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Destinations DESTINATIONS PHU QUOC PROTECTORS One organisation working to help balance the demands of progress with the preservation of the Island’s natural resources is Wildlife at Risk (WAR), a Vietnam-based non-government organisation co-founded by Englishman Dominic Scriven, OBE, and conservationist, Julia Shaw. As the Director of Dragon Capital – the largest and among the most experienced asset managers in Vietnam – Scriven explained to <strong>CUBIC</strong> that the decision to be a part of conservation efforts in Vietnam was based on a desire to give back and be a part of his adopted country. “Everybody, wherever they live, has to be part of their society. For me I choose to be part of Vietnamese society and I want to give back to be part of Vietnam. There are any numbers of ways to give back, but I choose to give back to the wildlife and ecology, which is extremely rich.” With overriding priorities in the fast developing country, such as economic progress and escape from poverty, issues such as wildlife and ecological conservation tend to be overlooked, noted Scriven. He acknowledged that it is crucial that conservation work takes place now, in a more proactive rather than reactive manner. “In Britain, there are virtually zero areas that have not been trodden over and massacred,” he said, “A place like Vietnam still has its virgin areas and the natural tendency for humanity is to exploit these resources. Phu Quoc has not been exploited yet, but it will be, and the question is how to manage this process.” Being an isolated land mass means that Phu Quoc is somewhat protected from external forces and has its own unique ecology of rare plants and animals. For example, a species of dog called the Phu Quoc ridgeback is found only on the island. But the island is also vulnerable at the same time precisely because of its special and delicate island ecosystem. CEO of WAR, Nguyen Vu Khoi, explained that the island has a wide range of habitats. From swampy mangroves to sandy beaches and arid dry highlands, forests on the varied terrain of the island are a study in diversity. Coconut and palm trees, and other coastal species thrive on the sandy soils of the beaches, while mangroves Left from top: WAR at work rehabilitiating the Dao Long; A Phu Quoc gem – the Paphiopedilum callosum, an orchid listed as an endangered species; a golden dragonfly recorded among WAR’s insect surveys “It’s a place that speaks to my spirit. From there comes the willingness to commit to the island.” and other wetland trees inhabit the swampier mangrove areas, and hardy conifers take root on the rugged slopes of the island’s loftier territories. These various forest habitats support an even greater abundance of flora and fauna, from rare plants to butterflies, insect life, reptiles and birds. But little is understood about the island’s great range of natural reserves, and plant and animal inhabitants. In acknowledgement of the value of the island’s biodiversity, Vietnamese authorities such as the State Forest Enterprise, which has managed Phu Quoc’s forests since 1975, have upgraded Phu Quoc’s status from Nature Reserve to National Park. “(It had) the objective of conserving the natural resources of the island and protecting the endemic gene pools of the Phu Quoc forests,” said Khoi, a trained forester and expert in conservation biology. TREASURES OF THE EARTH Apart from its conservation activities, WAR also has a vital presence in Vietnam because of its awareness and protection programmes, noted Chris Jones, Acting Trustee of WAR and one of its valued sponsors. “As the only organisation of its kind in the southern region of Vietnam, the NGO also acts as a role model for other local conservationist activities,” he added. On a national level, WAR has initiated protection work, cooperating with local authorities and national park rangers to put a curb on wildlife poaching in Vietnam that fuels the illegal wildlife trade. Awareness work in the form of picture postcards and books featuring the island’s wild creatures and plants, and a butterfly reserve on Scriven’s Mango Bay ecoresort also serves to educate and cultivate an appreciation of the rich and valuable diversity of the Island. For the past two years, WAR has been undertaking studies to bridge the knowledge gap and document the natural wonders of Phu Quoc. Endorsed by authorities, WAR’s studies have unearthed some great finds on the island, including rare and beautiful orchids. One discovery was a valuable and heavily traded slipper orchid species called Paphiopedilum 22 52 November January 2009 2008 | |
DESTINATIONS callosum, a stunning purple and white flower that is listed as an endangered species. WAR’s plant surveys have also recorded two more orchid species never seen before on the Vietnam mainland – the Malaxis calophylla and Aphyllorchis montana, two rare orchids that bloom in tiny and delicate blossoms. “These discoveries have been absolutely extraordinary; nobody knew that we would find such species (on the island),” said Scriven. According to Khoi, “Additional surveys of insects, reptiles and fish are also proving ‘fruitful’.” They are uncovering more new species on the island such as dragonflies, the snake-like Banna Caecilian and the Olive Tree Skink. FINDING A BALANCE Environmental work aside, WAR has also been bridging the gap between preserving natural resources and economic development. Scriven noted that, while the idea of sustainable development is recognised as being a good thing, “there are different understandings of what sustainable development actually is; the issues are different across countries and cultures”. “In Phu Quoc, we had to find a means of livelihood that is suitable for the local people and sustainable for the environment.” Other creative ways to provide sustainable livelihoods have been to farm butterflies and breed rare plants, said Scriven. One WAR project is to rehabilitate a locally endangered broad-leafed plant species known as Dau Long, or the Dipterocarpus intricatus. Another has been to support farmers in the transition from fishing to the sustainable cultivation of mud and swimmer crabs. It’s not an easy task, said Scriven, but one that is worth trying as it provides gainful employment and sublimates activities away from environmentally harmful occupations such as overfishing, which is already wreaking havoc on marine populations in Phu Quoc and many parts of Vietnam. In a way, Scriven’s commitment to managing a balance of long-term economic growth with responsible activity is not something new to him. His investment firm, Dragon Capital – which manages around USD2 billion of funds in Vietnam – is one of the leaders in socially responsible investing (SRI), making decisions on investment based not only on returns but also its social good. SRI is a booming market in both the US and Europe. According to the Report on Socially Responsible Investing Trends, assets in such portfolios climbed to USD2.71 trillion in 2007, up from USD2.16 trillion in 2003 in the United States. Research estimates by financial consultancy Celent predict that the SRI market in the US will reach USD3 trillion by 2011. Ethical investment in Europe has also reached significant amounts, with the SRI market growing from USD1 trillion in 2005 to USD1.6 trillion in 2007. According to the Ethical Investment Research Service (EIRIS), £9.8 billion is invested in ethical and environmental investment funds in the United Kingdom alone. But Scriven noted that the assets class of SRI has still not yet proved itself commercially. “One of the reasons is that the cost of development and pollution is not properly priced,” he said. Nevertheless, “there are people in the world who will invest not necessarily because of investment merit but because of their personal commitment. They wish to be responsible. Dragon Capital is one of those companies that are trying to learn to be responsible.” It’s a movement that’s taking off as global citizens seek to address and make an impact – albeit indirectly – on social issues, such as environmental concerns, consumer protection, human rights and social equality. Just like his reasons for giving back to Vietnam and its wildlife, ethical investing is an issue of playing a responsible role in the society in which one lives. “Business and success are increasingly judged not just by economic and financial means, but by their corporate responsibility,” said Scriven. In Phu Quoc, the work may be painstaking and the road ahead long, but WAR is still dedicated to preserving its natural heritage for the future of Vietnam. It’s also a labour of love. Scriven sums it up poetically, “It’s a place that speaks to my spirit. From there comes the willingness to commit to the island.” Dominic Scriven, Director of Dragon Capital | January 2009 53
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ASIA’S PROPERTY MAGAZINE JANUARY
Page 5 and 6: 30 CONTENTS 02 FOREWORD 04 LOGISTIC
Page 7 and 8: ’S LEFT: Artist’s impression of
Page 9: LOGISTICS FUTURE With Hong Kong bei
Page 12 and 13: GREEN BUILDINGS Another instance is
Page 14 and 15: Another example is the Wuhan Tiandi
Page 16 and 17: A BEAUTIFUL WAY TO WORK In the usua
Page 18: ART SCENE Danny Lane’s Shan Shui,
Page 21 and 22: VITAL STATISTICS Model Audi R8 Engi
Page 23 and 24: Left: Taipei 101 Right: Precinct 4
Page 26 and 27: Photo: Corbis 24 January 2009 |
Page 28 and 29: VIETNAM RISING BELOW: Work in progr
Page 30: Kumho Asiana Plaza Saigon & Kumho E
Page 33 and 34: N LIVING LARGE IN THE CBD The vario
Page 35 and 36: LANDGENT HOLI APARTMENT ( ) Serving
Page 37 and 38: Mr Magar - against the backdrop of
Page 39: Magarpatta Township INDIA RESIDENTI
Page 42 and 43: ADVENTURES IN SPACE No walls; No ce
Page 44 and 45: LUXURY LIVING Site plan of Plaza In
Page 46 and 47: UED BIZHUB HUBBING UNIT North facad
Page 48 and 49: UED BIZHUB Artist’s impression of
Page 50 and 51: Gadgets DIGITAL WATERPROOF CAMERA T
Page 52 and 53: Credit Nguyen Vu Khoi and www.disco
Page 56 and 57: COLLIERS CARES KIRINDA, A COMMUNITY
Page 58 and 59: CUBIC WORLDVIEW BLUE STATE, RED STA
Page 60 and 61: OUT AND ABOUT WITH COLLIERS & CLIEN
Page 62: BOOK REVIEW CORPORATE JUNGLE Birds
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CUBIC CoverDec08.indd - Colliers

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