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 primary purpose of the proposed project is to control the encroachment of agriculture development in the forest area in order to protect the existing forests and generating higher income from sustainable use and exploitation of chestnut forest resources 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 forestry management and sustainable use of natural forest resources. The proposed project develops the model which has the potential to be largely replicated in other provinces in Vietnam where there are the naturally regenerated chestnut forests, contributing to poverty alleviation for the communities living in adjacent to the forests. It also contributes to improving the quality of the environment and the landscape in the project area where major provincial industrial parks and national historic relics are located.
The proposed project is intended to be carried out in Bac An and Hoang Hoa Tham Communes, Chi Linh District.