The Centre For Marinelife Conservation and Community Development

1. The Centre For Marinelife Conservation and Community Development Developing informed, empowered communities that sustain healthy, productive coastal and marine ecosystems.

2. Presentation Outline • About MCD • Areas of focus • Project sites • MCD approaches • Small-scale fishery Van Hung commune • Resource management models • Lessons learnt

3. About MCD • A non-government organization devoted to coastal community livelihoods, marine conservation and sustainable coastal development in Vietnam. • Originally part of the International Marinelife Alliance (IMA), became a local NGO - MCD in 2003 (Decision No. 126/QD-HBVN dated May 9, 2003) • MCD's goal is to harmonise environmental conservation with socio-economic development. • 20 staff, local and expatriate

4. About MCD

5. Areas of focus We seek to improve the quality of life in coastal communities and marine ecosystems through: • Coastal Resources Management • Community Development • Life Science • Education and Advocacy • Institutional Building

6. Project sites Northern Area (Coastal wetlands) Nam Dinh (Xuan Thuy National Park) Thai Binh ….. Central Area (Coral reefs) Khanh Hoa (Trao Reef Marine Reserve) Quang Nam Ninh Thuan ……

7. MCD Approaches • Awareness raising • Participatory planning • Community based co-management of coastal resources • Environmentally friendly livelihoods • Integrated coastal zone management (ICZM)

8. Status of fisheries in Van Hung commune • Small scale: 57% of population • households involved in fishery • Fishing vessels: 10 CV • Main practices: aquaculture; capture; boat building; small business • Low awareness • High rate of poverty

9. Status of fisheries in Van Hung commune Aquaculture • Main species: lobster; shrimp; babylon shells • Unsustainable methods • Lack of planning • Polluted environment • Diseases Capture • Over fishing • Unsustainable/ destructive methods • Threats to coral reefs and biodiversity

10. Small scale fisheries - difficulties • Less invested and equipped • Low effectiveness • High risk (market; disaster; loan loss) • Heavy dependence on natural resources • Poor access to alternative livelihoods • Dispersed resources (human; finance; knowledge)

11. Small scale fisheries - biological issues • Interrupted ecological process • Degraded coastal coral reef and sea-grass ecosystems • Reduced coastal biodiversity and fishery resources

12. Small scale fisheries - social issues • Conflicts • Underestimated & marginalized • Limited education • Constrained development • Constricted thinking • Poverty risks

13. Locally-Managed Trao Reef Marine Reserse

14. Locally-Managed Trao Reef Marine Reserve • Established in 2001 • Locally managed with participation of community representatives and local authorities • Situated in the southern Van Phong Bay • Coastal areas of 4 villages in Van Hung commune, Van Ninh district, Khanh Hoa province • 40 hectares of coral reefs and marine surface

15. Trao Reef Marine Reserve Location Source: Google Earth

16. Locally-Managed Trao Reef Marine Reserve • Over 50% of known marine species in Van Phong Bay • 82 coral species of 37 genus, belonging to 14 families identified in the core and surrounding areas • 69 reef fish species of 41 genus, belonging to 23 families identified in the core and surrounding areas • Valuable marine species such as Anodontostoma chacunda, Hippocampus kuda, Hippocampus histrix, Pinctada margarititera, Panulirus ornatus, Panulirus longipes • Geographical importance to local fishery livelihoods

17. Locally-Managed Trao Reef Marine Reserve Stage I: Building and Establishment • MCD Vietnam started activities in the area 9/2000 • First PRA survey and presentation 11/2000 • Underwater survey 3/2001 • Preparation of marine reserve establishment 9/2001 • Official Decision by Provincial People's Committee approving the project 11/2001 • Official opening ceremony 3/2002 Stage II: Running • Developing, approving and implementing TRMR regulations 7/2002 • Underwater survey to re-assess the resources 6/2003 • Hand over to local authorities 12/2003 • Effectiveness assessment 6/2005 Stage III: Co-management • Institutional enhancement 2006 • New livelihoods – ecotourism 2007 • Co-management 2008

18. Locally-Managed Trao Reef Marine Reserve • Objective 1: Mitigated environment pollution by aquaculture • Objective 1.1. By 2009, 90% aquaculture households involved in workshops, training courses on environment protection and sustainable aquaculture • Objective 1.2. By 2009, 80% aquaculture households in Van Hung commune active in the planned area • Objective 1.3. By 2009, 70% aquaculture households involved in self-governing groups • Objective 1.4. By 2009, 80% aquaculture households not jettisoning rubbish the sea • Objective 2: Strengthened management of fishery exploitation modes • Objective 2.1. By 2009, minimized number of destructive catching cases in the coastal area of Van Hung commune • Objective 3: Strengthened coral reef protection • Objective 3.1. By 2009, 12 patrols organised by Core group and functional stakeholders to prevent the encroachment on protected coral reefs within Trao Reef sea area. • Objective 3.2. By 2009, 90% households in Van Hung commune disseminated on Trao Reef MR regulations and State rules in protecting corals through 8 advocacy campaigns organised by Trao Reef MR advocacy group.

19. Lessons learnt from Trao Reef Marine Reserve • Awareness raising on dependency of human life on the coastal and marine resources, the interaction between resources protection and livelihood development • Changes in attitude and behaviour of community members in taking responsibility for protecting the common fishery resources and the environment • Promotion of sustainable livelihoods as the way out of resources depletion pressure • Promotion of the involvement of different stakeholders for mutual benefits • Integration of participatory resource planning into management practice • Institutionalisation of community based initiative into the local governance structure supports sustainability of the initiative • Formulation and maintenance of networking with other locally managed marine protected areas at national and international levels

20. Community based ecotourism development • 2. Awareness raising/Capacity building • Study tour • Workshop on CBET development planning • Building local group on managers and service providers • Training on skills providing tourism service • Dialogue on CBET development, environment and local culture preservation • Community Coastal Clean up • Campaign on environment protection and tourism development • 1.Product creation • Consult with experts and stakeholders • Participatory assessment on ecotourism potential and impact • Product identification • Building community groups and implementing plan of project • Kick-off workshop • 4. Promoting and marketing • Compiling publications and materials to promote CBET • Building network distributing responsible CBET products (companies, travel agencies, sale on web..) • Organising events introducing products and pilot tour • Promoting products via website, trade fair and tourism events, network, associations • Presenting products via public media, newspaper, TV… • 3. Product development • Building visit places, routes in participation of community and tourism companies • Approach to investment and micro credit • Improving facilities for tourism service • Pilot tour and finalise service products

21. Potential ecotourism products Exploration of coastal community life and culture in Van Hung • Fishing gears and tools exhibition • Lobster culture and polyculture site visits • Locally-managed marine protected area visit • Diving for seeing corals and reef fishes • Village tour by horse truck

22. Lessons learnt from community based ecotourism development • Reduction of pressure on direct exploitation of resources • Contribution to sustainable use of natural resources • Community benefits guaranteed • Locally typical culture characteristics preserved • Tourism and coastal zone development planning integrated • Capacity and participation of community and stakeholders strengthened • Environment education promotion • Tourism marketed sustainably • Supportive studies implemented • Direct contribution to the environment protection fund

23. Thank you for your attention!