1. Project Background
G? nghi?n (Burretiodendron hsienmu or other names such as Pentace tonkinensis, Excentrodendron tonkinensis, etc.) is big timber tree, with 30-35m in height and 80-100cm in diameter. The timber is hard and durable, and grows in Son La, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Cao Bang, Trung Khanh, Bac Can, Lang Son, Lao Cai, etc.
Due to high economic value, this timber species has become exhausted in many regions. It is at high risk of extinction and has been included in the Red List of medicinal plants in Vietnam (CR class), the Government Decree No. 32/2006/ND-CP, and Vietnam Red Book 2007 (CR class).
In Si Giang Phin village, Nam Chay commune, Muong Khuong district, Lao Cai province, there is a 28.6-ha natural forest area (in sub-district 14, zone I; Lot 1). This is both a valuable g? nghi?n zone and H?Mong community ?sacred place? in Si Giang Phin village. It is used for community ?forest offering? custom, hence it is protected relatively well, as part of the 1,300-ha natural forest area of Nam Chay commune.
Due to increasing economic pressures, as well as economic and cultural exchanges among the regions, several forest specialties and products are at risk of being poached, especially g? nghi?n due to its special properties. The poaching of g? nghi?n led to damaged forest structure and affected the regional ecosystem.
Due to the underdeveloped agriculture and low educational level, vulnerable people are prone to the destruction of forests for economic purposes.
The protection and fostering of g? nghi?n forests, mobilizing people to participate in forest protection and cultural conservation of H?Mong ethnic group in Nam Chay are therefore essential.


2. Project Objectives
a. Overal objective:
Protect g? nghi?n forests, contribute to the conservation of natural forest biodiversity, in relation to conservation of ?forest offering? custom of H?Mong enthic group in Nam Chay commune
b. Specific objectives:
Objective 1: Protect g? nghi?n forests and other rare medicinal plant species such as arrowroot, tacca chantrieri, mushrooms, mistletoe, etc., contributing to the conservation of natural forest biodiversity, in relation to conservation of ?forest offering? culture of H?Mong enthic group in Nam Chay commune.
Objective 2: Improve people's life in Nam Chay Commune through livelihoods models and piloting community benefit-sharing mechanism.
Objective 3: Review and draw lessons learned in implementing the project, especially recommendations for the provincial REDD+ action plans (develop forest protection and forestation plans towards REDD+, livelihoods model, feedback monitoring mechanism).

3. Project Activities
- Establish Community Forest Management Committee for 14 villages in the commune
- Decentralize the long-term management of forest protection to H?Mong ethnic group in Si Giang Phin and other 13 villages of Nam Chay commune
- Organize ?forest offering? festive together with forest protection
- Develop a report on culture and ?forest offering? custom, customary laws on forest protect and forestation of H?Mong ethnic group in Si Giang Phin
- Develop status report on existing biodiversity of protected g? nghi?n forest ecosystem, and masterplan for protected biodiversity area, in relation to the culture and ?forest offering? custom
- Develop plans for communal forest protection and forestation, associated with REDD+ mechanism, which includes feedback monitoring mechanism
- Raise awareness of forest protection, biodiversity conservation of g? nghi?n forests, medicinal plants; develop village convention of forest protection and community benefit-sharing
- Develop a benefit-sharing plan for revenues from forests
- Develop income generation pilot models
- Draw lessons learned and recommendations for REDD+ programme

4. Expected Results
The project was developed on the basis of the Law on Forest Protection and Development 2004, Land Law 2003, and traditional customs of Mong ethnic group, especially the ?forest offering? ? a cultural activity for community unification, voluntary. After receiving awareness raising, capacity building, science and technology support, and management methods (planning, benefit-sharing, etc.), local people can self-promote and sustain the project objectives, contributing to diversifying income, improving livelihoods and preserving their ethnic culture.