Hanoi (VNA) – Site support groups(SSGs) have been set up in Vietnam by BirdLife International since 2002,proving effective in conserving important bird areas (IBAs) of the country.

IBAs are forest or wetland areas important forthe conservation of bird populations and other fauna and flora species.

There are 63 IBAs in 37 provinces and citiesacross Vietnam at present, covering nearly 1.7 million hectares or 5 percent ofthe country’s natural area. Each IBA in the country spans between 2ha and morethan 100,000ha.

Central Quang Binh province and the CentralHighlands provinces of Dak Lak, Lam Dong and Gia Lai are home to 19 IBAs – the mostin the country – and were selected as prioritised areas for conservation.

Current threats to birds are poaching andcross-border smuggling, which mainly impact big bird species living in flockssuch as hornbills, trerons and junglefowls. These illegal activities have beenreported in some IBAs such as in Ke Go in Ha Tinh province and Chu Yang Sin inDak Lak.

Intensive cultivation and logging have alsoaffected bird habitats in 43 IBAs, especially Ha Tien and Kien Luong (KienGiang province) and Lang Sen (Long An province). 

Meanwhile, the habitat and growth of birds werealso influenced by the construction of dykes and canals in many IBAs like PhongNha and Ke Bang (Quang Binh) and U Minh Thuong and Kien Luong (Kien Giang).Aquaculture and overexploitation of aquatic species have also exhausted foodsources for birds in the Mekong Delta.

The problem is attributable to low publicawareness of biodiversity and law, poverty in rural areas, demand for birds asfood or pets, a shortage of forest rangers and researchers and lax lawenforcement.

The SSGs model has been successfully applied byBirdLife in many countries such as Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines,Indonesia, India and Malaysia. It aims to involve local residents inconservation activities in IBAs.

Twelve SSGs have been established in IBAs inVietnam so far, including one in Yen Hung (Quang Ninh province), one in XuanThuy (Nam Dinh), one in Mu Cang Chai (Yen Bai), five in Truong Son/Khe Nuoc Trongand Khe Net Nature Reserve (Quang Binh) and four in Bac Huong Hoa and Dac Rong(Quang Tri).

They gather locals, village leaders andrepresentatives of local organisations such as women’s unions, youth unions andwar veterans’ associations. 

Each group, instructed by a local official and astaff member of BirdLife, has a team responsible for forest patrol and anotherin charge of communications. Information collected by patrol teams will bereported to forest resources management agencies while communication teams willhold training courses to raise public awareness of bird conservation and forestprotection.

Simple communication methods have been used bySSGs to disseminate information about bird species and forest protection toresidents. As a result, bird poaching has reportedly reduced. Locals have alsopledged not to illegally exploit forest resources or hunt endemic species inIBAs.

Meetings with local communities helped officialsbetter understand the aspirations of people living near IBAs. Through SSGs, BirdLifeInternational has also helped locals earn a living by exploiting non-woodforest products or practising forest farming so as to minimise impacts on birdhabitats.

BirdLife is set to expand the network of SSGs inIBAs nationwide soon.-VNA