Forests play a critical role in Vietnam by protecting watersheds, preventing soil erosion, and building resilience for communities. Forests in the Annamites Range of Vietnam are home to rare and endemic species found nowhere else in the world. Unfortunately, these forests, and the species that live in them, are disappearing at an alarming rate, as nearby communities increasingly depend on these limited resources for their livelihoods. The USAID Green Annamites project supports the provinces of Thua Thien Hue and Quang Nam to protect the region’s globally significant biodiversity and help local and ethnic minority communities to diversify and improve their livelihoods.

IMPROVE LAND USE PRACTICES

The USAID Green Annamites project supports the two target provinces to reduce deforestation and forest degradation and restore degraded landscapes.  The project’s engagements range widely from partnering with the private sector (which sources materials from forests) to introducing improved farming practices and strengthening market access for local producers. The project works to help local forest-dependent communities, including ethnic minorities, develop sustainable agroforestry activities that benefit people, forests, and wildlife.

STRENGTHEN BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

The USAID Green Annamites project partners with provincial governments to identify threats and safeguard the globally unique wildlife populations and forest resources in the region from poaching and habitat destruction. The project’s strategic approaches include improving conservation planning; increasing the knowledge and skills of local conservation practitioners and decision makers; and helping local communities to develop sustainable conservation enterprises that benefit people and biodiversity.

INCREASE RESILIENCE FOR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES

The USAID Green Annamites project works with the government and communities of Thua Thien Hue to assess their vulnerability to changing climatic conditions and develop technically sound and feasible action plans.  These plans lay a foundation for effectively reducing risk to natural disasters.

KEY EXPECTED RESULTS

Key program results include improving the livelihoods of 20,000 forest dependent people; improving biodiversity of over 400,000 hectares of natural forest; mobilizing at least $20 million in public and private resources for sustainable livelihoods and forest conservation; and avoiding and/or removing the equivalent of at least 7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.