By supporting local initiatives on promoting and protecting customary rights, sustainable management of World Heritage Sites and biosphere areas will be showcased. By doing so, this proposed IU will contribute to the output 3.6 One Plan (p 113).

The proposed IU provides evidence-  based policy advice on management of heritage sites and other protected areas. Cultural diversity, reflected through customary practices, is  integrated in the management practices of biosphere reserves and local livelihoods and preservation of local culture will be improved through the implementation of these Management practices.

The proposed IU is directly linked to

-       Goal 7(a) of SEDP on natural resource, environment and sustainable development

-       Target 10.2 of SEDP on developing the ethnic minority traditional cultural values

-       The Convention on Biological  Diversity (articles 8 and 10)

-       The Convention on the Intangible Cultural Heritage (articles 13, 14 and 15).

The proposed IU supports the  implementation of the Law om  Biodiversity (2008) by supporting the achievement of national management bodies of Biosphere Reserves and World Natural Heritage sites to conduct planning and management of their sites. This activity will particularly advocate for appropriate. land use rights and the rights to access natural resources and other development opportunities of ethnic minorities since they form a significant part of the population inhabiting the areas around the targeted World Natural Heritage Sites and Biosphere Reserves. This directly contributes to achieving Vietnam's Millennium Development Goal VDGll - target 11.4 on securing land use rights for ethnic minorities and people living in the mountainous areas.