The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has awarded the 2013Vietnam Environmental Award to the Nung ethnic community in the northernmountainous province of Cao Bang for their solutions to protect, userationally and develop natural resources.
Theprovince’s Phuc Sen commune is home to around 2,000 Nung, who live instilt houses and make a living from farming and the traditional craft ofhand-forged agricultural tools, said Chairman of the commune’s People’sCommittee Linh Van Phu.
Before, local people oftenfetched firewood from forests to serve their forging trade due to alack of arable land. The deforestation resulted in stifling air,unusually cold or hot weather, dwindling rainfall and arid land thatmake the locals’ daily lives very difficult.
Inresponse, the Party Committee and the commune’s authorities launched acampaign to plant, protect and develop forests, which received a warmresponse from residents. Community forestry was protected whilemanagement and protective regulations in line with each hamlet’s realconditions and customs were established.
A tree thatcan grow easily on limestone and has an ability to quickly regenerate,known locally as Mac Dac or Dau Di, was discovered in the region. Thiskind of plant, once mature, is able to create favourable conditions andmoisture for other plants to develop, as well as ensure enough charcoalfor the local community to maintain their traditional forging craft.
Many neighbouring communes came to learn and follow the localcommunity-based forest model that proved so successful, thuscontributing to a local and regional sustainable ecological andenvironmental landscape.
Following the flourishingcommunity-based forest management style, Phuc Sen commune is benefitingfrom a project to promote Mekong sub-region sustainable development,which aims to develop Pac Rang hamlet as an ecological destination andtraditional forging craft village.
So far, theproject has fulfilled several works such as upgrading the local roads,drainage system, cultural houses and stilt houses. The entire projectwill be completed by the end of 2013.-VNA
Theprovince’s Phuc Sen commune is home to around 2,000 Nung, who live instilt houses and make a living from farming and the traditional craft ofhand-forged agricultural tools, said Chairman of the commune’s People’sCommittee Linh Van Phu.
Before, local people oftenfetched firewood from forests to serve their forging trade due to alack of arable land. The deforestation resulted in stifling air,unusually cold or hot weather, dwindling rainfall and arid land thatmake the locals’ daily lives very difficult.
Inresponse, the Party Committee and the commune’s authorities launched acampaign to plant, protect and develop forests, which received a warmresponse from residents. Community forestry was protected whilemanagement and protective regulations in line with each hamlet’s realconditions and customs were established.
A tree thatcan grow easily on limestone and has an ability to quickly regenerate,known locally as Mac Dac or Dau Di, was discovered in the region. Thiskind of plant, once mature, is able to create favourable conditions andmoisture for other plants to develop, as well as ensure enough charcoalfor the local community to maintain their traditional forging craft.
Many neighbouring communes came to learn and follow the localcommunity-based forest model that proved so successful, thuscontributing to a local and regional sustainable ecological andenvironmental landscape.
Following the flourishingcommunity-based forest management style, Phuc Sen commune is benefitingfrom a project to promote Mekong sub-region sustainable development,which aims to develop Pac Rang hamlet as an ecological destination andtraditional forging craft village.
So far, theproject has fulfilled several works such as upgrading the local roads,drainage system, cultural houses and stilt houses. The entire projectwill be completed by the end of 2013.-VNA
