Community Based Conservation Local People Protect the Cat Ba Langur

Since 2001, local people have actively participated in langur conservation work on Cat Ba Island, either as 'Langur Guardians' or as members of 'Commune Forest Patrol Groups', in the framework of the CBLCP's community based conservation programme. Core duties of these local langur protectors focus on the search for traps, both discovery and prevention of acts of forest degradation inside of the langur home ranges, and also the building of conservation awareness in their respective communities.

In 2006, the Cat Ba conservation family was enlarged considerably. In co-operation with local Forest Protection Departments, the CBLCP has successfully established Forest Protection Clubs (FPC) in five communes. These FPCs comprise of 108 trained persons and can be considered as being a specific commune task force for conservation, forest and environmental protection.

The FPCs represent a vital link between local communities and governmental conservation agencies as well as the project. The FPCs have so far been a success story particularly in their promotion of conservation awareness.

The Langur Sanctuary - A Safe Place for the Symbol of Cat Ba Island

In 2001, a protective langur sanctuary was established on a large peninsula within Cat Ba National Park. It was identified as the most suitable area for establishing a strictly protected and self-sustaining langur sub-population.

Unlike in other langur subpopulations on Cat Ba Island, the social structure of the langur groups inhabiting the sanctuary area is still intact, and an exchange of individuals between different groups can occur. This is essential for successful breeding and subsequent population increase. Because of these favourable conditions the langur sanctuary will play a major role in the recovery of the Cat Ba langur.

Out and about in Cat Ba: "Restaurants - Wildlife Free Zones on Cat Ba"

It is not only the Cat Ba Langur that needs protection. Poaching of wildlife on Cat Ba Island is intense. Wild animals and their parts, products, and derivatives can be ordered in many of Cat Ba's restaurants.

An anti-wildlife trade campaign was carried out last year with the assistance of the District Forest Protection Department, aimed at owners of restaurants, hotels, and transport services.

Comprehensive education on protected species and Vietnam's law provisions were followed by a mass signing of stewardship agreements obliging the signatories to refuse buying, selling and transporting wildlife and their products. We plan to do a follow-up survey this year and work alongside the local Forest Protection Department to run another campaign which will continue to highlight the importance of forest and wildlife conservation.

Capacity Building for Local Conservation Managers and Forest Protection Forces

The CBLCP cooperates with Cat Ba National Park in raising the capacity of their ranger forces. Steps taken towards achieving this goal have been welcomed but many more steps are still needed. In April 2006, the CBLCP worked with the Vietnamese NGO 'Education for Nature Vietnam' in providing training for rangers, senior forest protection officers and commune counterparts. The objectives were to develop an effective community-based environmental education programme and improve the environmental communication abilities of the trainees. An additional goal was to further strengthen and intensify the ranger-community cooperation for environmental and biodiversity protection.

Ranger Forces 

A functional ranger force does not only ensure the protection of valuable natural resources, but they are also the main in situ biodiversity managers. In order to further strengthen the conservation management capacity of the National Park we have organised workshops and training sessions in survey monitoring, data collection, data management, law enforcement, and the development of modern conservation management schemes. Collective capacitybuilding is a key component for the survival of the Cat Ba langur and the Cat Ba Archipelago - Biosphere Reserve.

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