VIETNAM NATIONAL PARKS AND PROTECTED AREAS ASSOCIATION (VNPPA)

WHAT IS THE VNPPA?

Is the first association that was formed in an effort to bring nature lovers, national parks (NPs) and other protected areas (PAs), and communities together for conservation purposes.

Is a pioneer in delivering environmental education (EE) and ecotourism.

Emphasizes on encouraging nationwide communities to involve in nature conservation, especially in protected areas.

Creates a network of more than 100 protected areas in Vietnam.

Is a team of recognised experts with a variety of skills and experience in many environmental fields such as biodiversity conservation and management, EE, and publications.

Over the past six years we have developed a high reputation for developing and delivering projects which successfully meet the needs of the people we work with.

Regarding education, the VNPPA has organised training courses on EE and Ecotourism in some NPs (e.g. Ba Vi, Tam Dao and Bach Ma NPs), which got not only park staff but also local communities and authorities involved. These training courses were followed by study trips to protected areas.

In addition, the VNPPA has sent 44 turns of its members to Japan, and other European countries such as France, England, Italy, Spain and Austria for exchanging experience in EE and Ecotourism.

The VNPPA has also consulted for governmental organisations on strategies on the development of protected areas, policies on biodiversity conservation, policies on protected area management, policies on souci-economic development in the buffer zone. Besides, the VNPPA has also getting involved in giving comments on the feasibility study on the establishment of some protected areas.

With regard to scientific work and publication, the VNPPA has participated in several ministerial research on biodiversity conservation. The VNPPA has developed and published many materials in service of education and training such as:

	National Parks and Protected Areas of Vietnam;
	Local Participation in Vietnam’s Protected Area Management;
	National Parks of Vietnam;
	Tam Dao National Park (in both Vietnamese and English).

Apart from that, the VNPPA has translated from English to Vietnamese and published

	Interpreting Biodiversity and;
	Environmental Interpretation.

The VNPPA has also conducted projects on Ecotourism Surveys in some NPs.

During its operation, the VNPPA has a close relationship and cooperation with prestigious international organisation based in Vietnam and worldwide such as the National Park Association of Japan, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Federation of Nature and National Parks of Europe; European Community; WWF Vietnam, IUCN Vietnam, U.S. National Park Service, etc.

Vietnam National Parks and Protected Areas Association
114 Hoang Quoc Viet St., Cau Giay-Hanoi-Vietnam
Tel/Fax: 844-7560233
Email:cen-cetd@hn.vnn.vn