project proposal project-v2.pdf · solutions to address those needs, and an estimated budget for...

http://vnvn.org.vn/eng/ Vietnam Vetiver Network

Project Proposal

On Vetiver Promotion

In Coastal Lowlands and Central Highlands

In Vietnam

http://vnvn.org.vn/eng/

Web: | http://vnvn.org.vn/eng/

Vertival Promotion in Coastal Lowlands and Central Highlands in Vietnam 2

PROJECT SUMMARY

Coastal lowlands and Central Highlands are fertile and intensively cultivated

agricultural lands, and are the main food and industrial crop production of the region.

However, they are equally being threatened by soil erosion and land degradation that are

usually difficult to control and easily accelerated by population pressure, and increasingly

from extreme weather events caused by climate change.

More recently, individuals, organizations associated with government have been

attempting to respond to the challenges of soil erosion and land degradation. One potential

option is the application of the Vetiver System (VS) using Vetiver Grass Technology

(VGT) that has proven very effect in many developing countries. However, not all of

Vietnamese engineers, activists and farmers know about VGT and its applications. Thus

the promotion of VS as a strategic soil conservation measure is an ideal & a timely action

for Vietnam. Initially due to topographic, climatic and socio-economic dispositions, Coastal

Lowlands and Central Highlands of Vietnam will be the focus of this project and receive

the highest priorty. Additionally, associated with agricultural needs, there are

infrastructural and pollution problems that can be addressed through VS applications.

This proposal outlines objectives and solutions to address those needs, and an

estimated budget for promotive VS in central Vietnam. All of the technical innovations

that are proposed as solutions have been fully tested in Vietnam and under similar

conditions in other countries – in particular neighboring Thailand. The project will be

managed by the Vietnam Vetiver Network (VNVN). The duration of this pilot project is

three years, and is expected to be expanded and continued thereafter. The project will be

carried out in 19 provinces of the two regions at a total estimated cost to VNVN of

US$33,000.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Highlands_(Vietnam)

Web: http://vnvn.org.vn/eng/

3 Vertiver Promotion in Coastal Lowlands and Central Highlands in Vietnam

I. BACKGROUND

1. Vietnam Vetiver Network (VNVN)

n 1998

Mr.Ken Crismier (The Vetiver Network International – TVNI) translated the “Green book”

named “Vetiver grass – The Hedge Against Erosion”, authored by John Greenfield of the

World Bank, and published and printed 5,000 copies

In 1999

Under TVNI and Thailand sponsorship Dr. Paul Truong (Australia) and Dr. Diti

Hengchaovanich (Thailand) visited Vietnam to introduce VGT at a number of workshops

In 1999

Mr.Ken Crismier (then a resident of Vietnam) established Vietnam Vetiver Network

(VNVN)

In 2001 and 2003

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Ministry of Transportation officially

allowed the use of the VS for disaster mitigation and infrastructure protection. A number

of important research projects and applications were implemented including significant

areas of slope protection of Hochiminh Highway, riverbank protection at An Giang and

Quang Ngai, sea dyke protection in Hai Hau,…

Since 2003

Vetiver has been used in experimental mitigation of soil and water pollution, waste and

wastewater treatment, environment protection in some local areas. Up to now, Vetiver has

become known and used in nearly 40 provinces in Vietnam.

In 2006 - 4th International Conference on Vetiver (ICV-4) held in Caracas, Venezuela

VNVN was awarded a number of prizes by TVNI, including the Coordinator, Dr.Tran Tan

Van, as Vetiver Champion for his works on Disaster Mitigation and Certificate of

Technical Excellence Class 1.

In 2011

Mr. Tran Van Man as Coordinator of VNVN

In May, 2015

VNVN successfully organized the Sixth International Conference on Vetiver at Danang



2. Some practices of Vetiver System

2.1. VS application for sand dune protection

The trial was carried out in February 2002 with Dutch Embassy financial support.

2.2 VS application for cut slops stabilization

a. The Ho Chi Minh Highway

Ready to slide down during the rainy season

One month later Before 2 years later

Collapsed under its own weight in

the dry season

Before After



b. Spring Pass Demonstration site

Spring Pass is unstable winding highway section. This pass is at 1060m altitude and

2000mm annual rainfall, with torrential rain in summer and occasional typhoons.

This very steep batter was successfully stabilized 3 years after planting.

Survived several typhoons.

c. Coastal road at Son Tra, Danang

d. Vetiver grass in combination with soil-nail in Laguna resort, Hue

Vetiver is planted on contour lines on very steep and very hard surface



e. Extreme slope in Thua Thien Province

2.3. VS application for river bank erosion control

2.4 VS application for wastewater treatment

Vetiver used in combination with

concrete block

Without Vetiver reinforcement, concrete

blocks by themselves could not protect slope

in long term

Vetiver protects fishpond bank in

Mekong Delta

Vetiver planting above riprap on

tidal brackish water



II. PROJECT OBJECTIVE

The main objective of the project is to promote the widespread adoption of VGT in provinces of

Coastal Lowlands and Central Highlands, Vietnam with prioritized benefits as below:

1. Soil and Water Conservation in Agricultural Land

On agricultural sloping land, vetiver hedges provide a very effective and low cost method of soil

and water conservation, reducing fertility losses and rainfall runoff; and reducing down stream

pollution by reducing on-farm wash-out of fertilizer or pesticides. Priority will be given to

applying VGT to the Central Highlands Coffee, Rubber and Macadamia industries.

2. Aquaculture industry (shrimp and fish ponds)

For dike and waterway stabilization (bioengineering) and pond water quality improvement in the

coastal region

3. Stabilization of Infrastructures

Its extensive and deep root system provides an ideal tool for erosion control of unconsolidated soil

and the stabilization of steep slopes, and efforts will be intensified for VS application in these areas

4. Environmental Protection

• Phytoremediation of wastewater: The Vetiver System can dispose and/or treat wastewater by

reducing the volume or improving the quality of polluted water, and will be introduced and

promoted for improving low cost treatment of domestic and industrial waste water.

• Phytoremediation contaminated lands: Vetiver grass has been used successfully for cleaning

up rehabilitation of mining, industrial wastes and particularly dioxins. Central Vietnam was

the main dumping ground of Agent Orange during the Vietnam war and VGT will be used to

remediate some of the worst effected areas.

5. Socio-economic impact on rural community

Creation of Community resilience to climate change



VS will provide the means, at low cost, for rural communities to solve and protect themselves

from climate change and polulation included disasters without having to resort to significant

external funding and professional resources

Poverty alleviation:

Improved farm income from crop yield increases due to VGT erosion control measures

Providing income through supply of vetiver planting materials (for off site applications by 3rd

parties) and handicraft materials (vetiver grass leaves)

Thatch material, mulch material, essential oil, animal bedding, and forage (all vetiver grass bi-

products)

Health

Wastewater and sanitation improvements through VGT wastewater treatment of domestic and

industrial effluent resulting in cleaner water and less disease particularly for young children.

Decontamination and or containment of toxic sites (particularly dioxin) thus reducing the risk

of drinking water contamination.

Disaster mitigation

VGT stabilization and protection of coastal dikes and levees from cyclones and flooding

Reduced downstream flooding through watershed (on-farm) soil conservation using VGT.

VGT stabilization of access roads reducing incidence of closure from landslides and extreme

weather events. Reduction of post disaster reconstruction and maintenance costs.

VNVN’s strategy will follow a rather successful approach used in Ethiopia where an

environmental oriented agency, Sustainable Land Use Forum (SLUF), provided technical

information and training in various technologies to potential users. VS was its flagship technology.

SLUF did not implement vetiver programs – leaving it to other activist and interested groups.

VNVN will follow a similar path providing real time knowledge to many different

government, non government, private sector, and rural/farming communities. VNVN has

identified a suitable Promotions Officer (Annex 1) who would work with these potential user

groups to provide essential training, planning and discussion.

Promotion would include VS workshops resourced by experienced Vietnamese, including both

government and university specialists. Occasionally special support would be provided by

neighboring Thailand – the latter has developed a program over the past 20 years that touches all



application of VS.Paul Truong, Technical Director of TVNI, will provide special support and

backup to the project. VNVN would, as in the past, also draw on TVNI’s extensive knowledge base

that contains many technical presentations that can be converted to Vietnamese.

VNVN’s objective will be to get quick involvement of interested local and community leaders,

indentifying their needs and constraints, and help them focus on some early VS initiatives that will

provide demonstration for future expansion of VS applications under local leadership and local

“vetiver teams”

It will not be possible to start in all 19 provinces at one time. Initially one province will be

identified (probably one near Danang where VNVN is based). A “process” will be established over

a two month period that will include identifying key leaders and needs, a 2 day promotional and

training workshop, and an initial executable plan. The VNVN Promotions Officer would then

move on to a second province, preferably in the highlands, and, taking account of lessons learned,

would repeat the process. However, in this case, and from then on out, leaders from other

provinces would be invited to the “Workshop” so that they would become acquainted with the

process in advance. In effect VNVN would hope to move towards a series of “rolling startups”. At

the end of the first year a full review would take place to allow for “lesson learned” to be applied

in the second year.

Local authorities would cover local costs and would invite volunteers to participate in the

follow up local “vetiver teams”. These teams would have a special relationship with VNVN and

Vietnamese specialist expertise in order to get follow up advice when needed, and to provide

feedback to VNVN as to progress and results.

One of the road blocks of any VS program is in the provision of adequate supplies Vetiver

plant material (sterile Chrysopogon zizanioides). Fortunately this is not a problem in Vietnam. In the

initial stages those communities that do not have access to a supply will be provided Vetiver plant

material, at no cost, by the private company SBTV (one of the sponsors to ICV6). Thereafter those

supplied will propagate their own plants.

Monitoring will be carried out by the local Vetiver teams, and if the proposed TVNI Tracking

System is developed it is hoped that it will be used in Vietnam to track vetiver plantings using

mobile phone ARC – GSI system.



Special technical assistance will be requested from Thailand for: (1) a two week VS orientation

course for VNVN’s Promotions Officier (2) occasional specialized technical support for

workshops.

The following sets out the initial steps for the promotion of VS to a province:

• Select one of 19 provinces in Coastal Lowlands and Central Highlands to practice promotion.

Select a province

•Contact with relevant University, NGO, local government to gain lots of insight about issues currently facing the selected area.

•Make certain that plans & execution will be followed with the full knowledge and cooperation

Research

•Organize a workshop for community leaders, Agriculture Depart, youth groups. They will train, guide and supports local farmers in the long run. At the end of each workshop, a vetiver team will be established, which helps maintain local VS and network with VNVN

•Make sure guidance documents are distributed on largescale

•Organize national seminars annually to create inter-zone cooperation among vetiver members

Workshops and Trainings

•After getting to know and collecting enough information, sit down with vetiver experts to draw the approach of promotion, timeline, schedule,... which will be tailored with specific issues, climatic conditions, cropping pattern of each area

•Preparing materials (documents, slides, video clips and so on)

Report Inspection and adopt solutions

•Awards for best achievements to Departments and farmers

•Monitoring: Quarterly, annual reports will be submitted regularly to concerned offices.

Follow-up



III. PROJECT BUDGET

Cost directly associated with VNVN

Activity #Units/year Cost/Unit Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Total Funder

Promotion Officer

12 400 $4,800 $4,800 $4,800 $14,400 TVNI

VS Feedback awards

6 100 $1,200 $1,200 $1,200 $3,600 TVNI

Specialist Travel

6 100 $800 $600 $600 $2,000 TVNI

Sub-total $6,800 $6,600 $6,600 $20,000 TNVI

Workshop costs

6,6,7 200 $1,200 $1,200 $1,400 $3,800 VNVN

Promotion Officier Training

1 2,000 $2,000 $2,000 Chaipattanna Foundation Thailand.

Specialist Support

from Thailand

6 (3 days + airfare)

$400 $2,400 $2,400 $2,400 $7,200 Chaipattanna Foundation Thailand.

Sub-total $4,400 $2,400 $2,400 $9,200 Chaipattanna Foundation Thailand.

TOTAL $12,400 $10,200 $10,400 $33,000

Funding support is being requested from TVNI for US$20,000 and the Chaipattana Foundation

(CF) for $9,200. For the latter request to CF US$2,000 is for training / orientation of the VNVN

Promotion officer and $7,200 is for technical support over three years.



IV. CONCLUSION

As VS increases its reputation as a very effective method to reduce soil erosion and

stabilize steep slopes, if correctly applied, it would be low cost and without high demands

on professional and financial resources, resulting in significant and sustainable

improvement of water and land resources. Based on the past 15 years of experience in

Vietnam, wide up-scaling of VST in Coastal Lowlands and Central Highlands would have

a great impact on poverty reduction and the betterment of a sustainable environment at

this difficult time of climate change. VNVN is confident in a positive outcome to this

project.

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