Community-nurtured ecosystems: [Final] OECMs to become Da Nang's distinctive imprint

Ms. Vu Thi Bich Hau, Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Agriculture and Environment, spoke with VAN News about OECMs (Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures).

Communities co-manage, co-preserve, and co-benefit

The National Biodiversity Strategy and the Global Biodiversity Framework emphasize the full, meaningful, and effective participation of society as a whole in nature conservation and biodiversity protection. How do you assess the current role of local communities in conservation efforts across Da Nang?

In my opinion, under current circumstances, biodiversity conservation can no longer be regarded solely as the responsibility of state management agencies or specialized forces. Conservation can only be truly sustainable when local communities are recognized as equal partners who understand the landscape, maintain close ties to natural resources, and are present on the ground more consistently than anyone else.

For Da Nang, particularly following the expansion of the city's development space, we now have an extremely diverse ecological landscape, encompassing forests, sea, rivers, streams, wetlands, nearshore reefs, mountainous areas, agricultural landscapes, and numerous sites of high biodiversity value. Within this rich ecological picture, the role of local communities has become increasingly important.

In practice, people in many areas not only support conservation efforts but also participate directly in protecting species and habitats by patrolling, monitoring, and detecting threats at an early stage, and by working closely with local authorities, forest rangers, fisheries surveillance forces, and specialized agencies to address emerging issues. Community-based initiatives such as the protection of the grey-shanked douc langur in Tam My, co-management of aquatic resources at the Ba Dau–Ha Loc Coral Reef, and resource conservation efforts in mountainous areas demonstrate that community-based conservation is no longer just a slogan; it has become a proven and effective approach.

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Most importantly, local people are gradually shifting from being "those mobilized to participate" to “those co-manage, co-preserve, and co-benefit.” This transformation provides a solid foundation for Da Nang to make meaningful contributions to the objectives of the National Biodiversity Strategy and the Global Biodiversity Framework, particularly the goals of effective, inclusive conservation with genuine community participation.

Drawing from practical models such as the community-based grey-shanked douc langur protection in Tam My and the co-management of aquatic resources at the Ba Dau Coral Reef, how should the role and participation of local communities, including women and youth, be further strengthened in the coming times?

In my view, the key is to shift community participation from "taking part in activities" toward "playing a vital role in conservation governance. " Local people should have access to comprehensive information, be involved from the stage of planning, participate directly in implementation, contribute to monitoring and feedback, and share fairly in the benefits generated by conservation efforts.

Women and youth are two groups that need greater attention. Women are often closely connected to household livelihoods, the education of their children, and the day-to-day practices of natural resource use. Meanwhile, young people have strengths in technology, communication, access to new knowledge, and the ability to spread conservation messages in innovative ways. If these strengths are fully harnessed, women and youth can help embed conservation into everyday life rather than leaving it confined to policy documents or short-term campaigns.

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From the perspective of state management, the city should continue creating conditions for communities to receive training, gain access to monitoring tools, participate in co-management models, and develop livelihoods compatible with conservation objectives. Conservation is unlikely to endure if local people see only responsibilities and do not enjoy their legitimate benefits. Conversely, when communities recognize that protecting forests, safeguarding the sea, and conserving wildlife also means protecting their livelihoods, cultural identity, and future, conservation becomes a lasting commitment.

Da Nang is well positioned to pursue this approach systematically, as the city possesses rich natural assets, community foundations, and support from numerous organizations, scientists, and conservation programs. The problem now is to establish participation mechanisms that are clear, substantial, and equitable, ensuring that local communities are not merely beneficiaries but integral to grassroots resource governance.

Lessons in effective conservation through three-party collaboration

In your view, what are the key lessons from the collaboration among local communities, authorities, and functional forces in conservation? Which aspects of this partnership should be further strengthened in the coming years?

The most important lesson is that no single stakeholder can achieve conservation alone. Local communities have the advantage of understanding the landscape and customs, and of early detecting changes on the ground. Local authorities play a role in organizing, connecting stakeholders, and addressing issues within their jurisdiction. Functional forces, including forest rangers, fisheries surveillance, veterinary medicine, and environmental authorities, provide technical guidance, ensure compliance with legal frameworks, and support the handling of complex situations. When these complementary roles are effectively integrated, conservation outcomes improve significantly.

Drawing on Da Nang's experience, I believe there are three key areas that require further strengthening. First, two-way communication mechanisms must be enhanced so that communities can promptly report emerging issues while the competent authorities receive the information and provide clear, timely feedback. Second, on-site monitoring capacity should be improved. Local communities need guidance on how to document information, use appropriate monitoring tools, and report their findings through the proper channels. Third, stronger cross-sectoral coordination mechanisms are essential, as biodiversity conservation rarely is limited to a single sector.

Additionally, it is also necessary to avoid treating communities merely as support forces mobilized for conservation campaigns. Instead, they should be respected as an integral part of grassroots governance. When communities are entrusted with clear responsibilities, receive appropriate support, and operate within transparent coordination mechanisms, conservation models become more sustainable and less dependent on short-term projects.

In other words, long-term conservation depends on trust between local communities and government authorities, between communities and specialized forces, and between conservation objectives and people's legitimate livelihood needs. Once that trust is established, conservation efforts will rest on a much stronger social foundation.

Da Nang's vision and proposals for OECMs

In Da Nang, many community-based protection areas have demonstrated characteristics consistent with the criteria for Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs). What are the city's vision and proposals for supporting the recognition of these areas as OECMs in the coming years?

Da Nang assesses OECMs as a highly appropriate conservation approach at this stage. What sets OECMs apart is that they do not require the establishment of additional protected areas in the traditional sense. Instead, they recognize areas outside the formal protected area system that are managed, exploited, or conserved in ways that achieve substantial and long-term conservation outcomes for biodiversity.

For Da Nang, this approach is particularly significant. Following the expansion of the city's development area, Da Nang now possesses numerous landscapes of high ecological, cultural, and livelihood value, many of which have been protected by local communities for many years. These efforts should be recognized not merely as spontaneous activities or grassroots movements but as an important foundation for modern conservation governance.

I hope Da Nang could become one of Viet Nam's pioneering localities in reviewing, completing, and submitting OECM dossiers for areas with strong conservation potential. In the near term, priority could be given to sites such as Tu My in Tam My commune (approximately 30 hectares); Ha Loc – Ba Dau Coral Reef in Tam Xuan commune (approximately 64 hectares); as well as community-based conservation areas in Pho village, Song Ko commune, and Pa Da, Ben Giang commune.

However, as a state management agency, we believe this process must be carried out carefully, in full compliance with established procedures, and without rushing to pursue formal recognition. More importantly, OECM recognition should reinforce existing conservation values, strengthen the role of communities, promote a balance between conservation and livelihoods, and avoid creating unnecessary barriers on the legitimate rights and interests of local people.

Finally, what do you consider the most important lessons learned from implementing projects aimed at strengthening communities' capacity and role in biodiversity conservation?

Experience from community-based conservation initiatives across the region shows that local communities must be recognized as the subject of these models, rather than merely participants. When communities have clearly defined roles, agreed rules, shared responsibilities, benefits, and a voice in decision-making, they will remain committed to conservation over the long term.

The second lesson is the need for a sustainable support mechanism. It is unrealistic to expect communities to sustain conservation efforts indefinitely after a single training course. They require continued technical assistance, appropriate monitoring tools, livelihood opportunities, effective information-sharing mechanisms, and ongoing support from local authorities.

The third lesson is that local knowledge must become an integral part of modern conservation management. When this knowledge is combined with scientific data, monitoring technologies, and state management, conservation outcomes become far more practical and effective.

For Da Nang, these lessons provide a strong foundation for further strengthening existing conservation models. The next step is not simply to replicate initiatives but to improve their quality by enhancing data collection, strengthening governance mechanisms, amplifying community voices, and increasing their potential for recognition under appropriate national and international conservation frameworks, such as OECMs.

Thank you very much!

Da Nang's vision extends beyond gaining international recognition. More importantly, OECMs should serve as a mechanism through which the quiet conservation efforts of local communities are acknowledged, strengthened, and sustained over time. If implemented effectively, OECMs could become a distinctive imprint of Da Nang, a dynamic, fast-growing city that also values its small but vital ecosystems, the communities that have steadfastly protected them, and the biodiversity values on which the city’s future depends.