The University of Virginia’s education abroad program “Vietnam: An Ecological-Economic Exploration”

The University of Virginia’s education abroad program “Vietnam: An Ecological-Economic Exploration”

In January 2023, representatives from IUCN and VB4E joined as panelists in an event in Ha Noi organised by the University of Virginia (UVA) – Global Studies program for 18 undergraduate and graduate students coming from a variety of majors, including business, natural science, public health, public policy, and engineering. The objective is to discuss Vietnam’s sustainability opportunities & challenges. 

This is a two-weeks study programme that began in Ho Chi Minh City, Dalat in the central highlands, and concluded in Hanoi to look at sustainability from ranges of perspectives. The event welcomed the panelists from World Bank, EU Commission, UNDP, Fauna and Flora International, Keep Vietnam Clean and Vietnam Green Building Council and CSAGA. 

Ms. Nguyen Thuy Anh (IUCN) briefly introduced IUCN and VB4E, its objectives, thematic focuses and the necessary to mobilize businesses on environmental protection and the linkage with governmental priorities. Mr. Nguyen Duc Tuan (IUCN) shared about mangroves restoration and particularly coastal squeeze, which is a Nature-based-Solutions approach that IUCN has been advocating to restore mangroves in the Mekong Delta.

Other panelists shared information about other topics such as gender equality, education, inclusive governance, renewable energy, illegal wildlife trafficking, urban green spaces, plastic waste…The students had the chance to ask questions and interact directly with experts on their focused contents. This is an experiential learning opportunity for them to enhance their knowledge and insights about ecological – economic challenges in Viet Nam and gain data and inputs for their final thesis as well as interested subjects. 

IUCN-PAN-CP partnership on forest restoration: Piloting the possibility to enter tradable carbon credit market

IUCN-PAN-CP partnership on forest restoration: Piloting the possibility to enter tradable carbon credit market

Lang Sen Wetland Nature Reserve in Tan Hung District, Long An Province was established in 2004. The nature reserve covers 1,971 hectares and includes some of the last natural wetlands in the Plain of Reeds with a mix of marshes, seasonally flooded grasslands, and melaleuca forest.

However, according to the results of a 2021 survey, the total area of Special-Use Forest (SUF) has decreased by 139 hectares since 2014. In response, in September 2021, the PPC approved for Lang Sen Wetland NR a plan to reforest 30 hectares by the end of 2022.

In December 2022, in support of the PPC’s plan, IUCN entered into a partnership with PAN and CP Group to implement a 2-year project to restore melaleuca forest, which is an important habitat for water birds and many freshwater species.

To introduce the project, IUCN and the management board organised a consultation in the nature reserve on 22 December 2022. This yielded useful recommendations on planting density and timing, suitable planting areas, planting techniques, etc.

Experts suggested calculating the carbon capture of the new forest. Viet Nam will pilot a carbon trading market in 2025 and aims to establish an operational market in 2028 that connects domestic and international buyers^[1]. This is one of the measures to achieve Viet Nam’s COP26 commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Decision No. 1/QD-TTg of January 2022^{[2 ]} lists the sectors for which a greenhouse gas emissions inventory in mandatory. These are: energy, transportation, construction, industrial, agro-forestry and land use, and waste treatment. About 1,900 businesses in six of these sectors will have to complete their inventory by March 31, 2023 and conduct emission inventories twice per year starting in 2024 [3].  

To achieve the net zero, business participation is essential. While awaiting detailed regulations, partnerships such as the one between IUCN, PAN and CP Group can test technical approaches with the potential to be scaled up.

[1] https://congthuong.vn/gan-1200-doanh-nghiep-phai-cung-cap-thong-tin-phuc-vu-kiem-ke-khi-nha-kinh-235698.html

[2] https://english.luatvietnam.vn/decision-no-01-2022-qd-ttg-dated-january-18-2022-of-the-prime-minister-on-promulgating-the-list-of-sectors-greenhouse-gas-emitting-establishments-s-216078-doc1.html

[3] https://www.vietnamplus.vn/hon-1900-doanh-nghiep-xay-dung-bao-cao-kiem-ke-khi-nha-kinh-tu-2024/835759.vnp

New Member Announcement – Oxalis Company Limited

New Member Announcement – Oxalis Company Limited

Oxalis Company Limited has become an outreach member of VB4E. Oxalis Company Limited was established in June 2011, head office located in Phong Nha village, a world natural heritage site in Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park.

Within the framework of the conference “Interprovincial consultation on the Trans-Border Management Framework between Phong Nha – Ke Bang and Hin Nam No National Parks” organized by IUCN in Quang Binh province in 2022, Oxalis Company Limited signed a cooperation agreement with Green Discovery Laos to promote responsible tourism cooperation and association between the two national parks and other tourist enterprises.

Additionally, Oxalis is currently the main partner in a regional project coordinated by IUCN and funded by the Biodiversity Landscape Fund (BLF), which aims to promote ecotourism and enhance community-based natural resource management.

Oxalis Company Limited is a pioneer in organizing experiencing tours to explore caves at different World Natural Heritage sites in Vietnam, such as Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, Tu Lan cave system in Quang Binh,… Oxalis has helped creating new job opportunities for the locals. The company also works closely with domestic and international experts to ensure safety and preserve natural values.

For more information about Oxalis Company Limited, please visit: https://oxalisadventure.com

Small grants on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development (Round 2)

Small grants on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development (Round 2) 

GreenViet and GSI through the EU-funded-project “Establishing a funding foundation for biodiversity protection and environmental sustainability in Da Nang City, Vietnam” has partnered with VB4E to call for application of small grants on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development (Round 2).  

VB4E is the partner of the project providing technical inputs, application screening, M&E and promote business participation in this process. 

After thorough review, VB4E advisory body team members, GreenViet and GSI have selected top 5 proposals. They are:  

Legal entity group: 

1. The ‘Greenhouse library’ model promotes green experience and career orientation activities to protect nature and the environment for sustainable development to the students at Hermann school and SOS village Da Nang.  

1. Model of indigenous Sa Sam tree planting on sandy soil in Hai Ninh commune, Quang Ninh district, Quang Binh province of the Women’s Union: Contributing to the restoration of indigenous plant varieties, biodiversity protection, and sustainable environmental protection on sandy soils. 

1. Promoting ethnic minorities participation in medicinal plant conservation: Contributing to the conservation of medicinal plant resources by promoting the participation of local ethnic minority communities. 

Non-legal entity group: 

1. Circular Economy Program for Youth: An educational program on plastic waste in support of Circular Economy, located in Da Nang City. The program aims to work with youth from 60 high schools and universities.  

1. Raising public awareness to minimize the poaching and consumption of endangered forest animals in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.  

Promoting the collection and recycling of domestic solid waste in the Industrial Park through training and communication activities at VSIP Nghe An Industrial Park.

Promoting the collection and recycling of domestic solid waste in the industrial park through training and communication activities at VSIP Nghe An Industrial Park.

In November 22, within the framework of the project “TCP moving toward circular economy and enhancing EPR practices in Viet Nam“, with financial support from TCP Vietnam Corporation, IUCN cooperated with VSIP Nghe An Industrial Park, Building Up Sustainability Centre (BUS) to organize a training activity “Management & Classification of domestic solid waste in Industrial Parks” at the Industrial Park. VSIP Nghe An.

With the orientation of developing into a “green and clean” industrial park, VSIP Nghe An has been strengthening activities to better manage domestic solid waste not only among VSIP employees but also towards customers in the industrial park. The training was organized with the participation of more than 50 officials and employees from 19 enterprises in the IZ.

The main objective of the training was to promote the collection and recycling of domestic solid waste and raise awareness among employees at enterprises in VSIP Nghe An industrial park about waste separation at source; update legal documents on solid waste management. In addition, when participating in the program, officials and employees participated in group practice and lively discussions on the development of a communication plan for garbage classification, in order to clearly identify the target audience, the form of application. application, process and supervision,… After the training, the full-time staff can apply and practice in their own enterprises.

Separating domestic solid waste at source in industrial zones will bring benefits to businesses and the environment: reducing costs of collection, transportation, treatment, increasing recycling, and saving natural resources. This is also one of the main goals of the project that IUCN, TCP Vietnam wish to implement to promote solid waste separation at source, increase the rate of recycling collection in industrial parks in Nghe An province, Binh Duong and Hanoi city.

Core-team meeting – TCP moving towards Circular Economy and promoting EPR practices in Vietnam

Core-team meeting – TCP moving towards Circular Economy and promoting EPR practices in Vietnam

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On October 13, 2022, within the framework of the project “TCP moving towards Circular Economy and promoting EPR practices in Vietnam”, IUCN held a core-team meeting to follow up with the project progress, conduct survey on collection points of recyclable packaging waste including PET, aluminum and cardboard.

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Members who have attended the meeting include the General Director of TCPVN, Mr. Jake Brunner – IUCN Chief Representative, IUCN staff, TCPVN staff, Representative of VietCycle Company, VSIP Industrial Park, waste audit expert. With the pilot program of collecting recyclable waste according to EPR regulations, the project will contribute to identifying obstacles and difficulties in the implementation process. In addition, the project’s outputs are not only a cornerstone for TCPVN to determine the appropriate form of recycling responsibility for businesses, but also contribute to improving the profile of the business as being environmentally-conscious and bringing positive impacts to the society.

New Member Announcement – Green Connect Joint Stock Company

New Member Announcement – Green Connect Joint Stock Company

Green Connect Joint stock company has become an outreach member of VB4E from October, 2022. The company has been working in the digital and bio-technology industry to solve sustainability issues in agriculture and environment

Founded in January 2020, GreenConnect is a technology start-up enterprise in Ho Chi Minh City, with the goal of creating an ecosystem of green technology products, leading the trend of green living and ensuring a sustainable future.

Core business of Green Connect include:         

• Kompovi Composting machine
• Noda – e-commerce platform offering fresh local produce, chemical-free consumer products and natural bioproducts.
• GreenPoints – mobile application leveraging the power of gamification to make living green easier to make living green fun and easier.
• Larva Yum – organic waste upcycling funded by Mondelez Kinh Do: Larva Yum is a model to upcycle organic waste into nutrition-rich organic fertilizer using black soldier fly larvae as well as to process these larvae into feed packed with proteins for poultry, livestock and fish.

For more information about Green Connect, please see: https://greenconnect.vn/

MOU signing between Oxalis Adventure (Vietnam) and Green Discovery (Laos) to promote cave tourism in Vietnam and Lao DPR.

Workshop “Entrepreneurship story: Business with a purpose”

Workshop “Entrepreneurship story: Business with a purpose”

On September 10th, 2022, FPT Education Global in collaboration with Viet Nam Business for Environment (VB4E) successfully hosted the “Business with a purpose” workshop, as a part of workshop series “Gateway to Become Global Citizens”. Lagom Vietnam – a member of VB4E was the main speaker of the workshop.

Aim at inspiring start-up and doing business with environmental protection, FPT Education Global has been conducting the series of educational workshops to provide further information about doing business, share challenges in sustainable entrepreneurship for students in particular and interested public in general.

At the workshop, Mr. Tran Van Thanh – Director of Global External Relations and Strategic Advisor at Lagom Vietnam, who has extensive experience in business orientation and sustainable development, shared knowledge and experiences on the mission and meaning of sustainable business, balancing between making profits and environmental benefits.

Lagom’s objectives are to collect, recycle UBC and other waste to produce recycled products. Lagom JSC strives to protect the environment, dispose and recycle waste, transparency, education and communications. The workshop welcomed the active discussion from more than 50 students globally.

Consultation meeting – Promoting the programme of sorting, collecting and recycling 3 types of waste concluding carton, PET, aluminum can in industrial parks in Nghe An Province to enhance EPR practices in Viet Nam.