEN ANNAMITES PROJECT

Participants are visiting forest fire protection facilities and infrastructure at Phong Dien 1 Forestry One Member Limited Company, Thua Thien Hue province.

he USAID Green Annamites Project is supporting the development and strengthening of large timber plantation value chains in Quang Nam (QN) and Thua Thien Hue (TT Hue) provinces. In recent years, the Project has cooperated with the Forest Owners and Sustainable Development Association (FOSDA) in TT Hue province, the QN Forestry Development and Investment Joint Stock Company (QNAFOR), and the Hiep Thuan Forestry Cooperative (Hiep Duc district, QN province) to carry out plantation and conversion of large timber plantations. In recent times, forest fires have increasingly occurred in QN and TT Hue. Most of the fires happen in the plantation forests, and are mainly due to the practices of burning vegetation without informing local authorities or rangers, and using fire near forests to burn votive papers and collect honey. In addition, environmental issues such as prolonged dry weather, together with strong southwest monsoon winds make forest fires very likely to occur and spread quickly. Furthermore, many forest owners do not follow silvicultural operations in forest fire prevention and fighting such as setting up white belts, green belts, and fireresistant boundaries, which exacerbates the issue. In order to improve local capacity to prevent and fight forest fires, the USAID Green Annamites Project (the Project) conducted

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a needs assessment to inform the development of a training program. Then, from June 2 to July 17, 2020, the Project organized six training courses in TT Hue and QN for 229 participants, who are commune leaders, local rangers and forest protection teams, managers, specialized staff, technical staff of the Provincial Forest Protection Department, district Forest Protection Sub-Departments, and grassroots forest protection teams. The trainings covered the following topics:

• Legal and other relevant documents on forest fire

prevention and fighting Methods of forest fire forecasting and how to draft action plans Organizing forest fire prevention and fighting forces and technical measures in forest fire prevention and fighting Potential risks of forest fires Legal framework and coordination among forces and relevant agencies in forest fire prevention and fighting; and Inspection and supervision in forest fire prevention and fighting

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Through these training programs, participants improved their knowledge and skills, gained forest fire fighting tactics and techniques, and learned how to use forest fire prevention and fighting equipment. They now have the know-how to actively advise local authorities on forest fire prevention and fighting, including how to effectively plan and organize in advance, as well as how to implement plans to mobilize forces in a flexible and efficient way when a forest fire occurs.

UPGRADING SONG THANH NATURE RESERVE TO A NATIONAL PARK TO STRENGTHEN BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION DO VAN NGOC | BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND LIVELIHOOD SPECIALIST | USAID GREEN ANNAMITES PROJECT HO THI MINH NGOC | COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST | USAID GREEN ANNAMITES PROJECT

Song Thanh is one of the 200 global centers of biodiversity (Global 200), an Important Bird Area (IBA), an Endemic Bird Area (EBA), and a key Biodiversity Area (KBA).

stablished in 2000, Song Thanh is the first Nature Reserve (NR) in Quang Nam province (QN). With a total area of 76,593 hectares (ha) encompassing 12 communes in Nam Giang and Phuoc Son districts, Song Thanh NR is one of the largest special use forests in Vietnam and a rare place in Vietnam in which over 70% of evergreen rainforest area remains intact. Song Thanh NR plays an important role in conditioning the climate, absorbing carbon, regulating water, protecting soil from erosion, preventing fertility decline and landslides, and contributing to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in the region.

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There are over 5,500 households with nearly 20,000 people residing in the buffer zone. Most of them (about 95%) are indigenous peoples from the Co Tu, Gie Trieng, and Mo Nong tribes who rely on forests for their livelihoods. The traditional cultural values and natural landscapes present in this area make it rife with potential for eco-tourism and community-based tourism. In 2002, the QN Provincial People's Committee (PPC) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) approached the Central Government with a proposal to upgrade Song Thanh from an NR to a National Park

(NP). The Prime Minister approved the proposal in Official Dispatch No. 214/ TTg-NN dated February 9, 2018. The QN PPC then requested that the USAID Green Annamites Project (the Project) provide technical support and coordination in developing the dossiers on the upgrade. In order to create the basis for the upgrade plan, the Project conducted biodiversity surveys to collect data on forest resources and natural and biodiversity values; synthesized and assessed socio-economic conditions; conducted a Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice (KAP) Survey on forest

resources and the upgrade from NR to NP; and assessed the implementation of policies related to land use, forest resources, biodiversity management and protection, and community development. The KAP Survey’s results showed that most respondents were aware of the impact of deforestation on the environment and lives. Therefore, the majority supported the upgrade of Song Thanh NR into a NP because they were confident that the NP would be better protected and that production conditions for livelihood development (water, soil quality, etc) would be improved if the area became a NP.

BIODIVERSITY VALUES IN SONG THANH NATURE RESERVE

Once the upgrade completes, the QN province authorities and the Song Thanh NR Management Board will have even more favorable conditions for:

• Strengthening forest protection and biodiversity conservation in Song Thanh

and its adjacent areas; developing forest protection forces; strengthening cooperation with the communities to protect forests; and preventing hunting, logging, illegal forestry product sales, wildlife transport and trade activities, and forest fires. Conducting biodiversity survey, monitoring and updating biodiversity data; building and operating conservation facilities (botanical gardens, nature museums, wildlife rescue centers, indigenous tree nurseries, etc.); and enhacing communication on nature conservation will be prioritized activties; Promoting forest ecological restoration by restoring poor forests in the ecological restoration zone (2,500 ha), assisting natural regeneration with indigenous plant supplements on non-forested land to form forests (1,700 ha) in the ecological restoration zone, and through afforestation and forest ecology restoration on bare land (1,400 ha); Promoting scientific research cooperation and human resource training for the protected area; Developing and implementing an eco-tourism development plan, completing the payment of forest environment services (PFES) scheme, and promoting environmental education; Finding opportunities for private and community partnerships to invest and exploit the potential for ecological and cultural tourism with links to biodiversity conservation and local socio-economic development; Building infrastructure and providing equipment for special-use forest management, including renovating and upgrading the headquarters of the Management Board; building forest protection stations, patrol lines, boundary landmarks and dashboards; constructing infrastructure of conservation facilities; and procuring specialized equipment; and Developing and implementing socio-economic development projects for the buffer zones, supporting the local community to transform and improve their livelihoods, and engaging in effective and fair forest management cooperation.

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Local government bodies, the communities of Nam Giang and Phuoc Son districts, and relevant provincial agencies have already seen and consulted on the second draft of the dossier on upgrading Song Thanh NR to a NP. The QN PPC also sent an official letter to the General Department of Forestry (under MARD) to review the dossier on the Song Thanh upgrade and to collect opinions from the central agencies (if necessary) before the PPC issues the final decision.

Giant Muntjac (Muntiacus vuquangensis)

There are 899 species of flora, including 104 rare and precious species listed in the IUCN Red List 2016, Vietnam Red Data Book 2007, and the list of protection under the Decree 06/2019/ND-CP of the Government of Vietnam. In addition, there are about 50 vulnerable (VU) species of flora, including 17 endangered (EN) and three critically endangered (CR) species. The NR’s fauna include 68 mammal species, 130 bird species, 112 reptile species, 56 amphibian species, and 103 fish species, including 117 species on the IUCN Red List 2016 and 63 species on the Vietnam Red Book 2007. Endemic species recorded in this protected area include: the brown-shanked douc langur (Pygathryx nemaeus), grayshanked douc langur (Pygathryx cinerea), Giant Muntjac (Muntiacus vuquangensis), and Truong Son Muntjac (Muntiacus truongsonensis).

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SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM

IMPROVING LIVELIHOODS AND PROTECTING FORESTS THROUGH THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RATTAN VALUE CHAIN IN NAM GIANG DISTRICT, QUANG NAM PROVINCE LUU CONG SANG | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FACILITATOR | USAID GREEN ANNAMITES PROJECT

Trading Limited Company (Luc Dong Company) to implement two activities. These efforts aimed to establish and manage the sustainable rattan plantation area in Nam Giang district, to sustainably develop the rattan value chain in QN province and support the implementation of rattan business plans for seven Community Forest Management groups in the province.

The rattan growers participating in a rattan inventory survey with experts from Luc Dong Company and the Project.

am Giang is a mountainous district of Quang Nam (QN) province, where ethnic minorities account for more than 80% of the district's population, including the Co Tu and Ta Rieng people. Due to commute difficulties, undeveloped transportation infrastructure, outdated farming practices, and lack of commodity products, in the past years, the rate of poor households in the district has always been high (44.34% in 2018). Additionally, many people live with uncertainty since they do not have a stable source of income. The majority of people rely

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on forest resources and this led to over exploitation and encroaching on forest land for cultivation. These activities are causing deforestation, forest degradation, and biodiversity loss in Nam Giang district. To contribute to economic development and reduce pressure on forest resources, from March 2019 in Ca Dy, Ta Po, Dac Pre and La Dee communes of Nam Giang district and A Vuong commune of Tay Giang district, the USAID Green Annamites Project (The Project) partnered with Luc Dong Construction and

The main objective of these activities is to effectively support forest management and biodiversity conservation in Song Thanh NR and forested areas along the biodiversity corridor by creating sustainable livelihoods from the rattan value chain; and improve the capacity of natural rattan material area management and sustainable forest management for ethnic minority communities living near forests. Rattan was selected for its traditional values, ecological environment, and economic value. Rattan, which grows in the natural forest, is an important component in forest ecosystems and has long been associated with the cultural traditions and daily life of ethnic minorities. In terms of economic value, the current purchase price of raw rattan in Nam Giang district is about VND 5 million/ ton, generating an income of about VND 250,000/person/day â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a high income for people living in mountainous areas. To successfully build a sustainable rattan value chain it is crucial to have a competent and dedicated enterprise, which will consume output products and develop the value chain in a sustainable

way. With 20 years of experience in rattan purchasing and processing in Nam Giang district, Luc Dong Company is a suitable partner to participate in these grants. The Project and Luc Dong Company have supported the establishment of three rattan harvesting groups in Pa Toi village (Ta Po commune), Dac Penh village (La Dee commune), and 56B village (Dac Pre commune). Six hundred and forty-five members of these groups and seven community forest protection groups in Ca Dy commune (Nam Giang district) and A Vuong commune (Tay Giang district) (100% ethnic minority people, of which 58.6% are females) participated in training courses on sustainable rattan harvesting, storing, and storage management, as well as planting and tending techniques. To build up the rattan material area, Luc Dong Company prepared a rattan plantation design that was approved by the People's Committee of Nam Giang and Tay Giang districts to ensure legal conditions for planting rattans in the future. The Project and Luc Dong Company provided seedlings and will support the planting of 120 ha of Daemonorops sp. under the natural forest canopy for four years. After one month of planting, the survival rate of rattans is over 90%. This rattan material area will bring a high and stable source of income for participants five years later, when the rattan is ready for harvesting. To build long-term cooperation and ensure the interests of the participants in the value chain, Luc Dong Company signed a purchasing agreement with communities in five communes in the project target area and two communes

''The development of the rattan value chain to improve livelihoods for ethnic minorities and supporting forest protection and biodiversity conservation is the right choice in the current context and conditions. Based on the success of the rattan project, DARD and the Nam Giang DPC will study and propose mechanisms to support the development of rattan not only in Nam Giang district, but also in other mountainous districts in Quang Nam. Local authorities have more capital to support local people to expand planting areas and restore natural rattan forests to encourage more sustainable livelihoods in the future.'' Mr. Le Minh Hung Deputy Director Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of QN province

outside the project area (Zuoih and Dac Pring communes, Nam Giang district). Specifically, the Company committed to purchasing a minimum of 30 tons of fresh rattan per year in each community with an agreed price of VND 5,000-8,000/kg, depending on the type of rattan. Through these activities, the Company purchased a total of 383.5 tons of raw rattan from the above-mentioned communities, which has generated income to 3,818 people (50% are females).

To help improve the efficiency of natural rattan management, the Project and Luc Dong Company organized training courses on rattan surveying techniques, then together with households conducted a rattan inventory survey across 3,044 ha of natural forests in Ta Po, Dac Pre, and La Dee communes. The survey results highlighted the inventory of each rattan species, together with their distribution area and annual growth projection. Based on the statistics, a draft plan of sustainable rattan harvesting in Nam Giang district from 2020 to 2024 has been developed in consultation with relevant stakeholders including the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), Forest Protection Department, Nam Giang District People's Committee (DPC), Management Board of Song Thanh NR, and Forest Protection Unit. Currently, this plan has been finalized and awaits approval once the Sustainable Forest Management Plan of the forest owners has been approved by QN Provincial People's Committee. On July 2020, to enable people to legally harvest rattans, the Project conducted training courses to accelerate the preparation of legal forest product records. Based on the value chain established through these activities in combination with the local governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention, the determination of the community and especially the commitment of enterprises such as Luc Dong Company, shown by the total counterpart budget of more than VND 7.8 billion, the sustainable rattan value chain model in Nam Giang district has the condition for successful implementation and scale up. These efforts will gradually improve the economy of the local community, reduce their dependence on forest resources, and preserve forests and forest biodiversity.

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FARMER'S STORY

THE ROAD FROM A BUSINESS HOUSEHOLD TO A COOPERATIVE WITH OCOP PRODUCTS HO THI MINH NGOC | COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST | USAID GREEN ANNAMITES PROJECT

Mr. Bui Nam Chinh, is living in A Grong village, A Tieng commune, Tay Giang district, Quang Nam. He is the director of the Tay Giang Agricultural and Medicinal Plants Cooperative. From June 2018 to April 2019, this Cooperative cooperated with the USAID Green Annamites to implemement the activity 'Sustainable development and operation of medicinal plants in Tay Giang district, QN province'.

small, operating only in the local area and some neighboring districts.

Every day, Mr. Chinhâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s feels joy when he reorganizes the display shelves, and feels pride in what he and the Cooperative have achieved in just two years.

orn in Thai Binh province, I never thought I would start a career in a mountainous region like Tay Giang district, Quang Nam province. My story started when I moved to this mountainous area 13 years ago. In retrospect now, I realize that this highland area brought me everything, including my family, my job, and my business.

When I first moved here, I was a technical staffer supporting local people to plant and tend to forests. I have gradually learned about herbs and medicinal plants, including many rare plants endemic to the mountains and forests of Tay Giang. In March 2009, I started to explore how to soak tubers of Morinda officinalis and dangshen (Codonopsis pilosula) in wine. In 2013, with machines supported by Malteser Internationnal (Germany), I started to build the brand of Chinh Chau Morinda officinalis wine. I kept on dreaming big, and managed to expand production by purchasing numerous non-timber forest products including some traditional medicinal plants like Morinda officinalis, dangshen, honey, mushrooms, and wild peppers, all harvested by local communities. However, I had limited knowledge of manufacturing and business and lacked capital to invest in equipment, packaging, and labelling, so my business stayed 15 / USAID GR EEN A NNA MI T E S

I wanted to produce stable output for medicinal products, especially dangshen, create jobs, and help local people earn sustainable incomes from their fields, while reducing encroachment, agriculture-related deforestation, and overharvesting. So I applied for funding and received support from the USAID Green Annamites Project (the Project) to work on sustainably producing and marketing herbal products in Tay Giang district. After joining forces with the Project, I prepared documents and procedures to establish the Tay Giang Agricultural and Medicinal Plants Cooperative (the Cooperative), and obtained legal entity status so I could perform material purchasing and trading contracts with partners. Then I worked with local communities to disseminate information about the cooperative and to encourage people to participate in it. Three collaborative groups with 90 households, most of whom were members of the Co Tu ethnic group, were established in the communes of Ga Ry, Châ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Om and Axan. People here had been gathering dangshen in the wild for a long time, but unsustainable practices, most notably harvesting small tubers with little medicinal value, had led to the narrowing of the natural area of dangshen. Subsequently, this plant did not generate much economic value. In order to avoid destructive harvesting, the Cooperative and the Project provided training for these 90 households on sustainable exploiting natural dangshen. These households collaborate quite well now. They only collect large tubers, and leave small tubers so that they can grow more. As a result, they have products to sell regularly, rather than needing to replant and wait at least three years to harvest again. However, natural dangshen alone is not a stable source for

input materials and overexploitation of wild dengshen can be harmful for the nature. As such, the Cooperative worked with the Project to support three collaborative groups to grow another five hectares of dangshen. The Project taught these community members how to grow, care, harvest, and preserve dangshen tubers, and how to grow dangshen in beds to improve productivity. The Cooperative has also signed consumption contracts with these groups and committed to keeping the purchase price of dangshen equal to or higher than the market price at the time of purchase, so that people feel assured about their production. Although some traders pay a high price to buy local dangshen, this is just occasionally and with a small quantity. The Cooperative allows these transactions because they provide additional income for local farmers. However, the local farmers also recognize the Cooperative as an avenue for stable sales and pricing, and are committed to providing it a supply of raw materials according to its needs.

wine in A Vuong, and ginger and honey in Bha Lee and A Nong. All these communes are located near forests, including in the buffer zone of protected areas. The Cooperative now has more products of dangshen tea bags, dangshen in vacuum bags, dried dangshen, dried wild tea, wild tea bags, ginger honey, dried ginger, ginger powder, and more. Step by step, we are becoming stronger and more stable, and confident enough to register to participate in the ‘One Commune One Product’ (OCOP) Program.

Now that input material is high quality, I have new ideas for products that will enable the Cooperative to diversify its inventory and help people in other communes to benefit from their own local, commune-specific products. The Project has enabled the realization of these ideas by providing equipment such as a dryer, product storage cabinet, slicing machine, vacuum and packaging machine, and a medicinal herdb washing machine. The Cooperative is also taking advantage of the State's policies on hunger eradication and poverty alleviation. With the support the Communal People's Committees (CPCs), the Cooperative signed an agreement to develop value chain linkages with representatives of the CPCs and household groups in eight out of 10 communes of Tay Giang district, from 2018 to the present. The government provided VND 300 million from 2018 to 2020 to support each household group, covering the costs of seedlings, fertilizer, care, technical support, basic equipment for preprocessing etc. The Cooperative assists these people in making packages, labels, barcodes, and QR codes, thus helping them to professionalize products and prove product origin. Currently, the Cooperative is purchasing dangshen at Ga Ry and Ch’Om, wild tea (Ampelopsis cantoniensis) in Tr’Hy, black glutinous rice in Giang commune, rice

In addition to the existing markets, the Cooperative has expanded its consumption market to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Currently, the main consumption channels are through selling agents and directly at display stores in Tay Giang district. And, in order to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cooperative has increased its online sales, made efforts to find more selling agents, and continued conducting research to generate new products to suit consumers.

It was such a wonderful joy when our three products received OCOP certification, including dangshen tea bags (achieving 4 stars), dried Dien-Truc Bamboo shoot (achieving 3 stars) and Morinda officinalis wine (achieving 3 stars). This great success was the result of the Project’s supports, which enabled the Cooperative to enhance its production, improve its products, and become eligible for OCOP.

I am glad that the Cooperative has grown stronger and can help the people of Tay Giang do business and live sustainably on their own land. I am also happy that I have contributed to the district’s socio-economic development and to bringing Tay Giang specialties to the larger market. I hope the Cooperative will continue to work well, overcome the difficulties caused by the pandemic, and continue lifting up local communities, so we can together contribute to protecting forests and conserving valuable medicinal herbs and the biodiversity of Tay Giang district’s mountains, my second homeland.

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SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM

PUBLIC-PRIVATE-COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP TO CONSERVE CAJUPUT AND TRADITIONAL CAJUPUT OIL PRODUCTION TRAN VAN TIEM | PROJECT COORDINATOR IN TT HUE PROVINCE | USAID GREEN ANNAMITES PROJECT NGUYEN THI THANH | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FACILITATOR | USAID GREEN ANNAMITES PROJECT

Natural cajuput trees have been over-exploited and cannot recover without intervention.

elaleuca cajuputi essential oil is widely used in local communities for a variety of purposes, from treating respiratory diseases, colds, sinusitis, toothaches, and bloating to antisepsis, keeping warm, and repelling insects. In addition, cajuput essential oil is an ingredient in a variety of other medicinal essential oil products, and brings very good economic value to its producers. Cajuput oil production was one of the traditional occupations of Vietnamese people during ancient times. Today, there are hundreds of cajuput oil production establishments in Thua Thien Hue (TT Hue) province, which create jobs and contribute 17 / USAID GR EEN A NNA MI T E S

Five hectares of natural cajuput have been planted and zoned for conservation with supports from the Project and the Hoa Nen Company.

to raising incomes for local people. However, many are harvesting cajuput trees in the wild in destructive ways to meet current production needs, regardless of long-term consequences. This has led to a continuous reduction in the area of natural cajuput plants in the province over the years. To prevent this decline, the USAID Green Annamites Project (the Project) has collaborated with district authorities and the Hoa Nen Essential Oil Production One-member Limited Liability Company (Hoa Nen Company) to conserve these precious plants while developing the cajuput oil industry

sustainably through a public-private-community partnership model. The partnership will bring long-term economic and social benefits to stakeholders by helping to conserve natural cajuput trees and reduce negative impacts on the environment by promoting the use of improved cultivation methods in accordance with VietGAP standards. The grant has helped improve the livelihoods of community members and strengthened the climate change adaptability of communities in Phong Dien district, a coastal district on the Tam Giang-Cau Hai lagoon that is often affected by natural disasters and extreme weather events.

Previously, the locality did not have a Melaleuca Cajuputi plantation model to apply. However, after witnessing how the trees could be grown, how high the survival rate was, and how well they could grow on infertile sandy soil, and understanding the economic value from the harvest and distillation of Cajuput essential oil, a lot of household-scale models have started and replicated. Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhu Quynh | Secretary of Phong Hien Communal Party Committee, TT Hue province

Since its start in January 2019, the grant has completed most of its activities. It started with field surveys and planning the cajuput area for conservation and development, then progressed to capacity building. The Project and Hoa Nen company have jointly organized eight training courses for 247 farmers (66% female) on plant propagation and seedling care techniques in nurseries; planting, tending and conserving techniques of indigenous Melaleuca cajuputi trees; sustainable harvesting and pre-processing techniques of products; essential oil production and product preservation techniques; and essential oil production in accordance with VietGAP standards. They also built a nursery of 500 m2 with a production capacity of 160,000 seedlings/year. Until October 2019, the Project provided 50,000 seedlings to plant on five hectares (ha) (with a survival rate of over 90%) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; half of the seedlings were produced by the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nursery. The Project and the company also helped community members recover 5 ha of natural cajuput. At present, this 10-ha area of recovered and newly planted Melaleuca cajuputi have been granted a VietGAP certificate by the National Agro-Forestry Fisheries Quality Assurance Department â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Branch 3 (under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development). With the support of the enterprise and the Project, community members have

increased their awareness of the importance of conserving indigenous cajuput trees and taken responsibility for recovering, developing, and exploiting these trees, essential steps to improving the quality and the competitiveness of Hue cajuput essential oil. Private sector participation in this partnership has been critical, and has played a strategic role in increasing the sustainability of the model and ensuring gains continue after the grant ends. Hoa Nen Company has contributed up to VND 4.5 billion (equivalent to US$200,000) to construct representative offices and product showrooms in Hue City and Ho Chi Minh City and for production workshop upgrades, and has bought two new distillers with a capacity of one ton. The company has also conducted a survey to assess tastes and market demand, and to work with consumers of cajuput oil in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City to identify product development orientations. This information has helped Hoa Nen Company to successfully diversify its products and ensure they match the different needs of customers. In order to expand the market for these oils, the company has actively participated in trade fairs and exhibitions in large cities, which has also helped to develop a distribution network including online channels, agents, and sales points across Vietnam.

Each month, the company buys an average of 60-70 tons of cajuput leaves from 60 households in Dong Lam village, creating VND 3.5 million in additional income per household. The company also created temporary and permanent jobs for 20 people. An additional 315 people have benefited from tending, conserving, and planting cajuput at a rate of VND 200,000/person/day, helping increase their incomes and security. In the upcoming time, the Project will continue collaborating with Hoa Nen company to organize 25 extra-curricular courses for 1,000 students who will visit the material area, the production workshop, and the packing and display venues. The activities will help introduce a traditional job to a younger generation, build pride and respect for the legacy of the older generation among young people, and enable youths to join their older community members in protecting, developing, and bringing Hue cajuput essential oil in the future. The Project and the Company will continue to support community members to take care of, manage, and protect the restored and newly planted cajuput trees, and to link up with households in Cao Ban, Hung Long, and Thuong Hoa villages in Phong Hien commune to prepare for the expansion of the material area by another 20 ha.

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