Towards creating sustainable livelihoods

To create sustainable livelihoods linked with coral reef conservation in Hon Mun marine area, Khanh Hoa Provincial Women's Union has coordinated the implementation of a project on promoting dialogue and cooperation between the community and the private sector with State agencies in coral reef conservation and sustainable development of Hon Mun waters, Nha Trang Bay, Khanh Hoa Province.

The project was developed from August 2023 to the third quarter of 2024 and sponsored by the UNDP Global Environment Facility’s Small Grants Program (GEF SGP).

Bich Dam enjoys favorable conditions for community-based tourism development.

According to Phan Thi Hoa Binh, Vice-Chairperson of the Provincial Women's Union, the goal of the project is to build and deploy a public-private dialogue mechanism in environmental protection and coral reef protection in the strictly protected zone of Hon Mun; reduce plastic waste and coral reef degradation; and create sustainable livelihoods for the community of Bich Dam (Vinh Nguyen Ward, Nha Trang City).

The Union has organized dialogues on promoting natural, cultural and social strengths to serve sustainable livelihood development; share scientific research results for the conservation and sustainable development of Bich Dam, Hon Mun and Nha Trang Bay; boosting community management for a sustainable and responsible fishery in Vietnam, etc.

Nearly 1,300 aged 30 - 55 have got involved in project activities. Most recently, the Provincial Women's Union jointly with Nha Trang City People's Committee has organized a dialogue on connecting and preserving resources to develop sustainable livelihoods for the community of Bich Dam, contributing to the sustainable development of the strictly protected area of Hon Mun and Nha Trang Bay. At the dialogue, people expressed their hope for community tourism development to create sustainable livelihoods.

In addition, the Union has also organized many training courses on preserving coral reefs and fighting against plastic waste; surveyed public awareness of sustainable exploitation and aquaculture; made related reports about Hon Mun waters; organized field trips about co-management on protecting and preserving coral reefs, ecosystems and community tourism promotion to Hon Yen (An Hoa Hai Commune, Tuy An District, Phu Yen Province) and so on.

According to Phan Thi Hoa Binh, thanks to the project's activities, residents in Bich Dam and some neighboring localities have raised awareness of environmental protection, coral reef conservation and sustainable livelihoods, contributing to the sustainable development of Hon Mun marine area in particular and Nha Trang Bay in general. In the second quarter of 2024, the union will continue to organize seminars on sustainable exploitation and aquaculture associated with environmental protection, biodiversity conservation; open workshops on solutions for career change to sustainability for local residents, etc.

According to Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen, National Coordinator of the UNDP/GEF SGP,  the project has made stable progress. At a recent dialogue in Bich Dam, residents suggested creating livelihoods associated with coral conservation or developing community-based tourism linked with ecological environment protection.

H.T

Translated by N.T