Sustainable Forest Management

Project description

Title: Upscaling Sustainable Forest Management and Certification in Viet Nam
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)​​​​​​​
Country: Viet Nam​​​​​​​
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)​​​​​​​
Overall term: 2021 to 2024

SFM Project Kickoff Meeting was held on 26 July 2022 in Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen. © GIZ / Pham Phuong Thao

Context

Covering 42 per cent of the nation's land area, forests play a central role as natural carbon sinks in Viet Nam's goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. However, forest quality remains poor and species diversity is low. Forests are subject to major climatic risks such as storm damage, which are exacerbated by climate change. Viet Nam is the largest exporter of timber products in Southeast Asia. The plantation economy is dominated by short-term rotation models to produce wood chips for biomass.

On the other hand, 60 per cent of timber imported to Viet Nam is sawn timber as the domestic timber production cannot meet increasing demands for sustainable large-sized timber.

Despite the political will being there, the transition to sustainable climate-friendly forest management has not yet taken place in practice. Forest owners have little experience with large-sized timber cultivation. They also do not have any access to information on how to mobilise financing to bridge the gap during the transition period. The regulatory framework also needs to provide more incentives to foster the transition.

Objective

Viet Nam is moving forward in its transition to sustainable, climate-friendly forest management.

GIZ SFM Project and Dong Xuan Protection Forest Management Board in a field trip the mixed plantation with native species in Phu Yen Province. ©GIZ/Le Thien Duc

Approach

The project carries out the following activities:

  1. Advises national and provincial stakeholders on how to improve the legal framework to push the transition to sustainable forest management.
  2. Develops service provider capabilities so that they in turn can enhance the ability of forest owners to manage long rotation plantations.
  3. Supports forest owners in developing innovative business models and identifying possible financing options for the transition.

Potentials for fostering gender equality are used throughout all activities. Project implementation is supported in part by the consulting company unique land use GmbH with a focus on regional activities.

Last update: June 2022

Additional information