Canada launches biodiversity conservation project in Dak Lak

On the afternoon of July 15, in Buon Ma Thuot Ward, the Dak Lak Department of Agriculture and Environment, in collaboration with two Canadian development organizations - Socodevi and Développement international Desjardins (DID) - officially launched the Biodiversity and Livelihood Opportunities for Ethnic Minority Women (BLOOM) project.

The project seeks to combine ecosystem conservation with livelihood improvement while strengthening the role of ethnic minority women in natural resource management, according to Dak Lak Newspaper.

Funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada, BLOOM is being implemented by Socodevi and DID in the provinces of Dak Lak and Tuyen Quang from June 2026 to April 2030. The project has a total budget of more than VND 21.1 billion (approximately CAD 1.1 million) in non-refundable official development assistance (ODA), which will be directly managed and monitored by the donor.

In Dak Lak, the project will focus on Chu Yang Sin National Park and its buffer-zone communes of Yang Mao, Cu Pui, and Hoa Son. Activities will prioritize the restoration of ecologically valuable ecosystems while promoting nature-based livelihood models to strengthen local communities' resilience to climate change.

According to the organizers, around 1,500 people are expected to benefit directly from the project, while an estimated 6,000 people will benefit indirectly. Through training programs, technical assistance, and practical demonstration models, the project will enhance local communities' capacity to manage, use, and sustainably conserve natural resources. It will also create additional livelihood opportunities linked to forest protection and biodiversity conservation.

One of BLOOM's key priorities is promoting gender equality in natural resource management. The project aims to strengthen the participation and voice of ethnic minority women in forest management and protection, as well as in decision-making processes related to sustainable livelihoods and nature conservation within their communities.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Thien Van, Vice Chairman of the Dak Lak Provincial People's Committee, said the project is highly meaningful for the province as it continues to implement measures that integrate biodiversity conservation with green economic development and improved living standards for ethnic minority communities.

He called on provincial departments, local authorities, and relevant stakeholders to work closely with the donor throughout the implementation process to ensure the project achieves its objectives, stays on schedule, and delivers tangible results. He also stressed the importance of raising public awareness about the benefits of nature-based solutions, encouraging local communities to actively protect forest resources, and promoting the role of women in sustainable livelihood development and biodiversity conservation.

$ 1 = VND 26,490 - Source: Vietcombank.