Project Management Board Meeting at Huu Khuong Commune People’s Committee 13/11/2023 Hoàng Nguyệt On September 11, 2023, Corenacca Center organized a meeting of the Project Management Board in Huu Khuong commune with the participation of representatives of Tuong Duong district People’s Committee, Tuong Duong District Forest Protection Department, Huu Khuong Commune People’s Committee and village heads. At the meeting, representative of Corenacca Center – Mr. Nguyen Viet Tran Nam introduced the main activities of Corenacca Center and the project “Support for Forest Land Allocation for Ethnic Minorities in Tuong Duong District, Nghe An Province ” granted by INKOTA organization. Mr. Nguyen Tran Viet Nam presented at the meeting Project Management Board Meeting at Huu Khuong Commune Mr. Lo Van Giap – Chairman of the Commune People’s Committee, chairing the meeting said: “Huu Khuong Commune is one of the most difficult communes in Nghe An province and the whole country. With a natural area of over 26,000 hectares, a population of 641 households, including 497 poor households, accounting for 77.54% of the entire commune’s population. Huu Khuong has 7 villages, of which Huoi Pung is the most difficult. Currently, local economic development is mainly self-sufficient agricultural production, therefore people’s lives are extremely difficult.” Mr. Lo Van Giap – Chairman of Huu Khuong Commune chaired the meeting At the meeting, Mr. Lo Van Chien – an expert at the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Tuong Duong District, who has worked in Huu Khuong commune for 17 years reported that: The implementation of the project “Support for Forest Land Allocation for Ethnic Minorities in Tuong Duong District, Nghe An Province” in two communes Yen Thang and Yen Na granted by INKOTA organization has brought high efficiency in forest protection and raising people’s awareness. Up to now, INKOTA organization continues to support the forestry land allocation project in Huu Khuong Commune. Local staffs and people would like to send sincere thanks to INKOTA organization. Mr. Lo Van Chien, representative of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Tuong Duong District During the discussion time, all participants actively express their expectations about the project support on land allocation and livelihood models. The project team also answered the questions from participants related to land allocation process, the targeted beneficiary groups. Representatives of the village heads discussed at the meeting During the meeting, Corenacca Center and representatives of Huu Khuong Commune People’s Committee decided to establish a Project Management Board to ensure the most efficient project implementation. Take a boat on Ban Ve lake to Huu Khuong Commune Huu Khuong Secondary Semi-Boarding School for Ethnic Minority Students Huu Khuong is a remote commune in the middle of the Ban Ve hydroelectric lake, surrounded by mountains, complicated terrain, and traffic; therefore, there may be difficulty moving. There are two ways to get to Huu Khuong commune. Traveling by road will go through the Tuong Duong District People’s Committee for around 200 kilometers in 4 hours. Or, in around 2 hours, take a boat from Ban Ve (30 kilometers from Thach Giam town center) to Huu Khuong commune. If there is heavy water during the rainy season, the boat will travel directly to the Huu Khuong commune’s People’s Committee. However, in the hot and dry seasons, people may have to walk and wade through mud for about 30 minutes to get there. This is also the primary location of Thai, Mong, and Kho Mu ethnic groups. Translated by Vo Thi Phuong Thao