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SUMMARY INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION

CENTRAL REGION LIVELIHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

IN THE

SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM

May 2001

ABBREVIATIONS

ADB – Asian Development BankCRLIP – Central Region Livelihood Improvement Projectha – hectareIEE – initial environmental examinationm – meterNP – national parkNR – nature reserveNTFP – nontimber forest productPIU – project implementation unitSARD – sustainable agricultural and rural developmentSDP – social development planTA – technical assistanceVBARD – Vietnamese Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

MAP i

I. INTRODUCTION 1

II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT 1

III. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT 2

A. Physical Resources 2B. Ecological Resources 2C. Human and Economic Development 3D. Quality of Life Values 4

IV. SCREENING OF POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ANDMITIGATION MEASURES

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A. Component 1: Food Security 5B. Component 2: Income Generation 7C. Component 3: Community Development 8D. Component 4: Institutional Strengthening 8

V. INSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORINGPROGRAM

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VI. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 9

VII. CONCLUSIONS 10

APPENDIXES 12

I. INTRODUCTION

1. The Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, with assistance from the AsianDevelopment Bank (ADB), intends to implement the Central Region Livelihood ImprovementProject (CRLIP) to reduce the incidence of poverty and improve the quality of life of the poor infour upland provinces: Kon Tum, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Tri, and Quong Binh.

2. The CRLIP is classified as environmental category B. The initial environmentalexamination (IEE) study was prepared as part of the project preparatory technical assistance(TA).1 However, the study found that the CRLIP area covers a number of communes that overlap,or are adjacent to, the protected areas (e.g. Chu Mom Ray, Ngoc Linh, and Phong Nha NatureReserves; Bach Ma National Park; and the proposed Dakrong Nature Reserve. Therefore, asupplementary study to assess the CRLIP’s environmental impacts on the protected areas wasundertaken.

3. The CRLIP plans to adopt a process approach whereby the specific interventions are notfully determined during project preparation but instead are encouraged to evolve throughparticipatory planning during project implementation. However, results of field visits anddiscussions indicate that the main physical interventions will most likely comprise local areainfrastructure improvement; development of sustainable diversified farming systemsencompassing home gardens; intensified staple and cash cropping, livestock, aquaculture andagroforestry; and cottage-scale agro-processing. Based on this, the potential environmentalimpacts were identified and discussed with the individual subject specialists to integrateappropriate avoidance and mitigation measures into the design of each subcomponent. Usingthis iterative approach, the potential environmental impacts have been mostly excluded from theCRLIP, the potential environmental benefits of the CRLIP have been maximized, and the need forseparate environmental management and monitoring activities has been substantially reduced.Nevertheless, the lack of certainty about the final CRLIP interventions dictates that some capacityfor environmental assessment and management must be institutionalized through the projectimplementation arrangements.

4. The summary IEE was based on the information in the IEE, and the ADB’s supplementaryenvironmental study. The IEE was prepared only in accordance with the ADB’s environmentalassessment guidelines because the CRLIP is not subject to the Government environmentalassessment regulations.

II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT

5. The overall aim of the CRLIP is to reduce the incidence of poverty of about 345,000residents in 136 of the poorest upland communes in four provinces of Central Viet Nam: KonTum, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Tri, and Quang Binh. The objective is to achieve sustainablelivelihoods and improve the quality of life. The CRLIP will initially target food security in order toachieve sustainable reductions in malnutrition in a majority of poor households. Credit, skillsupgrading, and small-scale infrastructure will then be provided to support improved on- and off-farm income-generating opportunities. Community development would be the focal point ofsustainability, with the CRLIP facilitating participatory development and implementation of anextended social development plan (SDP) within each selected commune. Each commune willprepare an SDP to be developed within the Agenda 21 framework of sustainable agricultural andrural development (SARD), thus ensuring full integration of environmental and sustainability

1 TA 3392-VIE: Central Region Poverty Reduction Project, for $824,000, approved on 18 January 2000.

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considerations into multisectoral area development plans (Appendix 1). The CRLIP will alsoprovide for institutional strengthening of communities and support services to facilitate improvedresponse to grassroots initiatives.

6. CRLIP implementation by the provincial Department of Planning and Investment willcommence in 2002. The Department of Agricultural and Rural Development, Vietnam Bank forAgriculture and Rural Development (VBARD), Women’s Union, and Department of Transportationwill implement individual CRLIP components. An independent group or other nonprofitorganization experienced in managing Viet Nam’s Protected Areas, such as The WorldConservation Union or World Wildlife Fund, will assist the communes, particularly thoseoverlapping or adjacent to protected areas or buffer zones, in developing the SDP and SARD andmonitoring the environmental impacts.

III. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT

A. Physical Resources

7. The CRLIP area encompasses four main agro-ecological zones. The climate ismonsoonal tropical, with temperature ameliorated by altitude and a pronounced pattern of wetand dry seasons. The topography of the Truong Son mountain range and the eastern side ofTruong Son are mountainous with steep slopes and narrow valleys. Lowland agricultural soilssuitable for paddies are scarce. Although many upland areas are suitable for upland perennialcrops and forestry or livestock production, the potential for sustainable arable cropping is limited.The limestone mountains of northern Truong Son comprise a limestone massif with typical karstscenery of deep dissections, caves, and vertical monoliths rising from rolling or flat areas.Agriculture is concentrated along the flats and tributaries of the Ranh River but grazing, forestry,and shifting cultivation are practiced on the hills. The Central Plateau west of Truong Son is ahigh alluvial plain dissected by slowly flowing rivers, producing a rolling topography. Sandyalluvial soil is intensively cultivated along the river terraces and valley floors, but the areas mostfavored for agriculture are the shallow sloped, dry uplands with deep, well-structured red basaltsoil.

B. Ecological Resources

8. The proportion of land officially classified as forest land is 60-70 percent of the total areain most target districts but only 20-30 percent in the two districts of Quang Tri. The areasretaining good tree cover are far smaller. There is a very clear relationship between the degree ofisolation or difficult access and the area of forest that remains. Thus, the Truong Son mountainrange retains the best forest cover whereas almost all the slopes of the limestone mountainshave been fully logged and huge areas of the once extensive Dipterocarpus forests of the CentralPlateau have been converted to agriculture. Despite its mountainous topography, deforestation ismost severe in the eastern side of Truong Son because of its proximity to areas of densepopulation. On the local scale, the forests have been cleared in all areas near access roads andthe land converted for cultivation or regularly burned to provide grazing. Based on surveyedrepresentative communes, about 10 hectares (ha) of forest are cleared every year to meetdemands for agricultural land expansion. No legal commercial logging occurs in any of theseforests, but villagers are permitted to harvest fuelwood and construction timber. Annual demandfor fuelwood appears to be 3-7 times greater than the regional estimate of subsistence demand,reflecting substantial harvesting of fuelwood for sale.

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9. Despite high population pressure and continuing encroachment into forests, Viet Namretains one of the highest levels of biodiversity in Asia. The initial subproject communes of SaLoong and Bo Y in Ngoc Hoi District and four communes in Dak Glei District (all in Kon TumProvince) are within or adjacent to the Chu Mom Ray and Ngoc Linh Nature Reserves.Subproject communes in protected areas also exist in Bach Ma National Park (Thua Thien HueProvince), Dak Rong/Phong Dien Nature Reserve (Quang Tri Province) and Phong Nha-Ke BankNature Reserve (Quang Binh Province). The biodiversity action plan ranks these reserves in thehighest category for biodiversity value, with high potential for tourism. Some of these protectedareas have been ranked as having global significance in terms of endangered species andhabitats. Biodiversity specialists around the world consider the Central Highlands of Viet Nam aglobally significant biodiversity hotspot. Biodiversity values are already under threat from logging,encroachment for agriculture, collection of fuelwood, and hunting. The key development featuresof nature reserves and national parks are in Appendix 2.

10. Within the proposed CRLIP area are more than 100 vertebrate species of significanteconomic value and more than 100 species that are rare and endangered, many with higheconomic value. Hunting for subsistence and especially for trade remains prevalent despiteprohibition. This is because the villagers currently have few other income-generatingopportunities. The supplementary study and a review of background documentation indicate thatmuch of the hunting is done by nonlocal residents. Local residents often do not have the basicequipment for hunting or the time required to hunt and bring wildlife to market. Improved accessand reduced transportation costs brought about by the construction of the Truong Son Highway(National Highway No. 14, also known as the Ho Chi Minh Highway) will undoubtedly induceserious adverse impacts on the biodiversity of the CRLIP area.

11. In the upland areas, aquatic wildlife (e.g., fish, crabs, and snails) account for more than 40percent of total animal protein consumption and always appear to have been an importantcomponent of livelihood systems. Anecdotal evidence indicates that catches are declining.According to local officials, the main reasons are (i) over-fishing and the illegal use of highlydestructive fishing methods (e.g., explosions and poisoning); (ii) loss of spawning grounds due toagricultural reclamation of wetlands; (iii) changes in hydrology caused by watershed deforestationand increased abstraction from rivers and streams for irrigation; and (iv) increased turbidity dueto soil erosion from arable cultivation on steep slopes and improper road construction. Owing todeclining catch, there has been considerable interest in aquaculture. C. Human and Economic Development 12. The target beneficiary population comprises about 345,000 residents in 136 of the poorestupland communes in the poorest districts. Over 60 percent comprises peoples from 11 ethnicminority groups: Bana, Brau, Bru-Van Kieu, Chut, K’Tu, Gia Rai, Gie Trieng, Hre, Ta Oi, R’ Mam,and Sedang. Not all of these ethnic minorities are indigenous peoples. Some have been resettledfrom the Northern Region while others traditionally migrated to and from the Lao People’sDemocratic Republic. Two main farming systems are followed. A system based on wet ricepaddies in flat, irrigated, or lowland areas is typical of the ethnic majority Kinh population andpredominant in the limestone mountains and irrigated areas of the Central Plateau. Elsewhere,lowland suitable for paddy cultivation is scarce. An essentially upland farming systempredominates, comprising upland annual crops (rice, maize, cassava); perennial cash crops(coffee, pepper); livestock (poultry, pigs, buffalo, cattle); pond aquaculture; agroforestry; hunting;fishing; and collection of nontimber forest products (NTFPs). Perennial cash cropping is a featureof the Central Plateau and parts of the eastern side of Truong Son. The Truong Son mountain

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range is the only part of the CRLIP area where remote communities may still rely primarily onshifting cultivation, hunting, and gathering for their livelihood. There is no significant industrial ormineral development in the area except the Yaly hydro-electricity plant in Kon Tum. The ruralparts of the Central Region appear to offer no comparative advantage over the well-establishedhandicraft clusters in the Northern Region. Tourism is becoming an important economic activity inparts of Thua Thien-Hue and Quang Binh. This sector will undoubtedly benefit from thedevelopment of the Truong Son Highway.

13. The issue of land allocation is crucial to the impact and sustainability of poverty reductioninitiatives in the Central Region. The socioeconomic survey confirms that (i) reliance onsubsistence production of staple crops is the root cause of rural poverty; (ii) escape from ruralpoverty depends on development of cash cropping, livestock, or off-farm income; and (iii)development of these alternatives is constrained by access to resources, especially land. In theuplands, poor households have been allocated small areas of infertile land while most of the goodagricultural land has been allocated to state-owned enterprises. Traditional community-basedland use rights over forests are not legally recognized. Consequently, about 90 percent of theforest land is controlled by state-owned enterprises or the military, and most of the householdsthat have been allocated land use titles within the remaining 10 percent of forest land are in-migrants (especially Kinh) as opposed to indigenous peoples.

14. Rural infrastructure is poorly developed throughout the CRLIP area. The average distanceto a market, bank, or district hospital is more than 10 kilometers and the road and track network,although extensive, is in poor condition. About 350 villages can only be accessed by four-wheel-drive vehicles during the dry season. At the commune level, less than 20 percent of the pooresthouseholds have access to safe drinking water and the proportion with access to sanitation isvery much lower. Less than 15 percent have access to electricity, either through the grid orprivate generators. D. Quality of Life Values 15. More than 70 percent of ethnic minorities and almost 80 percent of the pooresthouseholds lack permanent housing. About 75 percent of the population of the target communesfall below the World Bank’s overall poverty line and 60 percent lack the income to satisfy the2,100-calorie food requirement. The situation is even worse among ethnic minorities wherealmost 90 percent experience overall poverty and about 75 percent food poverty. The averageperiod of food deficit is 5.5 months for ethnic minority households, compared to 3.3 monthsamong Kinh households. Large quantities of unexploded ordnance contaminate much of QuangTri Province and the CRLIP areas along the former Ho Chi Minh Trail, posing a threat to all formsof land development. In A Luoi District (Thua Thien-Hue Province), the area around the site of aformer United States Army Special Forces airbase, used for storage of Agent Orange defoliant, isheavily polluted with dioxin that has entered the food chain. Health facilities within the proposedCRLIP area are generally poor, in terms of coverage and quality of infrastructure. This is reflectedin the high rates of infant mortality (55-70 per 1,000 compared to the national rate of 36.7 per1,000) and general morbidity among the adults. Although 90-100 percent of households alwaysclaim to boil water for drinking, incidence of gastro-intestinal disease is high throughout theCRLIP area. Several cholera epidemics have occured during the past 25 years, some causingthe loss of hundreds of lives. Most communes do have schools but they are often in poorcondition and usually only provide the first 2-3 years of primary education. Almost 30 percent ofthe target population are illiterate. Awareness of gender issues is low, especially among ethnicminorities. Women generally work longer hours, suffer worse food shortages, and have lower

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levels of education and literacy than men, and appear to wield little direct influence withincommunity institutions.

IV. SCREENING OF POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATIONMEASURES

A. Component 1: Food Security

16. The home gardens subcomponent is primarily a subsistence-level intervention linked toimproving dietary intake through increased food diversity and extended seasonal food availability.The poultry subcomponent focuses on improving the sustainability of semi-scavenging gardenpoultry through a vaccination program and improved animal husbandry. No significant adverseimpacts are associated with these subcomponents. Environmental benefits could be obtained ifincreased subsistence production reduces the need to resort to hunting to satisfy foodrequirements.

17. The sustainable extraction of forest products subcomponent includes demonstrations ofenergy-efficient stoves in an attempt to reduce domestic demand for fuelwood; apiculture toreduce the incidence of wild bee harvesting, which often involves the use of fires that sometimesescape control; and establishment of small (2 ha) demonstration woodlots. The agro-forestrysubcomponent involves enrichment of home gardens and field perimeters by planting native treesto provide fuelwood, house construction materials, fruit, wind breaks, and shade. No significantadverse environmental impacts are anticipated to arise from these interventions. Significantenvironmental benefits might be obtained if the planned subsistence production of fuelwood andpoles is sufficient to substitute for harvesting from natural forests.

18. The farmer-managed seed selection subcomponent is designed to encourage farmers toretain seed from the best-yielding, preferred character plants and thus bring about geneticimprovement of existing varieties of local upland rice, maize, and other crops. If successful, thiswill reduce the need for substitution of the existing wide range of local varieties by a few importedimproved varieties. The subcomponent offers good potential for environmental benefits throughconservation of crop biodiversity.

19. The primary focus of the water supply subcomponent is to provide water where this willresult in improved food security or enhanced opportunities of income generation by intensifyingproduction in home gardens and facilitating certain small-scale agro-processing activities. Themain activities comprise the installation of water supply systems and the training of villagers inmaintenance procedures. Avoidance or mitigation of potential adverse impacts will be achievedthrough the preparation and implementation of a construction and maintenance plan thatspecifies good practices in accordance with local standards. This will be facilitated by TAprovided through the CRLIP. No significant adverse impacts are likely to be associated with thissubcomponent.

20. For the CRLIP area within the buffer zone or adjacent to the protected areas, four projectinterventions in this component need to be carefully planned: livestock and animal husbandryimprovements, aquaculture improvements, cash crop expansion, and water supply provision.

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1. Livestock and Animal Husbandry Improvements

21. Major impacts are possible if (i) new livestock species (e.g., goats, whose grazing needs,villagers’ free-range grazing practices, and the sensitive ecosystem are incompatible) areintroduced and lead to habitat degradation; and (ii) as a result of better livestock health and vigor,ruminant herds are allowed to increase beyond the number the habitat can sustain, leading torapid deterioration of an ever increasing grazing area.

22. Mitigative measures proposed include the following: (i) no new species that exacerbateand/or place new pressure on local vegetation and nearby wildlife should be introduced; and (ii)prior to initiating the enhancements to animal husbandry and health services, a benchmarkcarrying capacity for large ruminants and pigs should be established for each village.

2. Aquaculture

23. Major impacts are possible if (i) fish pond operations are enlarged to commercialcapacity with large water and waste management requirements; (ii) exotic species with potentiallycompetitive advantages (if accidentally released) and with new diseases infect native stocks; and(iii) aquaculture activities are increased such that downstream minimum flow requirements arenot achieved, and fish pond effluent is discharged back into the natural stream untreated. Theseimpacts are of particular importance since the rivers and streams in the protected areas have notbeen studied, and biodiversity experts are certain that these waters contain a large number ofendemic and unrecorded species and micro-habitats. These need to be protected.

24. Mitigative measures proposed include the following: (i) Fishpond operations should beexpanded only enough to provide fish for villages within a commune. There should be no inter-commune operation unless conditions of water supply, land availability, and waste treatment areassured. (ii) No species not already introduced to area waters are grown. (iii) Prior to initiatingimprovement activities, a water balance analysis must be completed for the water supply,ensuring that downstream needs are not threatened and that any unique aquatic habitat isprotected. (iv) Fishponds must not be located in natural streams or have direct connection tonatural streams. All discharge water must be routed through nutrient sinks (e.g., wetlands or ricepaddies), and used for watering home gardens or agricultural crops, where they will be retainedfor 24-48 hours before discharging into streams

3. Cash-Crop Intensification

25. Major impacts are possible if the selected crop species (i) required large numbers ofclearing and/or affected surrounding vegetation and outside supplies (e.g., chemical fertilizers) togrow; and (ii) attracted wildlife such as monkeys (many endangered), setting up confrontationsbetween wildlife and farmers

26. Mitigative measures proposed include (i) focusing cash crop work on improvements toexisting crops through intensification in small areas, (ii) concentrating a large effort on homegarden improvements, (iii) enhancing NTFP production, and (iv) introducing composting as ameans for soil improvement and increased crop yields.

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4. Water Supply

27. Major local impacts are possible if safe potable water supply increases to a level thatattracts families, increasing the population in the protected areas.

28. Mitigative measures proposed include (i) examination of the water needs of each villageor commune, projecting needs of the local population and basing enlargement on such data; and(ii) preparation of local land use controls that limit settlement in protected area communes.2

B. Component 2: Income Generation

29. The group savings and credit subcomponent is essentially an on-lending initiative. Assuch, it could induce significant environmental impacts through the cumulative impact ofnumerous small-scale activities financed through the loans. Avoidance of adverse environmentalimpacts will depend on environmental screening of the investment proposals, but at present theWomen’s Union and VBARD do not have this capacity. The CRLIP therefore includes provisionfor an environmental specialist in each of the four provincial project implementation units (PIUs),with specific responsibilities including establishing mechanisms for effective environmentalevaluation and screening of all on-lending activities.

30. Similarly, the environmental specialists in the PIUs and subject specialists in the districtsupport teams will ensure that all interventions supported under the improved agriculturalproductivity subcomponent comply with the concept of sustainability and adopt clearly specifiedgood practices. Therefore, no significant adverse environmental impacts are anticipated. Anindirect beneficial environmental impact could be exerted throughout the CRLIP area bypromoting improved practices that are economically viable and environmentally sustainable.

31. The development of an off-farm income subcomponent will focus on encouraging poorhouseholds to adopt small-scale (cottage) agro-processing and handicrafts as income-generatingopportunities. Demonstrations will promote good practices and conditions attached to the loansadvanced through the credit and savings subcomponent, and require adoption of these practicesby the beneficiaries. Therefore, no significant adverse impacts are expected to be associated withthis subcomponent. These limits must be underscored in the protected area communes andvillages.

32. No new roads will be constructed through the CRLIP. Instead, the rural roadssubcomponent is expected to include a number of microprojects involving upgrading small villageaccess tracks or roads following existing alignments, and constructing individual structures tomake roads and tracks passable year-round and footbridges to link footpaths from remotevillages to the main road system. The responsibilities of the environment specialists in the PIUswill include providing TA to ensure that environmental impact avoidance and mitigation measuresare specified in the bidding files and terms of reference for design, construction, and supervisionof the works. No significant adverse impacts are anticipated and the proposed rehabilitation workcould realize significant environmental benefits by alleviating the present problems of soil erosion,and interrupted drainage and sedimentation associated with inadequate provision of drainage,culverts, and crossing structures.

2 Some of these special communes are only partly inside the buffer zone of the protected areas, such that within one

commune, thus several villages could be inside the boundary and others outside.

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33. For the CRLIP area within the buffer zone or adjacent to the protected area, roadrehabilitation is the single greatest threat to the nature reserves and parks containing CRLIPcommunes. This is because roads, in the absence of enforcement and monitoring, provide easyinflow of people and uncontrolled increases in the extraction of wildlife and NTFPs. Therefore, thelimiting improvements and upgrading to the Ministry of Transport Type B road should be closelyadhered to.

34. The subcomponent on small-scale irrigation systems provides for one rehabilitationscheme of 20 ha and one new run-of-river system with command area of about 10 ha perparticipating commune. No significant adverse impacts are anticipated because of the following:

(i) The schemes will only be implemented subject to local agreements that theirrigated areas will be allocated to the poorest households in order to reduceincome disparity.

(ii) Downstream beneficiary uses will be identified during detailed planning for theCRLIP, and used as the basis for determining the necessary minimum flows thatwill be maintained to avoid impairment of these activities.

(iii) The location, extent, and design of each scheme will be determined throughparticipatory planning to avoid conflicting resource uses and ensure reasonabledistribution of water throughout the service area.

The resources provided through the community development and institutional strengtheningcomponents will facilitate these processes. Similarly, no significant adverse impact is expectedto be associated with the installation of microhydroelectric systems.

35. For the CRLIP area within the buffer zone or adjacent to the protected area, no newirrigation schemes should be planned for any communes or villages inside a protected areaboundary.

C. Component 3: Community Development

36. The community development component is focused on the development of SARD-basedextended SDPs and comprises training, participatory planning, and related activities. Thiscomponent directly affects the entire CRLIP area. As the component is designed toinstitutionalize the concept of sustainable development, it clearly offers potential for significantenvironmental benefits by avoiding and mitigating the adverse impacts associated with thepresent systems of resource utilization. No community development activities in the protectedarea communes must encourage demographic shifts into the protected areas through communitydevelopment improvements.

D. Component 4: Institutional Strengthening

37. The institutional strengthening component is focused on enhancing the effectiveness ofsupport services. It offers potential for significant environmental benefits by promoting goodpractices by support services staff and facilitating the development of SARD-based extendedSDPs by upgrading the planning and participatory skills of commune and Department of Planningand Investment officers.

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38. Understanding among villagers of the importance and sensitivity of living in a protectedarea is almost nonexistent. As a result, no special precautions are taken. Simple environmentalawareness raising at the village level, defining the meaning, need, and value to the villagers ofthe protected area is therefore urged. As part of such a program, the protected area’s core zoneboundary needs to be marked on the ground.

V. INSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORINGPROGRAM

39. Rural development projects are usually both technically and environmentally sound andsustainable. However, if the capacity to promote, implement, and (where necessary) enforcegood practices is flawed, then adverse impacts can be anticipated. Thus, well-developed systemsfor promoting SARD are critical for satisfactory avoidance and mitigation of the potentialenvironmental impacts associated with the CRLIP. Through the promotion of SARD-basedplanning at the village and commune levels, the CRLIP seeks to institutionalize the concept ofintegrating environment and sustainability issues into socioeconomic planning. This appears tooffer the best prospect of retaining the capacity for environmental screening and promoting goodpractices beyond the CRLIP’s duration.

40. In terms of physical interventions, the greatest risk is likely to arise from the cumulativeimpact of numerous small activities financed by on-lending through the credit and savingssubcomponent. The identified credit agencies, the Women’s Union and VBARD, do not have theinstitutional capacity for effective and efficient environmental screening of investment proposals.Avoidance and mitigation of potential adverse impacts will therefore depend on the effectivenessof the environment specialists to be appointed to each of the four provincial PIUs.

41. The technical support services also lack the resources to effectively promote andsupervise good practices across the proposed CRLIP area. Although this capacity will beenhanced through the CRLIP, primary responsibility for promoting sustainable practices must restwith the district support systems and technical specialists to be appointed through the CRLIP.

42. For the protected area communes and villages, a participatory monitoring approach isproposed with collaboration between the independent group experienced in managing Viet Nam’sprotected areas and commune and village representatives trained by the independent group tomonitor the impacts (Appendix 3).

VI. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

43. The screening process shows that none of the proposed CRLIP subcomponents isassociated with potential significant adverse environmental impacts that cannot be avoided ormitigated through the environmental protection measures that have already been incorporatedinto the design of the CRLIP.

44. A possible exception might arise in the case of any proposals to develop subproject areasthat are adjacent to existing or planned protected areas. In this case, improvements to ruraltransport systems and increased opportunities for investing in extractive activities (arising fromimproved credit facilities) could result in severe adverse environmental impacts. Road or trackalignments through or adjacent to forests almost invariably induce further planned and unplannedland use and resource exploitation patterns, as a consequence of increased physical access andlower transportation costs. Similarly, improving credit access may remove an important constraintto unsustainable harvesting of forest products. Preventing or mitigating unwanted changes will

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require long-term companion efforts within and around the protected area, focusing onencouraging local support for forest and wildlife conservation and effective management and lawenforcement. This combination has been elusive in most developing countries.

45. To better address impacts on protected area communes, a set of special environmentallimits to the CRLIP activities in such locations should be adopted (Appendix 4). Secondly, thespecial mitigative measures defined in Appendix 3 provide a second line of defense for avoidingthe degradation of protected areas.

46. In view of the sensitivity and international importance of these areas as well as their beinghome to thousands of families, the independent group experienced in managing Viet Nam’sprotected areas should be invited to lead the design and conduct of a CRLIP monitoring action inthese special areas. The independent group would be required to train and retain at least 50-60percent of the monitoring staff from protected area communes and villages. At this stage of theCRLIP’s design, the proposed project communes within a protected area are (i) Sa Loong inNgoc Hoi District; Dak Plo, Dak Choong, Muing Hoong and Ngoc Linh in Dak Glei District, all inKon Tum Province; (ii) three communes in Bach Ma National Park in Thua Thien Hue Province;(iii) six communes in the proposed Dak Rong Nature Reserve in Quang Tri Province; and (iv) fourcommunes in Phong Na-Ke Bang Nature Reserve in Quang Binh Province.

47. CRLIP communes are within and just outside their protected areas, and along streamsflowing into the areas and animal travel routes, etc. Other projects such as roads, can haveserious impacts on an entire region.3 CRLIP activities in these communes may affect the naturalresources and biodiversity of the protected areas through cumulative impacts. Therefore, oncethe exact CRLIP activities and communes are identified, the areas of influence around naturereserves and national parks will be defined and a cumulative effects analysis undertaken. Themain output will be to build environmental awareness and prepare a set of guiding principals onnatural resource stewardship for the communes within the area of influence but not necessarilyinside the protected area boundary.

VII. CONCLUSIONS

48. The IEE of the proposed CRLIP concludes that suitable measures to avoid or mitigatepotential adverse environmental impacts have been fully integrated into the design of the CRLIP’ssubcomponents, except for communes in the buffer zone and adjacent to protected areas.Therefore, special mitigation and monitoring actions need to be implemented to minimize thepotential adverse environmental impacts

49. The infrastructure development subcomponent should not include the construction of ruralroads on new alignments through or near sensitive areas. Most of the planned improvements willbe limited to rehabilitation, improvement, and some widening of existing rural roads, tracks, andfootpaths. Many of the measures (e.g., provision of culverts and improved grading) will enhanceenvironmental stability and reduce maintenance costs. In the event of a need to open new shortsections or undertake more extensive work, the CRLIP includes provision for TA to ensure thatthe necessary follow-up studies will be properly integrated into the detailed design andsupervision contracts.

3 At least three such projects are ongoing in the CRLIP provinces.

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50. Where subproject areas are within or adjacent to existing and proposed nature reserves,national parks or other biodiversity conservation areas (16 communes are in three existing naturereserves and one proposed nature reserve, and 3 communes are adjacent to national parks), theCRLIP will request that an independent group experienced in managing Viet Nam’s protectedareas be involved in the development of subprojects and in monitoring to ensure that projectactivities are compatible with the management priorities of the protected areas.

51. Through its emphasis on SARD, the CRLIP offers excellent potential for fully integratingthe management of protected areas into the SDPs of the local communities. However, threats toprotected areas invariably increase when access is improved through interventions such asconstruction or upgrading of roads. These threats also invariably increase as the project activitiesindirectly attract new economic migrants into the area, or if project benefits are misdirectedtoward providing the means for exacerbating unsustainable exploitation (e.g., buffalo intended foragriculture could instead be used to haul timber out of forests; cash income may not bereinvested in agricultural production but in tools and equipment for converting forests intofarmland, harvesting logs, or fuelwood, or unregulated hunting and fishing). It is difficult to avoidor mitigate against these direct and indirect impacts without detailed site-specific studies.Therefore, the CRLIP should not support any SDPs that are likely to impact on existing orplanned protected areas unless the independent group has participated in the identification,preparation, and appraisal of the plans.

52. These findings show that, although the CRLIP’s environmental impacts are manageablethrough the proposed mitigation measures, the CRLIP’s environmental performance shouldcontinue to be evaluated. The proposed criteria for CRLIP activities within the buffer zone oradjacent to protected areas (Appendix 4) need to be strictly implemented. The proposedmonitoring plan that involves the independent group is also critical. In addition, the followingshould be undertaken:

(i) another detailed biodiversity impact study, similar to the one conducted in NgocLinh Nature Reserve for Dak Rong and Phong Nha Nature Reserves, with addedfield efforts in Chu Mom Ray Nature Reserve and Bach Ma National Park;

(ii) a cumulative effects analysis of all communes that are in the area of influence foreach protected area, (including other projects in the area) and impact on naturalresources of the protected areas; and

(iii) detailed environmental performance during the third year of CRLIP implementationto evaluate the CRLIP’s environmental compliance with the loan document andother ADB policies.

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APPENDIXES

Number Title Page Cited On(page, para.)

1 Strategies for Sustainable Agriculture and RuralDevelopment

13 2,5

2 Key Development Features of Nature Reservesand National Parks in the Project Area

15 3,9

3 Environmental Management Action Plan forActivities in Communes in Nature Reserves andNational Parks

16 9, 42

4 Summary of Environmental Criteria and Limits toDevelopment Activities Proposed for Villages andCommunes in Nature Reserve and National ParkCore and Buffer Zones

24 10,45

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Appendix 1, page 1

STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

1. The Central Region Livelihood Improvement Project (CRLIP) will adopt a processapproach whereby the target households and their communities would be supported andencouraged to develop and implement integrated, multi-sectoral local area development plansthrough strategies for sustainable agriculture and rural development (SARD) developed by theFood and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as a tool for implementing Agenda 21. This willinvolve:

(i) defining the system boundaries, paying attention to possible differences betweenthe actual-use or customary-use boundaries and the current legal cadastralboundaries;

(ii) assessing the impact of the external environment, especially (i) markets; and (ii)policy, legal, and institutional factors;

(iii) determining the perceived household and community needs using participatorymethods;

(iv) determining the initial state of the system, and the status of the productivecomponents; infrastructure; and demographic, financial, administrative, socialand cultural features;

(v) providing a preliminary analysis of current and potential sustainability;

(vi) assuring participatory preparation and implementation of local action plans forachieving SARD; and

(vii) monitoring sustainability using an appropriate set of quantifiable indicators ofselected criteria.

2. The focus of planning development should be on the household and community levelinstead of identifying and quantifying national and provincial planning, which will be a verydifficult task. Therefore, to implement the concept of SARD should be a highly participatory anddecentralized process approached from the perspective of an individual household andcommune level by referring to the national and provincial planning program. The following needto be considered in implementing SARD approach for the CRLIP:

(i) Flexible project implementation through hamlet- and commune-levelparticipatory planning, monitoring, and evaluation achieves positiveresults (e.g., the FAO-Viet Nam National Integrated Pest ManagementProgram).

(ii) Projects that operate through field demonstration at the local level andpolicy and institutional reform at the central level can very effectivelycommunicate their field experience to the center, and the central-levelchanges to the field. For instance, the Mountain Rural DevelopmentProgram, Swedish International Development Agency supported (i)institutional development to improve the demand-driven support structure,

14

with participatory village planning at the core of the program; (ii) thedevelopment and testing of methods and systems for sustainableincreases in land use productivity; and (iii) the creation of policies,recommendations, and guidelines for sustainable upland developmentbased on learning from work in five provinces.

(iii) Instituting full stakeholder participation in decision making andimplementation appears to be the way to incorporate local aspirations intoactivities. Terms and conditions for implementation responsibilities needto be transparent from the outset, with a specific mechanism for agreeingon changes in project design and implementation.

Appendix 1, page 2

15

KEY DEVELOPMENT FEATURES OF NATURE RESERVES AND NATIONAL PARKSIN THE PROJECT AREA

Nature Reserves and National Parks

Factor Ngoc Linh,Kon Tum

Mom Ray,Kon Tum

Bach Ma,Thua-Thien-

Hue

Dak Rong-Phong Dien,Quang Tri

Phong Nha-keBang, Quang

BinhTotal Area ( ha) 159,409 148,658 28,423 343,534Core Area 59,270 48,658 7,123 40,526 (DR) 147,945Buffer Area 100,139 100,000 21,300a Not Available 195,400

Core Communes 0 0 0 Not AvailableTan Trach

Thuong Hoab

Core Villages 0 0 None Not AvailableArem

Yen Hepc

Buffer Communes(no.) 8 7 9 Not Available 9Buffer Villages (no.) 19 Not Available >20 Not Available Not AvailableTotal Population:Core and Buffer 13,875 27,411 62,774 Not Available 45,298

Population Density 0.09/ha 0.18/ha 2.21/ha Not Available 0.13/haKm of Roads

All weather 83>60 under

constructiond 39 Not Available Not Available

Seasonal 253 >100 223 Not Available Not Available

Tracks and TrailsUnknown, but

manyUnknown,but many Extensive

Not Available Not Available

Total AgriculturalArea in Buffer (ha) 9,956 Not Available 4,454 Not Available 5,066

Biodiversity Value,Ranking in Country No. 1or 2 No. 1 No. 7

Not rankedas rankingundertaken

beforereserve was

proposed

Not Available

Sources : Bird Life International 1999, 2001; WWF 1997, 1999, 2001; FIPI, 1999; Le Xuan Canh et al, 1997.

a This area included 12,613 forest regeneration and rehabilitation area.b Communes and villages located included in the Project.c Ibid.d This is the former Ho Chi Minh Truck Road running through the center Chu Mom Ray Nature Reserve

Appendix 2

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN FOR ACTIVITIES IN COMMUNESIN NATURE RESERVES AND NATIONAL PARKS

1. The environmental management plan for the Central Region Livelihood Improvement Project (CRLIP). Implementationof mitigative measures should not be estimated as an extra item of the loan but as an integral part of planning and implementing theCRLIP. The added inputs by specialists and the training and involvement of local people will add to the CRLIP’s cost. About 1.5percent of the total CRLIP cost will need to be earmarked for mitigation planning and implementation in nature reserve and nationalpark areas. The suggested cumulative impact analysis is an additional important mitigation and as such needs a separate cost item.The cost of the cumulative effects study, which would cover all buffer zone and area CRLIP communes is estimated at $95,000, ofwhich 35 percent would go to local assistance. The estimated costs for implementation of the mitigation and monitoring plan are asfollows.

2. Mitigation. Aside from the project implementation unit, a neutral party will be needed to monitor environmental impactsassociated with the CRLIP. In this context, an independent group, in collaboration with other nonprofit organizations experienced inmanaging protected areas, could undertake this assignment and provide a report directly to the executing agency and AsianDevelopment Bank. Estimated monitoring cost per year will be about $100,000, of which 35 percent would go to national and localinput costs.

3. Monitoring . Monitoring is proposed once during design, every six months during construction, and annually for three yearsonce the project is implemented and demonstrations and pilot applications are operational.

ResponsibilityEnvironmentalImpact/Issue

Miti gation Measures a inProtected Areas, and

Buffer and Core Zones

NL

CM

BM

DR

PN Location Time

Frame b Implementation Super -vision Monitoring

A. Infrastructure Rehabilitation

1. Rural Roadsa. Failure to identifysensitive flora and faunalcommunities duringplanning stage and theinitiation of clearing andearthworks in these areaspotentially result inseriously degradinghabitats, wildlifemovement corridors, etc.,thus affecting Ngoc Linh’sbiodiversity.

Undertake a rapid survey ofproposed ROW. If rare andendangered species arefound, either attempt toreduce or rethinkrehabilitation action for thatarea, and at the same time,consider replanting.

� � � � � ROWcorridor andadjoiningvalleys

As part ofroad designwork, beforeconstruction

Design team andbotany specialists

IG, in collaboration withon-the-job trainedcommunity monitors

PIU has to ensure thatthe recommendationsfrom the survey will beincluded in the CRLIPdesign.

NP = national park; NR = nature reserve

16A

ppendix 3, page 1




NL

CM

BM

DR

PN Location Time


b. Inadequate/unenforced constructionguidelines related to themanagement of allearthworks atconstruction areas (e.g.,restriction of sidecasting,borrow pit establishment,and cut and fill erosionprotection), leading tofloral and faunalcommunity/habitatdegradation and loss, andchronic surface waterpollution and siltation ofaquatic habitat.

Confirm that environmentalconstruction guidelines arein place and implementable.If not, improve theseguidelines.

Any postconstruction repairand erosion stabilizationshould apply bioengineeringtechniques.c

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

All work sitesduringconstruction

Constructionperiod ofroadrehabilitation

Constructionperiod

Contractor

Contractor, withdirect advice frombioengineer,utilizingvillage/communelevel paid labor,and relying onlocal knowledge ofplant materials touse inrehabilitation.

DPI

DPI


PIU has to ensure thatbidding and contractdocuments for roadrehabilitation cover therequired mitigationmeasures to minimizeimpacts during theconstruction stage.

c. Inadequate work areamanagement (e.g.,insufficient processing ofconstruction wastes, andprevention of stagnantwater areas), leading totainted surface water, risein insect-born diseases,and littering.

Confirm that environmentalconstruction guidelines arein place and implementable.If not, improve theseguidelines.

� � � � � All work sitesduringconstruction

Constructionperiod ofroadrehabilitation

Contractor DPI IG, in collaboration withon-the-job trainedcommunity monitors

PIU has to ensure thatthe environmentalrequirements arecovered in the biddingand contract documentsand implemented.

d. Excessively large(over-designed) roadpermitting easy access bylarge vehicles, leading torapid in-migration, naturalresource extraction, andpermanent biodiversitylosses.

Under all circumstances,rethink road improvementsin relation to otherassistance beforeproceeding.

No new alignments,realignments and changesonly to meet standardmountain Road Type B areundertaken.

� � � � � Anywhere inbuffer andareaadjacent toNRs andNPs

Duringdesign andselection ofrehabilitationsites

Design/planningteam with activelocal involvement

DPI IG, in collaboration withon-the-job trainedcommunity monitors

Appendix 3, page 2

17




NL

CM

BM

DR

PN Location Time


2. Water Supply and Irrigationa. Encroachment intowetland areas andswamp forests, leading toloss of endangeredhabitat and biodiversity.

Since the CRLIP will not beconstructing new roads, thethreat will come fromrehabilitation in or nearendangered ecosystems,and filling, cutting and useof borrow materials. Clearareas for irrigation ponds,small-scale processingfacilities, etc. with greatcare.

To prevent damage, identifylocally sensitive sites on amap, and take all efforts toavoid disturbing theseareas. Complete these aspart of the preliminaryinventory.

� � Anywhere inbuffer andareaadjacent toNRs andNPs

Duringdesign andselection ofrehabilitationsites, andany areasproposed forclearing andchange fromnaturalvegetationstate

IG with at least 50percent localinvolvement

DPI

b. Establishment ofirrigation ponds and watersupply-related facilitiesalong and/or blockingtravel routes of wildlife,leading to wildlife stressand exposure to huntingand excessive harvesting.

As part of the planning anddesign for these facilities,villagers, in closeconsultation with the IG,establish the best locationand design of thesestructures to avoid damage.

Any postconstruction repairand erosion stabilizationshould apply bioengineeringtechniques.

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

Anywhere inbuffer zone,particularlywhen gettingwithin 1 kmof the corearea andwhere wildlifetravelcorridorsmay exist.

Planning anddesign stagebeforeconstructionbegins

Environmentspecialist, andbioengineeringtechnician workingclosely with paidlocal villageassistance

DPI andPIU

DARD


PIU

Appendix 3, page 3

18




NL

CM

BM

DR

PN Location Time


c. Improper waterbalance estimates,excessive waterwithdrawals, leading todownstream flowimpairments (reductionsand degradation of likelyd

unique aquaticecosystem and itsspecies assemblage).

Whenever small-scaleirrigation rehabilitation orestablishment isconsidered, complete abasic water balancecalculation so that adequatedownstream flows remainyear round.

Wherever possible,prioritize rainwaterconservation/management, coupled withwatershed rehabilitationworks to strengthen watermanagement capability.

� � � � � Throughoutwork sitesproposed inthe bufferand corezone, or anysites wherecore zonestreams,rivers andlakes mightbe affected

Planning anddesign stagebeforeconstructionbegins

Environmentspecialist, andcivil engineer,working closelywith paid localvillage assistance

DPI andPIU, andpossiblycommunepeoplecommittees

DARD


PIU

d. Availability of waterleading to the misuse ofpesticides and fertilizers,polluting waterways,potentially affecting avianbiodiversity by interferingwith egg production etc.,and destabilizing localfood webs for endemicbirds and reptiles.

All assistance in this areashould strictly adhere to theconcepts and interventionsinvolving IPM, as definedand emphasized throughoutthe CRPR projectdocuments.

Initiate IPM as part of thefarmer field school trainingdescribed in the planningdocuments prepared byAgrisystems.

� � � � � Throughoutwork sitesproposed inthe bufferand corezone

At all stagesof the project

Environment andIPM specialistworking with localcommunity


DARD


PIU

e. Irrigation canal systemimproperly designedleading to erosionproblems duringmonsoon rains, gullyformation, degradation ofwildlife habitat, andsiltation of streams andrivers.

Match design to need,availability or resources andlikely long-term degradationof NR and NP areas.Always plan and applybioengineering methods tocontrol slope instability anderosion.

� � � � � Throughoutwork sitesproposed inthe bufferand corezone, andareasneedingrepair andrehabilitation

Design,construction,andoperation

Environmentspecialist, and civilengineer, withcommunityassistance



19A

ppendix 3, page 4




NL

CM

BM

DR

PN Location Time


Design ways to enhancewildlife habitat throughinnovative canaldevelopment and plantings(e.g., live fences).

DARD PIU

B. Food Security Improvement 1. Livestock and Animal Husbandrya. Location of livestockdevelopment pasturesand fodder sites in areaswhere sensitive wildlifehabitat is significantlydegraded and hunting ortrapping takes place.

As part of the local siteenvironmental inventory,identify important sensitivesites and avoid disturbingthem, and establish do-not-disturb perimeters aroundthese sites.

� � � � � Anyproposedwork areawithin bufferand corezones

Design,planning andoperationalperiod

Livestock,agroforestry, andenvironmentspecialists,working closelywith village-levelassistance

DPI andPIU andpossiblycommunepeoplecommittees


PIU

b. Competition oflivestock with wildlife forvegetation and waterresources, leading todisplacement of wildlifeand/or hunting andtrapping to make room fordomestic animals.

As part of the villageestablishment’ plan, identifywildlife that damage cropsand their likely habitats.Avoid these areas andconsider installation ofanimal distraction methods,such as planting ofundesirable vegetation(e.g., castor bean) andinstallation of variousdevices to keep animalsaway from pastures andfodder areas.


Design,planning andoperationalperiod

Livestock,agroforestry, andenvironmentspecialists,working closelywith villageassistance

DPI andPIU andpossiblycommunepeoplecommittees

IG in collaboration withon-the-job trainedcommunity monitors

PIU

c. Improvement in animalhealth care, reduction indisease, and rapidpopulation increase thatexceeds the grazing landcarrying capacity andfodder resources, leadingto encroachment ofregeneration forests,overgrazing, steep slopeerosion, and biodiversityloss.

As one of the key first steps(as defined in the CRPRproject working papers),precede animal husbandryefforts with roughestimations of carryingcapacity for all ruminantsand pigs in buffer and corezone areas. Prevent corezone use all together, andestimates should embracethe no net degradationprinciple.


Programdesign andplanningstage

Livestock andagroforestryspecialists, andbioengineer,working closelywith villageassistance

Communepeoplecommittees


PIU

20A

ppendix 3, page 5




NL

CM

BM

DR

PN Location Time


d. Overharvesting ofwildlife and NTFPs inorder to maintain foodsecurity, withoutknowledge of what theharvesting limits are.

To assist with defining thelimits to wildlife and NTFPextraction, providecommunities with bettermanagement tools, and aset of permissibleharvesting targets for allwildlife and flora now beingused. The targets must beadaptable and regularlyinvestigated and updated byspecialists.

� � � � � All areaslocatedinsideprotectedareaboundaries

During loanimplementation andperiodicallyas the CRLIPprogresses

IG working with thePIU environmentspecialist andspecificparticipation oflocal users.

Communepeoplecommitteesandprotectedareamanagement board


2. Cash Crop Introductiona. Clearing of sensitiveforest lands in the bufferzone to increase cashcrop growing areas,leading to loss of naturalforest resources andassociated NTFPs,decreasing biodiversitythrough habitatdegradation and loss.

Conduct site-specificsurveys to establishsensitive habitat linkages tocore zone and avoid suchareas, (e.g., ground coverand canopy).

Prepare an “establishment”plan for each village,identifying sensitivefeatures to avoid and anyother environmentalboundaries.

See items A.2.a, b, e, andB.1.a.


Programdesign andplanningstage

Agroforestry andenvironmentspecialists,working closelywith villageassistance



PIU

b. Selection of overlysteep land for cash cropexpansion leading toerosion, pollution of watercourses, and siltation ofaquatic resources,thereby degrading thereserves’ biodiversity.

Limit cash crop applicationsto slopes of <10 degrees.

Use nonmechanized sitepreparation methods.

Retain as much existingnatural vegetative cover aspossible.


Programdesign andplanningstage, andconstructionperiod

Agroforestry andenvironmentspecialists, andbioengineerworking closelywith villageassistance



PIU

21A

ppendix 3, page 6




NL

CM

BM

DR

PN Location Time


c. Cash crop successes,triggering largerplantings, and increasedand improper use ofpesticides and fertilizers,leading to species lossesand contamination ofaquatic resource (fish andtheir food)

Use IPM and composting toprovide adequate soilnutrition in order to steerfarmers away from agro-chemicals.

Conduct adequate site-specific stream and riversurveys to identifyparticularly sensitive areaswhere endemic and/orendangered communitiesmay exist.

See item A.2.d.


Programdesign andplanningstage, andconstructionperiod

Agroforestry andenvironmentalspecialist, andbioengineerworking closelywith villageassistance



PIU

3. Aquaculturea. Planning of fishpondoperations that utilize andpollute excessiveamounts of water, andreintroduction intonatural streams andrivers, leading to aquaticsystem contamination,fish diseases,degradation of habitat,and biodiversity loss.

In addition to undertakingrough water balancecalculations, as defined inA.2.c, the principles of noexotic species and no directdischarge of fishpond waterinto natural streams shouldbe followed. Creative use ofthis enriched water shouldbe devised, working closelywith farmers.

In this area, discourageenlargement of ponds,unless protein supplydepends on it and the areabenefits from having a smallwater reservoir.Plant and rehabilitate pondarea shores to encouragenatural water retention, andat the same time, guardagainst insect-bornediseases through good IPM.


Programdesign andplanningstage,constructionperiod andoperatingperiod

Forestry,environment, andIPM specialistsworking closelywith villageassistance



PIU

22A

ppendix 3, page 7




NL

CM

BM

DR

PN Location Time


b. Use of exotic fishstocks that could lead topredation on indigenousstocks, and spread ofparasites and disease tolocal species, withpotential catastrophicextinctions.

Only use species widelyused in the area (e.g.,tilapia).


Programdesign andplanningstage, andconstructionandoperatingperiods

Livestock(fisheries),environment, andIPM specialistworking closelywith villageassistance



C. Other Indirect Impacts1. Population growth andrelocation of householdsinto the buffer zones

Seriously introduce landuse controls as well ascadastral inventories to limitcommon-land and landavailable for settlement.

� � � � � All proposedwork areas

Duringprogramdesign andonwards

Land use plannerand villagecommittee

Villagepeople’scommittee

IG, in collaboration withon-the-job trained villagemonitors

2. Annual populationgrowth in Kon TumProvince is about 2.2percent, an increase byat least 58 families everyyear. With the improvedconditions. more in-migration is expected,leading to natural habitatlosses, NTFP harvesting,wildlife trapping, andbiodiversity degradation.

See item C.1. � � IG, in collaboration withon-the-job trained villagemonitors

3. Resettlement of areasof buffer zone by tribalpeople who aretraditionally hunters andare shifting cultivators,leading to rapid localnatural resourcedepletions, and rise inanimal mortalities.

Make officials and plannersat the central, provincial,and local levels aware ofthe differing indigenoustraditions and land usepatterns, which must befactored into relocation andland allocation plans.

� � ? ? ? All areas inbuffer zone

Duringdetailedplanningstage

Commune-levelofficial, workingwith land useplanner and villagelevel assistance

IG, in collaboration withon-the-job trained villagemonitors

23A

ppendix 3, page 8

BM = Bach Ma National Park; CM = Chu Mom Ray Nature Reserve; CRLIP = Central Region Livelihood Improvement Project; CRPR = Central Region PovertyReduction; DARD = Department of Agricultural and Rural Development; DPI = Department of Planning and Investment; DR = Dak Rong/Phong Dien NatureReserve; IG = independent group experienced in managing Viet Nam’s protected areas (e.g. The World Conservancy Union, World Wildlife Fund, Bird LifeInternational); IPM = integrated pest management; NL = Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve; NTFP = nontimber forest product; PN = Phong Nha-Ke Bang NatureReserve; PIU = project implementation unit; ROW = right of waya Some of the mitigation measures are preventive in nature while others include additional measures in terms of environmental conservation, and

involve physical and construction works.b Time frame refers to the time period during which the mitigative measures need to be taken.c An excellent guide to bioengineering is: Howell, John. 1999. Roadside Bioengineering Site Handbook and Reference Manual (two volumes).

Department of Roads. Government of Nepal and UK Department of International Development.d The aquatic ecology of all but BM has not been surveyed and World Wildlife Fund estimates that many previously unknown species exist in these

waters.

SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA AND LIMITS TO DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES PROPOSEDFOR VILLAGES AND COMMUNES IN NATURE RESERVE AND NATIONAL PARK BUFFER AND CORE ZONES

ProjectActivity Ngoc Linh NR, Chu Mom Ray NR, Bach Ma NP, Dak Rong NR, Phong Nha-Ke Dang NR and NP Special Specifications

Infrastructure Rehabilitationa. Roads - Use Ministry of Transport Mountain Road Type B standard.

- No sidecasting and no cutting of trees.- Prevent filling in of surface watercourses during construction.- Undertake immediate slope stabilization methods using bioengineering techniques.- Do not provide any road upgrades in core zones.- No extraction of construction materials (sand, rock, and gravel) in forest areas.

Bach Ma Park - no roadimprovement unlessexisting road in use andupgrading is badlyneeded. High populationdensity maybe aggravatedby better roads.

b. Irrigation Do not provide new irrigation schemes in protected area buffer zone communes, unless farming operations needenhancing or irrigation is essential for subsistence harvesting.

Bach Ma Park - noirrigation schemes in thebuffer zone.

Food Security ImprovementGenerally, this activity should focus on diversification and improvement if home gardens, to a level where small-scale local sale of produce is possible.a. Livestock

and AnimalHusbandry

- The component can be implemented in protected area communes, but not before the local carrying capacityfor ruminants and pigs has been established. In general, a limit of four ruminants and six pigs should beimposed for buffer zone households.

- In general, this work in protected area communes should focus on improving the health of herds and flocks,with an express intent to not encourage the increasing in their size.

- Any enhancement of pastures and grazing areas should maintain the 25 meter buffer zone along naturalwatercourses.

Chu Mom Ray - given theexisting level of bufferzone use, andencroachment into thecore area, no increase ofherds beyond householdfood security improvementshould be encouraged.

b. Aquaculture(Fishponds)

- Fishpond operations in protected areas should generally be no larger than that which permits trade withinone or a few communes.

- No commercial operations.- Do not enlarge fish ponds found in buffer zone communities.- Buffer zone streams cannot have their natural water flow regimes changed as a result of pond construction

and water draw-off.- No introduction of exotic species that were not previously used in this part of Viet Nam.- Pond water discharge must be treated either through drainage into fields or through a wetland to prevent the

degradation of aquatic resources.- All natural watercourses in protected areas should have a 25 meter riparian buffer zone established, such that

no intrusive activity is permitted, other than the collection of nontimber forest products (NTFPs).

c. Cash CropIntroduction

- Cash crop introduction or enhancement should focus on improving existing crops (e.g., rice, fruits, andvegetables) including training on local seed selection.

- Enhancement of fuelwood production, while not enlarging the available growing area, should be pursued.- Cultivation of the NTFP plants should be considered as trials for cash crop conversion/replacement using

traditional knowledge.

24A

ppendix 4, page 1NP = National Park; NR = Nature Reserve

ProjectActivity Ngoc Linh NR, Chu Mom Ray NR, Bach Ma NP, Dak Rong NR, Phong Nha-Ke Dang NR and NP Special Specifications

- Cash crop introduction in protected area communes should not involve the use of commercial fertilizers, butfocus on composting, soil improvement, and integrated pest management.

d. Water Supply Focus should be on providing existing households with potable water, but limiting volumes available to theresident populations of the protected area communes. Enhanced protected area communes should not lead topopulation influx.

Microcredit ProvisionIn the buffer zone, any microcredit scheme should be limited to activities that (i) do not require clearing more than 300-400 square meters; (ii) are not energyintensive, and use environment-friendly energy sources if needed; (iii) do not generate excessive noise and air pollution; and (iv) remain at a scale that does notattract in-migration to the buffer zone.a. Income Generation Schemesi. Diversified

Food CropsConcentrate on improving the existing crops being grown in the buffer zone, and attempt to not introduce newones unless they are intended to replace existing unsuccessful ones.

ii. SmallProcessingFacilities

- Limit this assistance to reducing the environmental impact of such facilities already in the buffer zone,increasing output quality, relying less on outside feed stock, and using local packaging materials. In areaswhere no such processing exists, carefully consider facility location so as not to attract in-migration andfurther erosion degrading the buffer zone.

- Consider introduction of processing for NTFP, including application of environment-friendly harvestingmethods and NTFP maintenance procedures.

b. Other Indirect Impactsi. Population

Growth andIn-migration

Any infrastructure improvements, food security gains, enhancement of livestock health, etc., will attract people.Coupled with the already rapid growth rate particularly among indigenous people, these could rapidly stimulatethe population in buffer zones. An enforced land use policy combined with a push to land ownership andcadastral survey.

ii. OtherProjects

Other large-scale construction projects pose huge threats to NRs. To date, these are road works, includingconstruction of the Ho Chi Minh Highway, ADB rural access roads in Kon Tum Province, and other roadimprovements in buffer and core zones in these special areas. The problem is not so much with the roadsthemselves. It is the absence of land use controls, and the means to prevent rapid inflow of people and outflowof resources with little benefit for the local people and doing great damage to the NR and NP process. While theProject has control only over its own road rehabilitation, it should encourage more environment-friendlyapproaches, including adequate patrolling and monitoring when addressing overall NR/NP conservation withauthorities.

iii.EnvironmentalProblems

Improved road conditions will reduce the time to bring produce to the market, and improve access to basicservices (e.g., health and education). However, road rehabilitation during construction and operation might alsocreate environmental problems (e.g., increased illegal wildlife hunting and trafficking, NTFP harvesting, andlogging). Therefore, an IG experienced in managing Viet Nam’s protected areas must be formed to help theCRLIP monitor indirect impacts.

25A

ppendix 4, page 2

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