Viet Nam
About Viet Nam
- To conserve globally significant agro-biodiversity of six important crop groups (rice, taro, litchi-longan, rice bean, citrus, and tea) in three eco-geographical areas: the northern mountains, the northern midlands, and the northwest mountains
- To assist the Government to protect areas rich in agro-biodiversity for the six crop groups
- To preserve the unique genetic richness of adaptable and resistant genes at national and global levels.
- Surveys conducted to collect data on agro-biological ecosystem factors, socio-culture, economics, and climates.
- Nine GMZs defined and supported by relevant authorities.
- Workshops and training held to help improve conservation of agro-biodiversity. Awareness of values of agro-biodiversity enhanced for both decision-makers and communities.
- Piloting models for conservation of target scpecies underway at project sites, with full participation of local authorities and communities.
Viet Nam is one of the world’s centres of high biodiversity, which is the basis for evolution and adaptation to changing environments. Manipulation of this diversity by farmers and scientists has produced the highly productive, specialised crops and livestock of modern agriculture. Viet Nam has a remarkably high number of indigenous domesticated plants, animals, and breeds found nowhere else. They originated in the country centuries ago, known scientifically as "landraces." This trove of biodiversity with its positive implications for food security is threatened by urbanization, changes in farming, and the disappearance of habitat.
This project helps promote bio-diversity by preserving the landraces, establish community-based gene management zones to ensure their futures, and protect the habitats in which they grow.
The expected outcomes of this project are:
- Native landraces and wild relatives conserved in dynamic agriculture/forest landscapes;
- Replicable models established of community-based gene management zones (GMZ); and
- Support for conservation of agro-biodiversity
One example is the upland rice varieties in Cao Bang Province, which are currently disappearing quickly. The project considered a GMZ for upland rice in Cao Bang in early 2003, seeking to emphasize the value of the landraces in planning for agricultural technology, poverty alleviation and reforestation. In order to increase the economic attractiveness of traditional varieties, the project advocates for removing barriers to effective marketing.
Universities and NGOs take the lead in reproducing the GMZ model in areas which do not have agricultural genetics institutes. In addition to the GMZ model, the project works on traditional knowledge and agricultural practices, reinforcing the important link between cultural diversity and biological diversity.
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