New agreement for Vietnamese park

07-07-2005

BirdLife International in Indochina and The World Bank have signed a Global Environment Facility (GEF) grant agreement of US$ 973,000 to support a project in Vietnam’s Central Highlands.

The project aims to conserve biodiversity in one of the country’s highest priority protected areas. Chu Yang Sin National Park is an Important Bird Area (IBA), as well as being part of a larger Endemic Bird Area (EBA) containing seven restricted-range bird species. The park is also the only protected area known to support the Endangered Grey-crowned Crocias Crocias langbianis.

"The project aims to establish public support and effective management for Chu Yang Sin National Park by creating an interface between natural and agricultural landscapes; protecting the integrity of key biodiversity attributes; promoting integrated approaches to watershed and protected area management; and outlining realistic and sustainable future development options for the park." —Jonathan Eames, Birdlife International in Indochina

Unlike many other areas of Vietnam, the 60,000ha of mountain forest in the park are still in good condition. The project will help establish effective enforcement and forest protection to prevent encroachment and illegal exploitation of the park’s natural resources. It will also increase scientific knowledge about the area and build awareness among local people of its importance for biodiversity.