Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

[ ] 34 Vietnam— Community action protects marine biodiversity and livelihoods A community-led initiative in the Cham Islands of Vietnam is protecting a local land crab, while preserving local livelihoods The islands are part of a marine reserve home to 277 species of coral, 270 of fish and 97 of mollusc. Less than a decade ago, large black-backed land crabs (Gecarcoidea Ialandii) were being overharvested as delicacies for tourists. Government attempt to suspend catching and selling of the crabs failed to solve the problem. With support from the GEF, a community group devised a way to manage the crabs sustainably, setting an annual quota of 10,000 crabs. Studies at Vietnamese universities have shown that community-imposed restrictions are conserving three-quarters of the islands’ crabs each year. As a result, the population of crabs is now growing. At the same time, prices have more than quadrupled since the scheme was introduced. The crab is seen as a “bridge” species that connects the islands’ forests with the ocean. It is also a biological indicator of the health of both habitats, and its recovery has improved both. This, in turn, has increased ecotourism and supported local livelihoods. Global Environment Facility