International Centre for Environmental Management

The International Centre for Environment Management is an independent public interest centre that helps governments, private sector and communities define and implement policies for sustainable development. ICEM operates through a core group of experts in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity resources, protected areas, buffer zone management and environmental institution building. It also draws from an active network of associate experts and organisations in forming partnerships to address critical conservation problems. Asia is the principal geographic focus of the Centre.

Website: www.icem.com.au

World Conservation Union

Founded in 1948, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) brings together states, government agencies and a diverse range of non-governmental organisations in a unique world partnership - over 800 members in all - spread across some 181 countries.

As a union, the IUCN seeks to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.

The World Conservation Union builds on the strength of its members, networks and partners to enhance their capacity and support global alliances to safeguard natural resouces at local, regional and global levels.

Website: www.iucn.org

Birdlife International

BirdLife International is a global conservation federation with a world-wide network of partner organisations, representatives and committed individuals. BirdLife International was among the first international conservation NGOs to be invited to work in Vietnam.

BirdLife began its conservation programme in Vietnam in 1988. The Vietnam programme is a country programme of the BirdLife International Secretariat in Cambridge, U.K. Together with governmental partners, the BirdLife Vietnam programme has worked on protected areas surveying and planning throughout the country. The programme recently published a comprehensive 'Sourcebook' on the national protected areas system, which includes information on nearly 190 existing and proposed protected areas in Vietnam.

Website: www.birdlifevietnam.com (English)
Website: www.birdlifevietnam.org (Vietnamese)

Worldwide Fund for Nature

With several million supporters and a network of offices in more than 50 countries on five continents, WWF is one of the world's largest independent conservation organizations. Since its creation in 1961, it has maintained a constant record of conservation successes. Today, WWF runs some 700 projects at any time and employs over 3000 people worldwide. It invests some US$ 250 milion annually in its global conservation programmes.

WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature by:

• Conserving the world's biological diversity;
• Ensuring that the use of renewable resources is sustainable; and
• Promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful comsumption.

Website: www.wwf.org

Mekong River Commission

The Mekong River Commission (MRC) was established on 5 April 1995. The MRC member countries are Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam. MRC maintains regular dialogue with the two upper states of the Mekong River Basin, China and Myanmar.

The MRC member countries agree to co-operate in all fields of sustainable development, utilisation, management and conservation of the water and related resources of the Mekong River Basin, such as navigation, flood control, fisheries, agriculture, hydropower and environmental protection.

The MRC consists of three permanent bodies: The Council, the Joint Committee (JC) and the Secretariat. The National Mekong Committees (NMCs) act as focal points for the Commission in each of the member countries and are served by the respective National Mekong Committee Secretariats.

Website: www.mrcmekong.org

United Nations Development Programme

At the UN Millennium Summit, world leaders pledged to cut poverty in half by 2015. UNDP is charged with helping to make this happen. Its strategy focuses on:

• Democratic Governance
• Poverty Reduction
• Crisis Prevention and Recovery
• Energy and Environment
• Information and Communications Technology
• HIV/AIDS

A trusted source of knowledge-based advice and an advocate of a more inclusive global economy, UNDP provides funds; helps developing countries attract and use aid effectively; and promotes South-South cooperation. It seeks to address the many causes of poverty and to promote development, including through the protection of human rights and the empowerment of women.

Website: www.undp.org
UNDP Vietnam: www.undp.org.vn

This protected areas review website is hosted by:

Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme

APDIP seeks to promote and establish information technology (IT) for social and economic development throughout Asia-Pacific. Launched in 1997 and based in Kuala Lumpur, the Programme serves 42 countries in a vast region, from Iran in the west, north to Mongolia and south to the Pacific Islands of Fiji.

APDIP assists developing countries to bridge the digital divide and to benefit from the global information infrastructure in numerous ways. It provides advice to nations formulating national IT policies and offers hands-on technical assistance. APDIP is funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and implemented by the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Asia office.

Website: www.apdip.net

New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, Australia

The mission of the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is to work with people and communities to protect and conserve nature and cultural heritage. NPWS management principles recognise that conservation is landscape based, integrates natural and cultural values and incorporates the conservation of biodiversity, wilderness, significant natural landforms, geological heritage, indigenous heritage and historic heritage. This includes the management of a protected area system of more than five million hectares of national parks and other reserves. NPWS is engaged in joint management of marine parks and special areas for water catchment. NPWS works within a framework of ecologically sustainable development and recognises that conservation is best achieved with the support of the community through awareness, understanding and involvement.

Website: www.npws.nsw.gov.au

The Tropical Forest Trust

The Tropical Forest Trust is working to transform the international trade in tropical hardwood into an agent for forest conservation. To this end we are striving to expand the area of natural forest that is independently certified helping to ensure that forest management is environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable.

Website: www.tropicalforesttrust.com