(VNF) - United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has just launched a USD-24-million project to help the Quang Nam and Thua Thien Hue provinces protect forests, enhance biopersity conservation and strengthen communities’ resilience.

Attending the ceremony in Tam Ky City on March 27^th were USAID’s Vietnam Mission Director Michael Greene and Vice Chairman of Quang Nam Le Tri Thanh.

USAID’s Vietnam Mission Director Michael Greene talks with Vice Chairman of Quang Nam Le Tri Thanh(second from right). (Photo courtesy of USAID)

Forests play a critical role in Vietnam by protecting watersheds, preventing soil erosion, and building resilience for communities. Forests in the Annamites Range of Vietnam are home to rare and endemic species found nowhere else in the world. Unfortunately, these forests, and the species that live in them, are disappearing at an alarming rate, as nearby communities increasingly depend on these limited resources for their livelihoods.

The USAID Green Annamites project (2016-2010) supports the provinces of Thua Thien Hue and Quang Nam to protect the region’s globally significant biopersity and help local and ethnic minority communities to persify and improve their livelihoods.

With a budget of approximately USD 24 million, USAID will assist two provinces to improve the management of roughly 400,000 hectares of tropical rainforests and conserve the globally unique species of plants and animals residing in these forests.

The project will partner with provincial governments to identify threats and safeguard the globally unique forest resources in the region from poaching and habitat destruction. This forest protection approach includes improving forest conservation planning; increasing the knowledge and skills of local forest managers and decision makers; and helping local communities live in harmony with the protected forests.

Gloria Steele, USAID’s senior deputy assistant administrator for Asia, (first right) and Michael Greene, USAID’s mission director, talk with leaders of Phu Ninh Protection Forest Management Board in Phu Ninh District, Quang Nam Province. (Photo courtesy of USAID)

Key program results include improving the livelihoods of 20,000 forest dependent people; improving biopersity of over 400,000 hectares of natural forest, mobilising at least USD 20 million in public and private resources for sustainable livelihoods and forest conservation; and avoiding and/or removing the equivalent of at least 7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Climate change is a priority issue that directly threatens Vietnam’s sustainable development goals. To accelerate Vietnam’s transition to low-emission development, the country has collaborated with USAID to better respond to climate change through adaptation, sustainable landscapes and clean energy programmes./.

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