Canada supports conservation of 10,000 ha of forests in Tuyen Quang: BLOOM project

A Canada-funded project in Tuyen Quang will combine forest ecosystem restoration with livelihood opportunities for ethnic minority women.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment of Tuyen Quang Province, in cooperation with the International Cooperation Development Organization (Socodevi), held a launch ceremony on the morning of September 30 in Ha Giang 2 Ward for the project “Biodiversity and Livelihood Opportunities for Ethnic Minority Women in Tuyen Quang Province” (BLOOM).

The project has total non-refundable funding of more than VND 29.2 billion, provided by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and implemented through Socodevi in cooperation with the International Development Desjardins (DID). The Department of Agriculture and Environment of Tuyen Quang Province is the project owner, while the provincial Forest Protection Department serves as the focal point for coordination, according to Tuyen Quang Newspaper. 

The BLOOM project will run until April 3, 2030, in five buffer-zone communes of Du Gia - Dong Van Karst Plateau National Park: Du Gia, Tung Ba, Minh Son, Minh Ngoc and Lung Tam. The project aims to combine biodiversity conservation with livelihood development, helping local communities strengthen their resilience to climate change while reducing pressure on forest resources.

Under the project plan, about 10,000 ha of forest ecosystems will be restored and conserved, with around 5,000 people benefiting directly and 20,000 indirectly. Ethnic minority women are a priority group, not only in livelihood development activities but also in training, capacity building and participation in forest management and nature conservation.

To achieve these goals, the project will promote nature-based solutions while supporting communities in the sustainable use of biodiversity resources and developing value chains suited to local conditions. Local people will receive support to improve their production capacity, access finance and develop livelihoods based on locally available resources.

This approach is expected to create additional income for local people while ensuring that production activities do not increase pressure on ecosystems. Strengthening the role of women is also considered an important part of promoting sustainable forest management and giving communities a stronger voice in decisions concerning natural resources.

The implementation of the BLOOM project in Tuyen Quang will also contribute to strengthening Viet Nam-Canada cooperation in biodiversity conservation, climate change response and inclusive economic development.

Before the launch ceremony, on September 29, a delegation from the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Tuyen Quang Province, Socodevi and its partners conducted a field visit in Tung Ba Commune. In Hong Minh Village, the delegation visited a dried rice noodle production facility and learned about livelihood models currently being developed by local residents.

These existing production models will provide a basis for the project to further study and develop products and value chains suited to local conditions, linking the livelihoods of people in buffer zones with forest protection and biodiversity conservation.

Minh Hanh