Marine and coastal resources in Vietnam are under increasing threat from human activities (Burke et al. 2002). One way to manage these threats is through Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which safeguard valuable ecosystems within their confines. Despite the ecological and socio-economic benefits they provide (Whittingham et al. 2003), the management of MPAs is often severely constrained by both a lack of funding and a poor relationship with communities living around (or within) them.

Coral reefs in Nha Trang City have been threatened by human activities such as use of dynamite, illegal harvesting, shipping, and pollution from the nearby port development project. How much recreational benefit from coral reefs is lost if these activities are not held in check? Using travel cost method, this study estimated the recreational value of coral reefs in Nha Trang to be VND 259.8 billion (USD18.3 million) annually, of which Hon Mun’s consumer surplus was estimated to be VND 45.4 billion (USD3.2 million).

This article reports the results of a comparative study conducted in China, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam to assess households' willingness to pay for marine turtle conservation and the potential to mobilize funds. Results show that imposing even a modest mandatory surcharge on residential electricity bills would not pass a referendum. This suggests that many people place a low priority on marine turtle conservation compared to other public policy issues. Nevertheless, there is some potential for voluntary contributions, though mobilizing these also presents problems.

This paper focuses on whether the provision of landless forest-adjacent communities with options to grow appropriate food crops inside forest reserves during early stages of reforestation programmes enable vertical transition of low income households and conserves forests. We consider the welfare and environmental impact of a unique incentive scheme known as the Plantation Establishment and Livelihood Improvement Scheme (PELIS) in Kenya. PELIS was aimed at deepening community participation in forestry, and improving the economic livelihoods of adjacent communities.