Five million euros to support Vietnam in sustainable landscape management

On June 3 in Lam Dong, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development coordinated with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the People's Committees of Dak Nong and Lam Dong provinces to organize the initiation workshop for the "Comprehensive sustainable landscape management in Lam Dong and Dak Nong" project.

The project includes three specific goals: strengthening forest ecosystems, improving people’s livelihoods and developing sustainable food production suitable for the Central Highlands region.

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Quoc Doanh, the government of Vietnam deems this project as an important and appropriate initiative to directly contribute to and promote the implementation of sustainable development goals, strategic and national commitments to greenhouse gas emission reduction, green growth, forest protection, agricultural development of Vietnam in general and the Central Highlands region in particular.

In order to create a transition towards sustainable landscape without deforestation, the project will develop and pilot an integrated approach to forest ecosystems, generating revenue from forests to keep farmers on their land and increase their income in a sustainable way. This will contribute to improving the living condition of people living near the forest.

In addition to the EU's support of 5 million euros, there are four other international organizations that will provide technical assistance to the project, including the Center for International Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), European Forestry Institute (EFI), Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The project will be implemented in four years, from 2022 to 2026 in Lam Dong and Dak Nong provinces. The goal is that 25,000 ha of natural forests will be protected by 2026, reducing emissions equivalent to about three million tons of CO2 while improving livelihoods for 35% of the population in the two provinces, especially ethnic minorities and women.

The project also aims to improve sustainability in production with key commodities increasing by 25% in value. The results of the project will be replicated and integrated into Vietnam's development strategies and policies.