According to the agreed upon plan, PanNature and other organizations will cooperate on numerous activities to assist VNFOREST in implementing evidence-based research for the proposed Forest Law, which will replace the Law on Forest Protection and Development of 2004. PanNature will also support VNFOREST in establishing the Vietnam's Forest Owners Association.
On November 10, BRIDGE financed a training workshop entitled Reporting on Mekong Dams – Science, Policies and Voices from the Ground in An Giang Province in the Mekong Delta. It was organized by Pan Nature, a Vietnamese NGO, to brief journalists on the concerns and perspectives of local stakeholders on planned dams on the Mekong River. Thirty journalists from national and provincial newspapers and radio and television agencies in the delta attended, as will as representatives from academia and NGOs from Vietnam and other Mekong countries.
Large hydropower projects are often propagated as a “clean and green” source of electricity by international financial institutions, national governments and other actors. They greatly benefit from instruments meant to address climate change, including carbon credits under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), credits from the World Bank’s Climate Investment Funds, and special financial terms from export credit agencies and green bonds. The dam industry advocates for large hydropower projects to be funded by the Green Climate Fund, and many governments boost dams as a response to climate change through national initiatives. For example, at least twelve governments with major hydropower sectors have included an expansion of hydropower generation in their reports on Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs).
On Thursday, October 29, 2015, stakeholders and experts on hydropower development and water resources in the Lower Mekong River Basin participated in a panel discussion entitled, “The New Mekong: Changes and Expectations.” Panelists included Mr. Trinh Le Nguyen (People and Nature Reconciliation), Mr. Nguyen Hong Toan (former Vietnam National Mekong Committee Secretary-General), Dr. Richard Cronin (The Stimson Center), Dr. Tran Viet Thai (Institute for Foreign Policy and Strategic Studies), and Mr. Jake Brunner (IUCN). A few key themes and topics were reiterated throughout the discussion:
In 2013 and 2014, RESI tool had been tested in Lam Dong and piloted in 04 provinces: Son La, Dien Bien, Kon Tum and Kien Giang. In order to introduce RESI tool and share outcomes of piloted assessment, PanNature in collaboration with the project partners will organize the consultation workshop on Environmental and Social Index for Developing and Monitoring the Provincial REDD+ Action Plan
From 7th to 10th July 2015, a short training on sustainable uses and management of forest was specifically designed and organized for members of Women Union in Chieng Xuan and Xuan Nha commune, Van Ho district, Son La province, aiming at enhancing the capacity and participation of local women in utilization and management of forest and associated resources.
In order to promote gender equality in management and utilization of forest resources PanNature conducts Project Improve role of ethnic women in forest management and their fair access to forest resources in Xuan Nha Nature Reserve, Son La province. The project is supported by GREEN Mekong Chalange Fund and implemented from February to August 2015.
Hanoi, December 5th, 2014 - People and Nature Reconciliation (PanNature), in cooperation with Institute Essential Service Reform (IESR), organized a half-day workshop on "Launching the regional framework on EI governance".
The Asia-Pacific Community Carbon Pools and REDD+ Programme celebrated successes and learnings last month at the team’s National Vietnam workshop in Hanoi. The July 10 event ‘REDD+ and Community Forestry: the Practices and Perspectives’ was facilitated by People and Nature Reconciliation (PanNature) in cooperation with Kon Tum's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) and Fauna & Flora International (FFI). The workshop attracted an attendance of 65 participants from 35 organisations, particularly those who are involved in REDD+ development and implementation in Vietnam.
Between June 2-7, the Country Representative and National Project Manager of ADDA, accompanied by Mr. Hoang Xuan Thuy, the Deputy Director of the partner NGO, PanNature, travelled to Son La, Dien Bien and Lai Chau to orient the Provincial Farmers’ Unions of the three provinces and other local representatives on the new project, ‘Climate Change and Ethnic Minorities in Northern Vietnam’.