Dak Lak Province houses nearly 4,000 hectares of certified sustainable forest area

The Department of Forestry, in collaboration with Dak Lak Province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, held a conference on the afternoon of October 4 to evaluate the results of the “Model of forest owners implementing sustainable forest management and production chains with wood processing businesses in Dak Lak Province.”

According to Doan Hoai Nam, Deputy Director of the Department of Forestry, the Prime Minister approved the Sustainable Forest Management and Forest Certification Project on October 1, 2018. The project aims to enhance the management, protection, and sustainable development of forest resources in combination with the integration of the global forest product trade market. Furthermore, the project focuses on improving and increasing income for forest owners and export processing businesses.

After six years of implementation, various ministries and sectors have issued numerous mechanisms and policies to promote and implement sustainable forest management and forest certification. Accordingly, stakeholders in the forestry sector have developed forest protection management plans, sustainable forest management criteria, and established a national forest certification system in compliance with international standards (VFCS/PEFC).

With the support of local authorities, the business community, and most importantly, forest owners, the project has developed and managed 80% of the total forest area under sustainable forest management plans. Additionally, nearly 600,000 hectares of forest area have received a certification for sustainable management, reaching 60% of the target set by the Vietnam Forestry Development Strategy and the Sustainable Forest Management and Certification Project for 2030.

Deputy Director Nguyen Hoai Nam added that the project also outlines various tasks and solutions, including the development of sustainable forest management models focusing on forest certification. These models will act as sites for field visits and study, with the aim of supporting training and capacity building for specialists and forest owners. These sites will also be utilized to pilot and evaluate Vietnam’s sustainable forest management criteria before their official enactment.

The Department of Forestry, in collaboration with Dak Lak Province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, has supported the development of a model for "Forest owners implementing sustainable forest management and production chains with wood processing businesses in Dak Lak Province" in the Central Highlands.

After one year of implementation, Dak Lak has established 4,000 hectares of forest area with participating households from the three communes of Cu San, Ea Trang, and Krong A (M’Drak District). Additionally, M’Drak Forestry Company and a group of households have partnered with Ayo Biomass Co., Ltd. to create a certification linkage for nearly 4,000 hectares of forest under the national PEFC standards.

A representative from Ayo Biomass Co., Ltd. reported that the company has implemented a forest certification linkage model on nearly 4,000 hectares of forest area in Dak Lak. This certification model fosters a sustainable relationship between the involved parties and promotes sustainable development in the forestry sector.

"The company is committed to supporting forest plantation businesses, thereby providing practical benefits and opportunities for sustainable development. By participating in the model, partners receive technical support, which allows forest growers to improve productivity and production efficiency. Moreover, certified wood products boast a higher value, boosting the income and livelihood of forest growers. The development of a sustainable supply chain ensures a stable product output and income for forest growers. These activities contribute significantly to environmental and biodiversity protection efforts, the long-term preservation of forest resources, and enhancing the quality of wood products. Ultimately, the company aims to produce high-quality Vietnamese wood that is able to compete in the international market," Ayo Biomass Co., Ltd. stated.

The Ministry of Finance has drafted additional regulations on funding for forest protection, forest development, improving forest productivity and quality, and sustainable forest management.

The Ministry of Finance is currently seeking public feedback on the draft Circular amending and supplementing several articles under Circular No. 21, which regulates the management and use of operational funds for the implementation of the Sustainable Forestry Development Program for the years between 2021 and 2025.