In Vietnam’s Central Annamites region, thousands of rural households depend on forest resources to supplement their livelihoods. USAID’s Green Annamites project has teamed up with Nhat Tan - a private Vietnamese firm that markets sustainable handicrafts throughout the country. USAID and Nhat Tan will conduct a two-month training on sustainable handicraft production for 120 women in Phu Ninh, Thang Binh and Que Son districts. The course is focused on harvesting raw materials (like ratan) growing in the forest so that they will be replenished naturally and improving their knitting/weaving skills required for different types of products. This not only enables the farmers to earn higher income but simultaneously increases understanding about the the importance of protecting their local forest resources.

So What? Apart from enabling these women farmers to produce high quality, sustainably grown handicraft products that meet the requirements of commercial retailers, increased incomes from handicraft livelihoods will reduce pressure on local forest resources.