5,000 baby chicks help generate sustainable income for the poor in Hue
	Reaching The Furthest Behind - Supports Sustainable Livelihoods for People in Quang Tri

With more than 6.6 million USD, the "Integrating Natural Resource Management and Biodiversity Conservation Goals into Socio-Economic Development Planning and Biosphere Reserve Management in Vietnam" (BR Project), funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was launched in late October 2020 in Hanoi and three pilot biosphere reserves: Cu Lao Cham - Hoi An (Quang Nam Province), Dong Nai (Dong Nai Province), and Western Nghe An (Nghe An Province).

In Nghe An, the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve covers nearly 1.3 million hectares across nine districts: Ky Son, Tuong Duong, Con Cuong, Anh Son, Thanh Chuong, Que Phong, Quy Chau, Quy Hop, and Tan Ky. This area is considered a green corridor connecting the three core zones (Pu Mat National Park, Pu Huong Nature Reserve, and Pu Hoat Nature Reserve), ensuring continuity in habitats and ecosystems, thus effectively maintaining biodiversity conservation.

This area is home to six ethnic groups (Kinh, Thai, Tho, Kho Mu, H’Mong, and O Du), all of whom have a deep connection with the forest. The BR Project has implemented a series of activities and livelihood models aimed at encouraging the community to exploit natural resources sustainably, ensuring both livelihoods and biodiversity conservation, as well as environmental protection.

Planting seven-leaf, one-flower tree in Na Ngoi commune, Ky Son district - (Photo: Thai Ba Tham)

After four years, the BR Project has helped establish two medicinal plant nurseries in Xieng Lip Village (Yen Hoa Commune) and Dang Village (Nga My Commune), with 20 Thai ethnic households directly involved in nursery operations. These nurseries have successfully propagated 5,000 Purple Ba Kich plants, 2,000 Hoai Son plants, 1,000 Gynostemma pentaphyllum plants, and 3,000 Khôi Tía plants. Thanks to this model, local people not only reduce the cost of buying seedlings but also have the opportunity to create income by selling seedlings for medicinal plant cultivation under the forest canopy both within and outside the province.

The nurseries also play an important role in reducing deforestation pressure. Providing high-quality NTFP seedlings allows people to cultivate and harvest sustainably, rather than relying on natural extraction. This is a smart approach to ensuring long-term income while preserving valuable resources for future generations.

Planting Bach Bo trees in Chau Khe commune, Con Cuong district - (Photo: Thai Ba Tham)

In addition to supplying seedlings, the BR Project has implemented medicinal plant cultivation models under forest canopies, including high-value species such as Camellia chrysantha, Bon Bo trees, Lùng trees, Seven Leaves One Flower, Taro, vetiver, and Met trees in buffer zone communes such as Dong Van and Thong Thu (Que Phong District), Tam Quang, Tam Hop, and Luu Kien (Tuong Duong District), and Chau Khe (Con Cuong District), as well as livelihood models in the Pù Hoạt Nature Reserve in Que Phong District.

Notably, 421 households have participated in activities including the protection, sustainable planting, and harvesting of 1,489 hectares of Lùng forest. They have also conserved and developed Camellia chrysantha trees linked with forest protection over 135.3 hectares and Bon Bo trees, which help regenerate poor natural forests, over 92.6 hectares.

Care, protection, and sustainable exploitation of yellow tea trees in Na Hum village, Thong Thu commune, Que Phong district (Photo: Nguyen Thanh Nham).

All activities focus on developing high-value native medicinal plants under forest canopies, such as Camellia chrysantha, Bon Bo, Lùng, and Seven Leaves One Flower. Many of the livelihood models within the BR Project at the Biosphere Reserve have demonstrated that nature conservation is not just a responsibility, but also an opportunity for socio-economic development for the people of Western Nghe An.

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