Objectives

To conduct survey, monitor coral reefs at 3 sites in strictly protected zones in Cat Ba National Park to serve the scientific basis for coral reef management, protection and conservation.

Background

Cat Ba National Park has a total area of 17,362.96 hectares (of which the islands area is 10,912.51 hectares, the sea area is 6,450.45 hectares) being located within the boundaries of Hai Phong and Quang Ninh province. The park is isolated from the mainland, which minimizes the immigration of animals, especially mammals from other regions.

Therefore, the park’s biodiversity resources are not diverse in species composition but significant in terms of conservation with typical features of island ecosystems, which are endemic and rare values. Some basic research projects in the 1980s found that Cat Ba has about 196 sea fish species belonging to 66 families; 177 coral species belonging to 15 families; 658 benthic species belonging to 146 families; 102 seaweed species belonging to 35 families; 131 zooplankton species belonging to 46 families; 400 phytoplankton species; etc.

Although the coral reef ecosystem has great importance in coastal and offshore islands in terms of land conservation and human existence, for the last 10 years, coastal research programs in the Cat Ba Archipelago have shown sharp decline of coral reefs over time in which some coral reefs were completely destroyed. The latest research by Do Van Khuong in 2011 noted a decrease by 50% coral coverage compared to 2008. The current status of coral reefs is poorly developed, Cat Ba was warned as one of the four coral reefs areas being seriously deteriorated among 19 researched coastal coral reef areas in Viet Nam.

Based on these important values of  the coral reef ecosystem and given the serious degradation of coral reefs in Cat Ba, Cat Ba National Park has proposed to develop and implement the program “Coral reef monitoring to propose coral reef effective management and conservation measures in Cat Ba National Park”.

Location

The survey will be conducted in Gio Cung, Van Ta and Ba Dinh – strictly protected zones – Cat Ba National Park, Hai Phong city, Viet Nam.

Monitoring indicators

• Coral coverage
• Coral species composition in the monitoring plots

Outputs

• The data set of coral reefs survey and monitoring in 03 locations.
• Photos of surveying and sampling activities..
• Report on the survey and monitoring results with recommendations on coral reefs management and conservation measures in Cat ba National Park.

Donor

TH Food Chain JSC

Partners

• Cat Ba National Park, Hai Phong
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
• Institute of Marine Resources and Environment (IMER), Hai Phong

Contact Information

Ms. Nguyen Bich Hien at [email protected]

Or [email protected]

Small grants on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development

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 the application of small grants on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. VB4E will be the partner of the project to provide TA for application screening, M&E and promote business participation in this process.

Eligible applicants: community-based organizations without registration (group 1) OR registered NGOs, businesses in Viet Nam (group 2).

Budget: €50,000 ( This is round 1 which will be tendered in 2021 with the total budget of 1,325,000,000 VND = €50,000). Round 2 will be announced in 2022.

Deadline: 17:00, 01/10/2021 (Viet Nam time), send proposal through email: [email protected]

Information session: 15h00 on 29/07 and 12/08 (Viet Nam time)

For more information, please visit: https://greenviet.org/tin-tuc/moi-nop-de-xuat-ho-tro-tai-chinh-danh-cho-cac-to-chuc-xa-hoi/?fbclid=IwAR1QRnGOb4ITzeH1fIt-sWJgp3-Plv–otdK12wCXvYpAZDoAIr5tYWINHQ

Please apply if you are interested or share among your network.

IUCN and INSEE Viet Nam sign new agreement to support the company’s biodiversity Net Positive Impact target by 2030

Youth for environment: Innovative social media channel on environmental issues

Objectives

The project aims to increase the voice and action of young people on environmental issues, and generate positive changes in governmental and business environmental policies for a more sustainable way of life through two strategic solutions: 1) To support young people develop a social media channel with a variety of innovative tools to communicate environmental issues in an accurate and compelling way; 2) Partnership building and networking between the social media channel of youths and other stakeholders, such as policy-makers, journalists, researchers, activists, and the business sectors.

Background

Vietnam – a developing country in Asia – is currently facing many environmental challenges such as soil pollution, forest resources degradation, biodiversity loss, water pollution, air pollution, and solid waste management. Meanwhile, Vietnam also has a significant shortage in timely, accurate and multidimensional environmental data and information conveyance. As such, there is a disconnection between environmental facts and the distribution of this information to the public resulting in a lack of efficiency in educating communities and relevant organizations how to best preserve their surroundings and keep the population safe. On the ground research, initiatives and actions related to environmental issues may have already been produced and distributed online, however this information requires systematic screening in order to be communicated to communities.

Many Vietnamese youths have not yet participated in the discussion surrounding environmental challenges. Some youth groups have been actively encouraging their communities to join the fight to save the environment, however, they are yet to gather momentum amongst their peers let alone other parties. Through their ability using technology and their young creative minds, a dialogue via a social media channel would be an excellent way to make a connection between young people and communities, policymakers and businesses.  This will also help those young activists who are rurally situated to be part of the environmental sustainability community, without being left out due to their lack of proximity to gatherings. This is especially key, as those in rural areas can face the hardest challenges in terms of environmental degradation, so having their voice heard is of utmost importance.

With this considered, it is clear that there is a great need for a project to support young people to develop a social media channel to report on environmental issues in an accurate and compelling way; and enhance partnerships and networking between young people and other stakeholders

For Vietnamese Stature Foundation (VSF) is in a great position to effectively connect between young environmental activists and stakeholders. The VSF recently created the project named “Strengthening capacity and network for university students”– DynaGen Initiative. Furthermore VSF is a member of the National Coordination Body of Vietnam Business for Environment (VB4E) – a platform to expand business participation in environmental protection and biodiversity conservation in Vietnam.

Target

• Youths, and communities who have been affected or are at risk of being affected by environmental issues;
• Reporters, journalists and mass media agencies;
• Enterprises;
• Policy makers and executives;
• Researchers and social activists

Outputs

Outputs: The social media channel attracts 200 young participants and reaches 3,000 people/ post on average; Stakeholders such as businesses, policy-makers, researchers and activists have open and direct discussions with the “Voice of Youths” team; 10 media agencies become our partners.

Outcomes: Youths become agents of change in raising awareness of communities and stakeholders, as well as in taking actions to solve environmental challenges; Stakeholders have concrete actions and long-term commitments in solving environmental issues.

Partner

• Asia – Pacific Media Grants 2020
• Earth Journalism Network
• International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)
• Vietnam Business for Environment (VB4E)
• Bac A Commercial Joint Stock Bank (BAC A BANK)

Contact information

Ms. Tran Hong Diep – Deputy Director

For Vietnamese Stature Foundation (VSF)

Email: [email protected]

Tel: (+84) 24 3823 8008

Website: http://vitamvocviet.vn/

Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/quyvitamvocviet/

IUCN – INSEE partnership for the development of robust environmental standards for cement quarries.