Project results

1. Enhanced understanding and awareness of the local authorities and community about environmental issues of GEF concern, including biodiversity conservation and Ramsar Convention
? 12 training courses were provided for local governments, management board of the nature reserve and participating households on biodiversity conservation and and Ramsar Convention, and how to develop income-generating models (paddy rice, animal husbandary and VAC (garden ? pond - pigsty)
? 1 community contests about environmental issues in general and biodiversity of the Ramsar site was successfully organized.
? 1 study tour on protected area management was conducted.
? 4 bookcases on environment were provided to the 4 schools in the commune.
? Workshop on community participation in biodiversity conservation was organized.
2. Results of the demonstration model for income-generating:
- 173 participating households
- Community trained how to develop agricultural production more effectively
- an increase in farmers? income of 150,000 to 200,000VND per household from income-generating activities supported by project technical assistance and through the revolving loan programme
- The total project budget for revolving loan programme for income-generating activities was 135 million VND. The repayment rate was 100%.

3. The understanding and knowledge on environmental issues in general and on biodiversity conservation in particular, and capacity in project implementation and management and M&E of the project grantee organization staff were considerably enhanced thanks to the project implementation and management, and training activities, such as training workshops, study tour, exchange on project management, provided by GEF/SGP office.

Project sustainability

- Key participants and beneficiaries of the project were aware of the importance of environmental protection and conservation of the Ramsar Reserve for the global benefit and for the local sustainable socio-economical development.
- the Farmers? Associations of Giao Thuy District and of the project participating communes gained a lot of experiences in project design and management. The implementation of the project has created favorable conditions for the Farmers? Associations of Giao Thuy District to build and enhance relationship with various government levels and relevant government agencies in forest management and environmental protection. The Farmers? Associations of Giao Thuy District was reinforced with more diverse activities. This helped enhance the credibility of the Farmers? Associations among its members and the community. This helped promote the role of the Farmers? Associations in encouraging the community to be involved in environmental protection in general and the nature reserve in particular. During the project implementation, the local social situation was in disorder. However, thanks to well applying the principle of transparency and promoting community ownership, the project successfully completed its project activities and was appreciated by the local authorities and communities.
- Working partnerships between the local authorities and relevant agencies of Giao Thuy District, the Farmers? Associations, the Ramsar Reserve, the participating communes and communities and technical experts, and GEF/SGP were built and strengthened through the project implementation.

Project replication
The project models for income-generating were very potential for replication thanks to their suitability to the local context. The project will use the revolving loan programme to assist the community to replicate these models after the project ends.

There is no plan for scaling up by GEF funding.The grantee will continue to use the project revolving loan to assist the community to replicate the project models

There is potential that the local department of agriculture and rural development and the nature reserve will replicate the project models in their agro-extension programmes in the buffer zone of the nature reserve.

There is no linkage with GEF initiative.

There is no clear policy link