Nghe An province has a natural area of 1,648,729ha with a total forest area of 745,557ha and a high biodiversity, in which many species are rare and special. Biodiversity in Nghe An is not only significant at the national level but also at the regional and international levels. Nghe An also boasts of ethnographical and cultural diversity, with 7 indigenous groups possessing rich traditional knowledge. The valuable agro-biodiversity resources of the area, together with community experience in cultivation and husbandry, have contributed a big part in the development of the provincial economy. It is certain that local communities are still possessing various valuable local species/varieties and knowledge about related issues that we know very little of. However, the traditional knowledge on agro-biodiversity conservation in Nghe an, as in many other localities, is under the threat of disappearance due to various reasons.
This project focuses on traditional knowledge in conservation and sustainable use of agro-biodiversity resources of the 6 districts in western Nghe An, a mountainous area where most of the indigenous peoples live. The project aims to develop a strategy and an action plan in conservation and development of values of traditional knowledge in sustainable management of agro-biodiversity resources in different localities in western Nghe An. The action plan serves as a basis for the planning and implementation of projects and activities in conservation and development of values of traditional knowledge in sustainable management of agro-biodiversity resources, contributing to socio-economic development and conservation of national and cultural identity. The action plan helps to identify the prioritized issues, in which concentration is given to the collection and documentation of the traditional knowledge and capacity building for the localities on efficient exploitation of the traditional knowledge in the sustainable management of agro-biodiversity and socio-economic development on the basis of sharing the benefits for the community who possess, conserve and develop the traditional knowledge. The action plan helps to identify the resources, solutions and plans in implementation, monitoring and assessment for the effective implementation of the planned activities in order of priority. One of the key project activities is to develop a demonstration model to implement the action plan at a commune, contributing to the conservation of agro-biodiversity and its traditional knowledge, and to the local economic development and poverty alleviation.