Hanoi (VNA) – The second stage of a pilotproject in the central provinces of Quang Nam, Quang Tri, and Thua Thien-Hue willcreate a biodiversity-preservation corridor in order to restore and maintain theconnectivity of the ecological system spanning Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

Pham Anh Cuong, head of the Vietnam EnvironmentAdministration’s Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Agency, said the projectwill be carried out in 35 communes of six districts in the aforementionedprovinces, which will be surrounded by protective and special-use forests. Theproject should benefit nearly 15,500 households, 85 percent of which are madeup of ethnic minorities.

The short-term goals of the project is strengthening the capacityof communes, districts, and provinces in planning a biodiversity corridor;restoring and planting more forests to increase coverage; offering solutions tocreate livelihoods and fulfil millennial development goals; contributing toreducing poverty; and improving the lives of ethnic minorities.

Over 10,000ha of natural forest will be restored, while atleast 12,200ha of forest will be inspected effectively to protect 112,000ha incore areas of the biodiversity corridor.

The project’s management plan is expected to be devised andimplemented next year. –VNA