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 proposed project aims to promote the sustainable use of the indigenous bamboo forest resources, contributing to poverty alleviation of the ethnic minorities in the project area. It will be carried out in Nguyet An Commune, Ngoc Lac District, which is one of the localities having the largest areas devoted to bamboo forest in Thanh Hoa Province. The proposed project will develop a model which promotes inter-cropping of bamboo trees and other indigenous wood species. Appropriate silvicultural techniques in bamboo forest plantation and harvesting will be transferred to farmers. The model aims to protect the existing bamboo forests, increase the acreage of bamboo forests and generate higher income for the community. Through undertaking the project activities, the proposed project aims to raise environmental awareness of local stakeholders and community on the issues of biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of bamboo forest resources.
The proposed project is intended to be carried out in Nguyet An Commune, Ngoc Lac District, Thanh Hoa Province.