A Feasibility Study for the Establishment of Xuan Lien Nature ...

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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to gratefully thank the European Union and BirdLife International for the
financial assistance that made this study possible.
During the implementation of the project, the authors have enjoyed the support of, and the opportunity
to collaborate with, many agencies and individuals. We would like to take this opportunity to express
our sincerest thanks to these agencies and individuals.
We particularly wish to convey our gratitude to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
(MARD), especially Prof Dr Nguyen Quang Ha, Vice Minister of MARD, Mr Nguyen Cat Giao,
former Director, and Mr Nguyen Khac Huong, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation
Department, and Mr Nguyen Ba Thu, Director of the Forest Protection Department (FPD). Special
thanks are also due to Mr Nguyen Mong Giao and Mr Tran Quoc Bao, officials of the Protection
Forests and Nature Conservation Section of FPD.
We are also grateful to Dr Le Sau, Director of the Forest Inventory and Planning Institute (FIPI) and
Mr Nguyen Huu Dong, Director of the Forest Resources and Environment Centre (FREC) of FIPI.
Sincere thanks are also expressed to Associated Dr Nguyen Huy Phon, Deputy Director of FIPI, and
Mr Vu Van Dung, Deputy Director of FREC, who have directly guided the project activities, stipulated
the implementation process and made comments on the project report.
In Thanh Hoa province, we sincerely thank the leaders of the provincial people’s committee. Particular
thanks are also conveyed to Mr Hoang Cao Trai, Deputy Director of the provincial FPD, and Mr Le
The Long, Head of the Forest Protection and Management Section of the provincial FPD. We are also
grateful to Mr Nguyen Van Mia and all staff of the FPD of Thuong Xuan district who participated in
the collection of data. Sincere thanks are also due to Mr Vi Mai Ke, Chairman of Thuong Xuan district
who created favourable conditions for the mission during the survey and for the collection of socioeconomic
data for the district and communes in the area.
We also would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to the officers and soldiers at
border army station 505, Bat Mot commune, Thuong Xuan district, who assisted the team in the
survey of forest areas managed by the post.
We would finally like to thank Paul Lloyd and David Wege for their assistance in editing earlier drafts
of this report.