In total, the project supports 6,770 women from the Thai and Muong minorities to ensure inclusive and sustainable forest management.
The Gret project aims to improve the living conditions and economic empowerment of Thai and Muong ethnic minority women, and to ensure inclusive and sustainable forest management in the protected areas and buffer zones of the Pu Luong Nature Reserve.
To promote community-based tourist activities and fair profit-sharing while preserving the forests, the project focuses on three main axes. Firstly, it aims to support the creation of a legal consultation framework that will empower women to take part in decisions impacting the nature reserve so that they receive a fair share of the income from tourism. Secondly, the project aims to form community groups of ethnic minority women to develop sustainable tourist services with a view to diversifying their income sources while curbing their dependence on forest resources. Finally, it strives to implement a communication and awareness-raising programme on gender equality, environmental conservation and responsible "zero waste" tourism in the villages.
A total of 6,770 women from the Thai and Muong minorities (51% of the population) living in the 31 villages located inside the reserve and the surrounding buffer zones are provided with this support. Seventy people representing the local authorities and the reserve's management authorities are also involved, and 20,000 people visiting the reserve educated.
