The NEF Bio-ecological Nature Conservation Project inMountainous Region of North Vietnam

POLICY BRIEF 2
Bio-ecological Nature Conservation in Mountainous
Region of North Vietnam: From Policy to Practice(Case study of Bac Me Reserve)

Vo Thanh Son, Le Thi Van Hue, Hoang Van Thang

Central Institute for Natural Resources and Environmental Studies,
Vietnam National University (VNU-CRES)

Ha Noi, 3 / 2022

Executive Summary
The limestone ecosystem in the Northern mountainous region of Vietnam has great
conservation value, but due to the lack of research in a synchronous manner, conservation andsustainable development policies have not really brought practical effects.
Therefore, an interdisciplinary research project with 10 groups including mammals, birds,amphibians/reptiles, fish, insects, plants, soil invertebrate, macroinvertebrate, GIS/Remotesensing and social group has been conducted in 4 protected areas, representing the study area.
This report focuses on the results of research in Bac Me Nature Reserve, Ha Giang province.
Main research results show that 739 animal species, 1037 species of vascular plants areidentified in the reserve, among which there are 53 species in the Vietnam Red Book and 76
species on the IUCN Red List; Forest cover is declined for about 14% during 30 years andvalue of ecosystem services is decreased from from 93.13 million USD in 1988 to 90.30 million
USD in 2019; The income of local people in Lung Cang village, Ngoc Minh commune of Bac
Me Reserve for the H’mong ethnic minority group is very low (240,000 VND/month/person)
and they are much dependent on the forest products.
From this result, policy recommendations include: 1). Conduct research on the impact ofpollution on biodiversity; 2). Study diversity, distribution and human impact on species; 3).
Promote a community-based approach to biodiversity conservation; 4). Promote cooperation
between scientists and policy makers; 5). Carry out capacity building for management staff ofprotected areas.
Challenges in the conservation of limestone karst ecosystems in the North of Vietnam
The limestone karst ecosystem in the Mountainous Region of North Vietnam in generaland in Bac Me Reserve in particular plays a important role in biodiversity conservation. The
population of animal species, especially rare and threatened species is small, so they are almost
not found even in forests and in surrounding areas. Forest vegetation cover has declined sharply
in the past 30 years due to the impact of human production activities and socio-economicdevelopment.
Conservation and development policies although have been certain positive impacts but
they have not yet made a breakthrough in biodiversity conservation, forest protection and local
livelihood development. Furthermore, the lack of systematic studies on the area's karst
ecosystems, species biodiversity and threats to biodiversity may limit the application ofconservation and development policies and develop in effective manner.
Therefore, this report is an attempt to synthesize the results obtained within theframework of the research project to suggest policy recommendations for the study area.
Policy for biodiversity conservation and forest development
National policies, including Law on Biodiversity (2008), Strategy for Biodiversity
Conservation (2013), Master Biodiversity Planning (2014), Strategy for Management ofSpecial-use Forests and Protected Areas (2014) and other reforestation policies have created2

an important legal framework for the provinces of the Northern Vietnam, including Ha Giangprovince. Most of these policies issued in the last 10-15 years can explain the achievements inbiodiversity conservation and forest development in the locality.
On the basis of the national legal framework, Ha Giang province has developed aconservation policy system, the most important of which are the Provincial Biodiversity
Conservation Planning (2015) with the completion of the existing protected areas andproposing new ones and Planning for conservation and sustainable development of special-use
forests (2016) aiming to preserve forest ecosystems in association with local socio-economicdevelopment. In particular, the conservation and sustainable development planning of Bac Me
Nature Reserve, Ha Giang province up to 2020 (2016) has laid the basis for conservation workin association with local socio-economic towards sustainability. Furthermore, provincial
reforestation programs have been integrated with local development policies.
The research realized by NEF Project "Bio-ecological Nature Conservation in
Mountainous Region of North Vietnam" in the Bac Me Nature Reserve has identified 739
animal species, of which 7.0% mammals, 14.8% birds, 4.5% amphibians, 4.5% reptiles, fish
7.6%, insects 24.8%, soil invertebrate 27.2% and macroinvertebrate 10.3%. If only accounting
for mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, 223 species are identified (in 2020), comparedwith 194 species previously investigated (in 2016).
1037 species of vascular plants have been identified compared to 625 species listed in
the Conservation and Sustainable Development Planning of Bac Me NR (2016). In particular,
among them, there are 46.0% of species used as medicine, 26.1 % of species used forconstruction and household appliances, 14.2 % of species used as ornamental plants and 13.4%of species used as food.
The total number of plant and animal species identified in the Vietnam Red Book is 53
species, of which plants account for 88.7% and amphibians and reptiles for 11.3%; and on theIUCN Red List there are 76 species, of which mammals account for 17.1%, birds account for
2.6%, amphibians and reptiles for 6.6%, fish for 6.6% and plants for 67.1%.
Forest cover, especially evergreen broadleaved tropical forest (close forest) has
continuously declined, from 60% in 1988 to 46% in 2019, i.e. for about 14% during 30 years.
The largest decrease in forest area occurs at the edge of the reserve, mainly in the altitude beltof 200-1000 m high, where people carry out agricultural and forestry activities. Moreover, thetree species typical for limestone karst ecosystems are usually concentrated in the high belt
from 300-900m.
The main causes of biodiversity degradation and loss in Northeastern Region can begrouped into the following: i). Landuse and landcover change; ii). Forest fires; iii). Illegal
poaching and hunting; iv). Illegal wood logging and nontimber forest product harvesting; v).
Pollution from agricultural production, mining, industrial activities and residential wastes; vi).
Other causes.
Policies for livelihood development policy and sustainable development

3National policies, including Vietnam's Strategic Orientation for Sustainable
Development (Agenda 21) (2004), Sustainable Development Strategy 2011-2020 (2012),
Strategy Socio-economic development 2011-2020, Green Growth Strategy (2021), Forestry
Strategy (2021), Tourism Development Strategy (2011), Sustainable Agriculture and Rural
Development Strategy (2022) and National Action Plan to Implement Agenda 2030 with 17
Goals SDG Sustainable Development (2017) has created an important legal framework for theprovinces of the Northern Mountainous Region, including Ha Giang province. Most of thepolicies issued in the last 10 to 15 years can explain the achievements in poverty alleviationand significant improvement in living standards of local people in the northern mountainous
region, especially minority ethnics.
On the basis of the national legal framework, Ha Giang province has developed a systemof policies for socio-economic development towards sustainability, the most important of
which are Ha Giang’ Action Plan to implement the 2030 Agenda (2017) with 17 Sustainable
Development Goals and with 115 specific goals and the Master Plan for Socio-Economic
Development of Ha Giang Province to 2020, vision to 2030 (2016). Some provincial policies
localizing national sustainable development are programs on poverty alleviation policy (135,30A) to support especially difficult districts and communes, policy of payment for forest
environmental services and New rural program.
For Bac Me Reserve, the total value of ecosystem services (provisioning, regulating,cultural and supporting) for its communes is estimated to decrease from 93.13 million USD in
1988 to 90.30 million USD in 2019 and, respectively, at USD 4,416/ha and USD 4,282/ha.
Thanks to synchronous policies and efforts of local authorities, the multidimensional
poverty rate of the Northern mountainous region has decreased from 23.0% in 2016 to 16.4%in 2019, meanwhile the poverty rate in Ha Giang province is 71.5% in 2010. Similarly, thepoverty rate for the communes of Bac Me Reserve have also decreased from 35.5% in 2015 to30.6% in 2019, or for 4.9% in 4 years. However, this poverty rate is still the highest among
economic regions in Vietnam.
According to a case study in Lung Cang village, Ngoc Minh commune of Bac MeReserve for the H’mong ethnic minority group, the average total income of a household isabout 14.2 million VND/year (about 1.2 million VND)/month/household or 240,000
VND/month/person). This is a very low level of income, equivalent to the poverty line for ruralareas. In fact, 58% of households in this village are insufficient in food for a month and more.
The situation is even worser for households headed by a woman.
The special thing is that the average income from exploiting forest products is very high,accounting for 45.7% of the total income and this demonstrates the high dependence of localpeople on the forest. The policy of payment for forest environmental services is applied to thecommunes of the Reserve and this financial source contributes 12.6% of the total income ofthe households in the village. However, the payment rate for forest environmental services in
Ha Giang province is generally low (about 150,000 VND/ha/year), so people have not beenencouraged to protect forests.

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Furthermore, according to a preliminary assessment, the income of local people from
exploiting wild fish in the river basin of the Reserve has decreased by 50-79% in the last 5 and10 years.
The conservation and sustainable development planning for Bac Me Reserve (2016) isdeveloped with the aim of promoting the conservation of forest ecosystems and the wildlife
species, in association with the policy of ecotourism development thereby improving people's
livelihoods and reducing pressure on forests. However, since then, tourism activities have notbeen implemented, and people have not received any income from these activities. Limitations
in facilities, equipment, boundary markers of the Reserve and capacity of staff are alsodifficulties and challenges for conservation and sustainable development in the study area.
The conservation and development policies implemented in protected areas are often
applied in a unified approach to localities across the country. Therefore, socio-economic
characteristics, poverty rates, ethnic minorities and gender issues have not been properly
considered, leading to low implementation efficiency, and unsatisfactory expected outcomes.
Studies have also pointed out that challenges for the conservation of karst forest ecosystems
and their species diversity are deforestation, unsustainable exploitation and use, land usechange, and hunting, grazing, mining, environmental pollution and invasion of invasive alien
species, especially for aquatic ecosystems. Thus, in order to achieve conservation anddevelopment purposes at the same time, multiple synchronous solutions need to beimplemented.
Policy Recommendations(1). To develop and carry out research programs on environmental/ pollution impact on
biodiversity/ species in order to develop appropriate policies for species and habitat
conservation and management;(2). As many species are under declining and less understood of their status, it is therefore
essential to conduct an in-depth study to better understand diversity, distribution, andanthropogenic threats to the taxa using robust scientific methods to better protect the species
from further decline;(3). To apply a community-based conservation approach in the study area, involving local
villagers into various forest protection and biodiversity conservation activities; increase thelivelihood of local residents through various income-raising approaches to mitigate theirdependence on forest products and lands;(4). To enhance collaboration between provincial/district authorities and theirenforcement forces (forest rangers) for regular information exchange, sharing experience on
forest management and collaborative actions on combating transborder illegal logging andharvesting non-timber forest products;(5). To carry out capacity building for staffs of protected areas in term of scientificknowledge, technical skills and research equipment for conservation and development works.

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Box: Brief information about the project; Implementing agency; Research methodology
This study was carried out within the framework of the project " Bio-ecological Nature
Conservation in Mountainous Region of North Vietnam", funded by the Nagao NaturalEnvironment Fund and coordinated by the Central Institute for Natural Resources andEnvironmental Studies, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Biodiversity survey methods
on Mammals, Birds, Amphibians/Reptiles, Fish, Land fauna, Aquatic fauna and Plants werecarried out seasonally (2 field studies each site) during the period of 2019 -2020; Remotesensing method and GIS method using remote sensing images for the period 1988-2019 toassess land use changes and combine with value transfer method to estimate the value ofecosystem services; Social survey method (Semi-structured interview/7 people, Groupdiscussion/2 groups of 14 people, Farm household survey/50 households in) was carried out
in Lung Cang village, Ngoc Minh commune, Bac Me Reserve in the period 2019-2020 toassess the poverty situation and the dependence of livelihood and income on forest resourcesof local communities.

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