Quang Nam, September 7, 2017 – Today, the U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam - Ted Osius,  joined Le Tri Thanh, Vice Chairman of Quang Nam province, along with other stakeholders from the province and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to open a new Elephant Species and Habitat Protected Area in Nong Son District. This protected area will conserve 18,977 hectares of critical habitat for one of the last groups of endangered Asian elephants in Quang Nam.

“Improving the lives of local communities, conserving biodiversity, and supporting provinces to implement sustainable economic growth programs is an important part of the U.S. commitment to Vietnam. We are proud to partner with the Quang Nam provincial leadership to provide a critical habitat for the endangered Asian elephant, while finding ways to improve the incomes of local farmers,” said Ambassador Osius at the launch.

The U.S. Government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is working with the leadership of Quang Nam to improve livelihood opportunities for local communities living in and around the protected area, conduct biodiversity monitoring, and raise conservation awareness of the local population. This initiative is part of the larger USAID Green Annamites project that partners with Quang Nam and Thua Thien Hue provinces to promote economic growth while conserving forests and biodiversity.

For photos of the launch, visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHsm4rmRfx

For more information on the USAID Green Annamites project, visit: https://goo.gl/RpPZTi