In Vietnam as elsewhere, protection of natural spaces is often favoured by total, inclusive involvement of local populations, who depend on natural resources and their conservation. From this perspective, Vietnam ranks 13th globally in climate risk emitting 326 tons of CO2 in 2021, while its ethnic minority groups account for 73% of total poverty. As to achieve objective 15 of the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 and promote greater social justice and means of action for the most vulnerable, GRET is conducting a project for inclusive protection and management of the Pu Luong nature reserve, favouring protection of the common good made up by this natural space, while improving living conditions for women from ethnic minorities.
Despite positives changes in legislation in recent years, Vietnamese women, in particular women from ethnic minorities, are still experiencing discriminatory behaviour and many difficulties in their daily lives: poverty, limited access to higher education and employment possibilities in particular. Some of these women live in or on the outskirts of nature reserves such as the Pu Luong nature reserve (17,662 ha) in Thanh Hoa province, in north-central Vietnam. This nature reserve is home to a wealth of biodiversity in substantial forests that are currently being ecologically restored, and it protects the drainage of the Ma river.
This phase took place from 2021 to 2024. The transition from access to natural spaces previously managed by communities to strict control by the government increases the vulnerability and marginalisation of the poorest. Local communities own little or no agricultural land and live mainly off livestock farming and forest products that account for 60 to 80 % of their income. Women from minorities are particularly affected, because men benefit from professional opportunities outside of the agricultural sector, locally or in other regions. Women, who are traditionally responsible for households’ livelihoods, are often limited to working in the home. Because of cultural norms and gender bias, they have less access to and control over natural resources. In Vietnam, approximately 38 % of women and 62 % of men possess land use certificates; women are therefore rarely fully included in decision-making on management of resources.
This is the context in which the Quan Hoa Rural development cooperative (RDC) and GRET are launching the Pu Luong project, supported by the Audemars Piguet Foundation and the RAJA-Danièle Marcovici Foundation. The objective is to improve living conditions and economic empowerment for women from the Thai and Muong ethnic minorities, and to ensure inclusive, sustainable management of forests in the protected spaces and buffer zones of the Pu Luong nature reserve. For Susan Simmons Lagreau, general secretary of the Audemars Piguet Foundation, this project “is perfectly aligned with our philosophy aimed at favouring virtuous circles between humans and nature. It combines the safeguarding of ecosystems with the implementation of value chains enabling inhabitants, and women in particular, to live sustainable in, with and off their environment”.
In order to promote tourism-related community-based activities and fair sharing of benefits, while at the same time conserving forests, the project plans to:
In all, 6,770 women from the Thai and Muong minorities (51 % of the population) living in the 31 villages in the reserve and the surrounding buffer zones will be supported. 70 people representing local authorities and the nature reserve management authorities will also be involved, and the awareness of 20,000 people coming to visit the reserve will be raised.
Phase 1 of the project was supported by the Audemars Piguet Foundations, the Raja – Danièle Marcovici Foundation, the Alstom Foundation and Miravita.
The phase 1 of the project (2021-2024) led by GRET in Vietnam has achieved notable results in forest protection and the economic empowerment of women from ethnic minorities. It has also improved the communities’ ability to manage the natural resources of the Pu Luong reserve and strengthened the social role of women within the villages.
One of the main achievements is the development of a pilot benefit-sharing model related to forest management, which actively involves local communities and women (with an average participation of 57%).
The project has also promoted the empowerment of women by creating seven women’s cooperative groups, totaling 237 members, which have become spaces for collective action and skill-building. These groups have facilitated the continuous improvement of service quality (such as homestays, motorbike taxis, and agricultural products like rice and ducks) and resource sharing across various activities, including artistic performances and motorbike taxi services. Collaboration among these groups has strengthened networks between villages, particularly in tourism and agriculture.
237 women who are members of the seven cooperative groups created and supported
77 NRMB officials (the reserve management council) and local department staff trained in gender equality, responsible tourism, and participatory approaches
Approximately 1,020 members of the Thai ethnic minority (51% of whom are women) from several villages that participated in project activities
About 2,860 people from the Thai and Muong ethnic minorities across five communes.
Indirectly, the project has reached:
Approximately 6,678 women from 31 villages located in the core and buffer zones of the reserve
Nearly 20,000 tourists visiting the villages of Am Hieu, Bang, and Kho Muong each year.
Overall, the project has contributed to a 56% reduction in cases of encroachment on forests since its inception, demonstrating its positive impact on conservation and the livelihoods of local populations.
Support for Women in the Motorcycle Service of Kho Muong Village
Before the project, motorcycle services in Kho Muong village were disorganized, leading to conflicts, customer dissatisfaction, and limited female participation. In early 2022, the project helped form a structured, all-women motorcycle group, later expanded to include men under female leadership. With support from GRET, the group established clear management, pricing, roles, and training. As a result, service quality and incomes—especially for women—improved significantly. The group grew to 96 members, including 30 women, and many now offer services at other tourist sites and work as tour guides.
The Story of HA THI DU in Co Lung Village
Ms. Du, whose family relies partly on duck farming, previously faced high duck mortality and slow sales, making the business unprofitable. With support from the Pu Luong project, she improved her farming techniques, reducing duck mortality to 3–5% and streamlining sales. She now manages her flock based on her budget and sells to a wide range of clients, including tourists. Her success has inspired her family to explore other livestock ventures and has positively influenced her community by promoting market-oriented, efficient production practices.
This phase will take place from 2025 to 2028. The project aims to integrate biodiversity and climate change (CC) considerations into local tourism strategies in Pu Luong Natural Reserve. Through participatory studies and a gender-sensitive lens, it supports the development of policies and multi-stakeholder platforms that prioritize environmental protection. Three official documents will guide sustainable tourism, benefiting over 5,700 ethnicminorities. Additionally, 20 inclusive benefit-sharing agreements will be implemented, improving access to natural resources and empowering the vulnerable communities—especially women—to engage inforest protection and biodiversity conservation. These initiatives ensure local voices are part of policy-making and that biodiversity and climate change are addressed in district tourism plans.
The second project component focuses on enhancing women’s economic activities related to sustainable development. Market and gender assessments will inform the development of agroecological and tourism-linked value chains. Fourteen services or products will be improved or introduced, led by over 700 Thai and Muong women. Women-led cooperatives will be formed to strengthen community-based tourism services and agro-forestry production, while improving farming practices and promoting sustainable harvesting of non-timber forest products (NTFPs). These efforts aim to boost women’s income and participation in environmentally responsible tourism in the buffer areas of Pu Luong Natural Reserve.
In its third focus area, the project strengthens the capacity of ethnic minority women to promote gender-responsive and environmentally sound practices. A network of 55 village-based environmental leaders (70% women) will be established, leading community education efforts on biodiversity and CC. Around 4,000 residents will adopt improved environmental practices. The project will support communication campaigns on forest protection, gender equality, and responsible tourism, alongside initiatives like improved solid waste management and circular economy options to reduce environmental degradationand negative impacts on the Natural Reserve.
Finally, a Green Label certification system will be developed to encourage responsible production and consumption in community-based tourism. The project will pilot the certification in two villages in Ba Thuoc, involving 360 female villagers and local authorities. The Green Label, backed by district guidelines and a participatory monitoring system, will enhance tourism competitiveness while safeguarding biodiversity. Feasibility studies and training will help local authorities implement the system, which will be promoted as a model for other areas. Through these actions, the project advances eco-friendly tourism and embeds sustainability principles in district-level planning.
Women’s Union of Quan Hoa and Ba Thuoc districts, Management Board of Pu Luong Natural Reserve, People’s Committee of of Quan Hoa and Ba Thuoc districts, and Northern Mountainous Agriculture & Forestry Science Institute
