Promote the CCCA model to engage communities in conservation and to develop sustainable livelihoods
Local villgers get loans from community fund and start pig raising
Global Environment Institute
The demonstration of the CCCA model in pilot communities could show the Myanmar government what impact can be made if communities are involved in conservation actions and if benefits are provided for these actions. Supported by CEPF, GEI and four local NGO partners expanded the project communities to 27, conserving two more critical ecosystems: Inle Lake and Moeyingyi Wetlands. The total area conserved by the communities increased to almost 17,000 hectares. There was also an increase in participating households, from 4,565 to 21,615 people.
Good relationships with diverse stakeholders, such as central and local governments, local communities and local NGOs enabled the success of this building block.
The projects showed positive engagement with communities. Even though some communities lacked motivation and there were difficulties in communicating with them, the implementing NGOs exerted much effort to discuss projects with local people and to show that they respected community needs and willingness. However, the projects have had less success in engaging government agencies and companies. As important stakeholders, they were not identified through the initial stakeholder analysis process and did not share the same level of understanding of the CCCA projects with NGOs and communities. Their engagement and participation need to be considered in future projects.
Enhancing local NGO capacity in implementing an innovative conservation model
Training workshop on CCCA model
Global Environment Institute
The CCCA model is still new in Myanmar and it is important to help local NGOs to understand and accept that conservation needs local community participation, and that they need to receive benefits from conservation actions. GEI conducted two trainings focusing on the CCCA model and its implementation and invited international experts who had extensive experience in community-based conservation, to share knowledge and experience. GEI also supported a local NGO for on-site implementation, providing consultation and connection to different donors.
Local NGO trust and support and their willingness to accept CCCA model are key factors for success.
The effectiveness of the trainings and building feedback/communication mechanisms are critical. Even though the local partner NGOs have already done a very good job of implementing \ projects and creating positive outcomes, some key factors of the CCCA model, such as penalty and data collection, were still missing in the projects. More effective training sessions and more comprehensive communication mechanisms between GEI and local NGOs could help improve it.
Van Long NR was created at the request of the local communities themselves, and they have maintained a strong commitment in their participation of protecting and maintaining ecological and cultural values of Van Long.
This is considered as a unique community-based management model in Vietnam. Given that the Van Long is different to other protected areas in the remoter reaches of Vietnam’s rural hinterland, Van Long is in the heartland of the kinh majority Vietnamese, in a highly human dominated landscape, on the very outskirts of the Hanoi capital.
The management board of Van Long maintains strong relationships with stakeholder groups, and continually discuss and exchange in regular meetings to assess the good governance of the wetland.
Although Van Long NR is small compared to other Protected Areas in Vietnam, the core area of biodiversity conservation in Van Long is proving very effective in conserving biodiversity.
Van Long NR maintains to be the biggest inland wetland in the Northern Plain. The Nature Reserve is also the place with the biggest community of of Delacour langur, at present about 150-160 individuals, a very big increase (238%) compared to the number recorded at the time of its establishment, which was 60-67individuals. Delacour langur population is reproducing well. Beside that, water birds are increasing in numbers made Van Long became a interesting bird watching site. In addition, as a result of good management and protection of the limestone ecosystem and karst landscape, the limestone forests has rapidly recovered, contributing to the increased forest cover up to 30%. The Nature Reserve also performs good protection of the biggest inland wetland in the Northen Plain, which contributes to the preservation of valuable genetic sourcesfor aquatic species.
Since its establishment in 2001, Van Long NR has developed and implemented management plans in five-year period such as Operational Management Plan (OMP), Sustainable Conservation and Development Planning, and Annual Operational Plan. The planning process has consulted relevant stakeholders particularlly the local community, used the information about socio-economic conditions and real situation in most conformity.
The design of Van Long NR and development of management plans are suitable with conservation needs for Van Long natural values. The conservation priorities were identified such as limestone ecosystem, wetland ecosystem, Delacour langur population and migrated water birds. The ecosystems and population of Delacour langur are protected through the programs of the government as well as national and international organizations. Conservation and protection activities have generated job opportunities for local communities, improved local livelihood through eco-tourism and local participation in forest management and protection. However, till now, the expansion of the Nature Reserve is needed to preserve the integrity of biodiversity values and ecosystem services. The efforts regarding expansion of the Nature Reserve include the establishment of Kim Bang Nature Reserve (Nam Ha) and support to patrol for protection of Delacour langur in Dong Tam (Hoa Binh).
