A SET OF MANAGEMENT EFFECTIVENESS INDICATORS FOR BIOSPHERE RESERVES IN VIETNAM: A CASE STUDY OF THE WESTERN NGHE AN BIOSPHERE RESERVE

This study develops and applies an enhanced management effectiveness evaluation (MEE) framework for Biosphere Reserves (BRs) in Vietnam. Building on an existing 58-indicator system, five new indicators were added to reflect updated MAB governance requirements—encompassing integration of the Hangzhou Strategic Action Plan (HSAP 2026–2035), gender equality, indigenous knowledge of ethnic minority communities, youth participation, and systematic reporting against the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)—bringing the total to 63 indicators across 20 criteria and 6 management elements of the IUCN MEE Framework. Evaluation was conducted using a participatory expert assessment method, combining document review with descriptive statistical analysis. The expanded framework was applied to the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve (WNABR), the largest BR in Vietnam. The overall MEE score was 70.2/100 (moderate effectiveness), with Planning (73.8) and Context (73.5) performing best and Process (65.4) and Outputs (66.1) requiring priority attention. The five newly introduced indicators averaged 49.0/100, underscoring critical governance gaps in international policy alignment and social inclusion. The study proposes an “open system with fixed core” methodological approach and seven priority actions for WNABR in 2026–2030. These findings are based on expert assessment at a single site and require further multi-site validation before national generalisation.