Ethnic minority people in the Central Highlands province of Lam Donghave agreed to work together to fight against climate change.
More than 5,500 people, who were primarily from the Co Ho ethnic group,along with 24 interlocutors from the United Nation CollaborativeProgramme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and ForestDegradation in Developing Countries (UN-REDD Programme) are currentlyworking together on a sustainable development plan, after 78 villagemeetings.
The REDD programme aims to establish projectsthat provide a financial incentive to locals who preserve the forest forcarbon credits. The programme was established during the 11thConvention of the Parties at the United Nations Framework Convention onClimate Change that was held in Montreal , Canada , in 2005. VietNam has been the first UN-REDD pilot country.
The localresidents of Di Linh district's Bao Thuan commune are hosting one ofUN-REDD's two pilot projects in the country. Participating locals havealready received educational material about climate change, REDD andUN-REDD activities that will be implemented in the area.
"It is not easy to make people here understand the UN-REDD programme andthe benefits that they will reap from the project," said K' Bril,deputy chief of Bao Thuan commune.
"We are people of theforest, we have loved the forest for our entire lives, but now we reallyunderstand the importance of the ecosystem," said K' Breoh, a localresident.
"The forest is like our lungs that provides uswith cool air and a fresh environment," said K' Breoh. "Without it, wewill suffer from hot weather and flooding."
K' Breoh suggested that the programme managers and government leaders pay more attention to the locals' concerns.
Living in the Central Highlands, most of ethnic communities grow coffee and corn, which often leads to illegal deforestation.
Local communities have been instructed to begin reforesting the area, which might have an adverse effect on their income.
"We have agreed to take part in the programme, but we also hope thatour leaders will bring more jobs here," said K' Breoh. "A regular andstable income will allow us to reforest the area with a peaceful mindbecause we won't have to worry about feeding our family."
"The results that we have pocketed are not considerable because it isthe very first step of the programme so we still need help from thelocal government leaders," said Pham Minh Thoa, UN-REDD nationalprogramme director.
If the pilot programme in Lam Dong province is effective then UN-REDD plans to continue working in the area.
"People understand the importance of the forest because it providessustenance to the communities that live there," said Hua Duc Nhi, deputyminister of the Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
"UN-REDD is a new programme in Viet Nam and I hope it will support people to improve their living standards."
Viet Nam has recently received 4.5 million USD from the Norwegiangovernment for the programme which are being implemented by MARD incollaboration with three UN agencies, UNDP, FAO and UNEP./.
More than 5,500 people, who were primarily from the Co Ho ethnic group,along with 24 interlocutors from the United Nation CollaborativeProgramme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and ForestDegradation in Developing Countries (UN-REDD Programme) are currentlyworking together on a sustainable development plan, after 78 villagemeetings.
The REDD programme aims to establish projectsthat provide a financial incentive to locals who preserve the forest forcarbon credits. The programme was established during the 11thConvention of the Parties at the United Nations Framework Convention onClimate Change that was held in Montreal , Canada , in 2005. VietNam has been the first UN-REDD pilot country.
The localresidents of Di Linh district's Bao Thuan commune are hosting one ofUN-REDD's two pilot projects in the country. Participating locals havealready received educational material about climate change, REDD andUN-REDD activities that will be implemented in the area.
"It is not easy to make people here understand the UN-REDD programme andthe benefits that they will reap from the project," said K' Bril,deputy chief of Bao Thuan commune.
"We are people of theforest, we have loved the forest for our entire lives, but now we reallyunderstand the importance of the ecosystem," said K' Breoh, a localresident.
"The forest is like our lungs that provides uswith cool air and a fresh environment," said K' Breoh. "Without it, wewill suffer from hot weather and flooding."
K' Breoh suggested that the programme managers and government leaders pay more attention to the locals' concerns.
Living in the Central Highlands, most of ethnic communities grow coffee and corn, which often leads to illegal deforestation.
Local communities have been instructed to begin reforesting the area, which might have an adverse effect on their income.
"We have agreed to take part in the programme, but we also hope thatour leaders will bring more jobs here," said K' Breoh. "A regular andstable income will allow us to reforest the area with a peaceful mindbecause we won't have to worry about feeding our family."
"The results that we have pocketed are not considerable because it isthe very first step of the programme so we still need help from thelocal government leaders," said Pham Minh Thoa, UN-REDD nationalprogramme director.
If the pilot programme in Lam Dong province is effective then UN-REDD plans to continue working in the area.
"People understand the importance of the forest because it providessustenance to the communities that live there," said Hua Duc Nhi, deputyminister of the Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
"UN-REDD is a new programme in Viet Nam and I hope it will support people to improve their living standards."
Viet Nam has recently received 4.5 million USD from the Norwegiangovernment for the programme which are being implemented by MARD incollaboration with three UN agencies, UNDP, FAO and UNEP./.
