The primamry aims of the planning grant are to promote the participation of key stakeholders of the proposed project, including local authorities and relevant agencies and communties, and provide scientific assistance for the project development. Major activities of the project include conducting surveys on socio-economic conditions of the proposed project site, identifying proposed project objectives and activities and assessing their feasibility, and providing needed technical assistance in project design and writing project proposal which will be submitted to GEF/SGP for review and appraisal; and identifying possibilities for project synergies and resource mobilisation.
The concept of the proposed project is to contribute to biodiversity conservation of Cat Ba National Park by raising awareness and appreciation on the Park of the local authorities and community, and enhancing the co-operation in the Park management and protection between the Park management board and the local authorities, army forces and the community. In addition, the proposed project also aims to provide the lessons learned on the ways to diversify income sources for the community living in the core and buffer zone, reducing their overexploitation of the Park natural resources, contributing to alleviating poverty of the island community in the project area while conserving the biodiversity.
The proposed project is intended to take place in Gia Luan and Viet Hai communes, located in the core and buffer zone of Cat Ba National Park, in Cat Hai District, Hai Phong Province.