Once we have established a Community Wildfire Management Team we review their local wildfire issues and identify options for change using a range of participatory methods. Our aim is to build an understanding of how and why fires start within each community and the positive and negative impacts of fires started for different reasons, and in different areas. We recommend interviewing various people including members of the Community Wildfire Management Team, other village leaders and elders, women, youth, and local authorities.

When we understand the causes and impact of wildfire we then conduct community mapping to spatially determine: 

• where fires are most likely to be lit and why;
• potential firebreaks or control lines within the landscape;
• location of water sources;
• location of access roads and tracks;
• priority areas for protection (e.g. high value forest and restoration areas); and
• the ability of local community members to control fires both through pre-suppression and suppression measures.

These fire maps helped each community implement measures to prevent, detect, and effectively respond to wildfire.

First, we identify a suitable community – one that is threatened by fire and has the will to address the problem, and ideally has an established community group. On the Tonle Sap Lake we have worked with Community Fishery Organizations (CFi’s), Community Protected Area Organizations (CPA’s), and Villages to implement CBFiM. Engaging a formal community organization with a recognized structure has several advantages, including recognized community leadership, management capacity, financial resources such as bank accounts, and recognition by the local authorities. First, we seek advice from local government authorities on which communities have the necessary capacity to take part in CBFiM. We then meet with community leaders to gain their support, before engaging with Women’s Saving’s Groups who can provide financial support. From this we develop the community wildfire management team which should be integrated with both the Village and Commune authorities. The community wildfire management team forms the basis of CBFiM.

Provision of a platform through the Tengkawang network for communication between various stakeholders at the district level to facilitate decision-making, management and sales of Tengkawang butter and derivatives. 

Identification of certification and licensing requirements and mechanisms for the management, processing and sale of Tengkawang, followed by the development of a Tengkawang business plan. 

Pre- and post-harvest Tengkawang management workshops were conducted, including training sessions on Tengkawang nut processing, oil extraction and production of derived products. Pre- and post-harvest tengkawang management guidelines, posters and brochures were distributed to ensure sustainable knowledge and capacity for future harvests. 

The planting of Tengkawang seedlings and the provision of processing tools for the extraction of Tengkawang oil form the framework conditions for the production of Tengkawang butter and derived products. 
 

An adaptive capacity assessment was conducted with key institutions and communities who participated in the implementation of the final urban EbA measures, through face-to-face interviews and group discussions. It is important to note that there was a general acceptance of the need to respond to climate change in the long term and the importance of using climate information to inform decision-making. However, the Dong Hoi-specific, contextualised understanding about long-term climate risk management and adaptation planning is less clear. The focus of development planning and implementation relies mainly on grey infrastructure interventions while the possibilities of blue and green infrastructure were little known. Furthermore, existing ecosystems which the city provides are not preserved and valued or integrated in a meaningful way when new infrastructure projects are planned. For example, resorts have been built on dunes and promoted as eco-resorts while the dune system was removed for a better view which eventually will lead to flooding and seabank erosion during the typhoon season.  

Therefore, along with the implementation of pilot urban EbA measures, a capacity development strategy for relevant stakeholders at different levels was elaborated. Awareness raising and technical trainings for provincial leaders and technical staff which are responsible for planning and approval processes in the city were core activities. The focus of these capacity building activities was, on the one hand, the general knowledge on urban adaptation, urban EbA and climate change risk and, on the other hand, on green/blue/grey adaptation options with an emphasis on the meaningful consideration of existing ecosystems in planning and approval procedures. In addition, relevant awareness raising activities on urban EbA was also initiated and conducted for urban communities of Dong Hoi city. 

In six different stakeholder workshops, nearly 200 provincial and municipal leaders, technical and private sector staff who are responsible for decision making and urban planning have improved their knowledge and understanding on urban adaptation, urban EbA and climate risk management. They were also involved in the urban EbA study which helped them to learn about the process of identifying potential benefits of EbA measures as well as gaps and challenges caused by climate change impacts in the city. 

Two technical training courses on urban EbA and climate risk assessment tools were carried out for about 80 provincial and district technical staff who are responsible for development planning at different levels. The participants were equipped with technical knowledge and tools which they could apply in their daily work to assess climate risks and potential EbA measures to enhance resilience and ecosystem services in the planning processes.

Ten awareness raising events were conducted for about 600 local people of ten urban communities in Dong Hoi city to provide basic knowledge on climate change impacts, climate change adaptation and urban EbA. The events created interesting opportunities for local people to discuss, exchange and brainstorm on their challenges and difficulties caused by climate change impacts and agree upon feasible adaptation measures at community level. Most of them confirmed that this was very interesting and helpful for their areas. 

As a result of the activity, relevant training material was developed and published. Moreover, urban EbA was integrated into the Provincial Climate Change Respond Action Plan of Quang Binh province.