vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn  

HA NOI — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Monday pledged funding assistance to six small environmental projects in Viet Nam.

The projects are designed to improve the country’s awareness of environmental issues, protect bio-diversity and prevent climate change.

One project, based in southern central coastal areas, will work to repair the damage done by land degradation and desertification by developing an agro-forestry model for wasteland and barren low-lying areas.

Another will promote energy saving and efficiency technologies among rural communities in coastal areas of Binh Son District in Quang Ngai Province.

Methods to ensure the sustainable use of indigenous bamboo forests in Ngoc Lac District of Thanh Hoa Province will receive funding.

Developing an efficient vertical brick kiln in Hung Yen Province and a plan to use the naturally regenerated chestnut forest in Chi Linh District of Hai Duong Province will also get financial backing.

Finally, the UNDP will fund a strategy to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of indigenous medicinal plants of the Cao Lan ethnic minority in Tuyen Quang Province.

The funds will come from the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF/SGP) for 2001.

The GEF/SGP programme was initiated by UNDP in late 1998 and has so far helped Viet Nam carry out 20 small environmental projects.

The latest agreement was struck on Monday in Ha Noi, a UNDP official said while attending a ceremony to praise the voluntary contributions of the National Steering Committee’s members.

UNDP has set up a national steering committee of seven members including representatives of Government concerned with bio-diversity and climate change, Vietnamese and international non-governmental organisations, scientific agencies and the Viet Nam-based UNDP Office. — VNS

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