Hanoi (VNA) -ဣ To promote sustainable economic development in tandem with nature and biodiversity conservation, localities need to foster sustainable livelihoods for local communities in the buffer zones of biosphere reserves, said insiders.

Amid the rapid degradation of ecosystems in Vietnam as a result of socioeconomic development, population growth, and the impacts of global climate change, promoting sustainable livelihoods for local communities in the buffer zones of biosphere reserves can help ease pressure on natural resources, according to a representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam.

This approach also serves as a catalyst for localities with biosphere reserves to enhance conservation, support sustainable green economic development, and achieve the goal of "living in harmony with nature" as set by the international community in the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). According to UNDP Vietnam, the designation of “Biosphere Reserves” was first introduced by UNESCO in 1971 to recognise areas with significant natural and cultural value. Biosphere reserves are regarded as "living laboratories" for promoting sustainable development models and adjusting interactions between the nature and humans to foster harmonious coexistence. Since their establishment, the global network of biosphere reserves has expanded across continents, making considerable contributions to the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Can Gio Mangrove Forest in Ho Chi Minh City, the first world biosphere reserve in Vietnam, earned the UNESCO recognition in 2000. Now, the country boasts 11 such reserves.

Biosphere reserves in Vietnam have been playing a vital role in the lives of millions of people while serving as a "green home" for diverse endemic fauna and flora species, including endangered, rare, and precious ones that are prioritised for conservation. To protect the "green home", buffer zones in biosphere reserves were established, connecting core zones which are protected areas and regions of socio-economic development. Their goal is to provide opportunities for localities to implement nature-based sustainable development activities that contribute to both conservation efforts and economic growth. However, communities in the buffer zones of biosphere reserves still face numerous challenges in maintaining sustainable livelihoods. These challenges stem from limited capacity and insufficient support resources, lack of full participation in local decision-making and planning processes, and the absence of effective benefit-sharing mechanisms from the management and protection of natural resources, the UNDP Vietnam official said. A series of events in response to the International Day for Biosphere Reserves 2024 was held from November 7 to 9, including a national workshop on management and conservation of world biosphere reserves. There was also a seminar on developing community livelihoods in buffer zones of the world biosphere reserves in Vietnam. These events offered an opportunity for the country to promote sustainable livelihoods in buffer zones, and reaffirm its commitment to managing and conserving the nature, and pursuing sustainable development in biosphere reserves. To achieve the goal of turning each biosphere reserve into a model for sustainable development, Director of the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Agency under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Van Tai suggested relevant agencies and localities home to biosphere reserves raise public awareness of the values and importance of biosphere reserves to human life and the nature. The public should be encouraged to stay committed to protecting and sustainably using ecosystem services, and applying sustainable and green livelihood models, he added./.