Proposing that WWF and USAID advocate for scaling up forestry initiatives

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Quoc Tri conducted a meeting with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) on October 15 to address issues concerning biodiversity conservation and forest management.

USAID and WWF have consistently provided support and collaboration to Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) for many years. The agriculture and rural development sector in general and the forestry sector in particular have reaped the benefits of this support.

As per Aler Grubbs, Director of USAID Vietnam, USAID has recently participated in numerous initiatives that prioritize biodiversity conservation, environmental protection, and climate change adaptation in Vietnam. Following the historic typhoon Yagi, USAID provided substantial support to Vietnam in order to fortify disaster response capabilities and increase resilience to climate change in communities throughout the country.

The Vietnamese delegation, which consisted of over 20 officiers from agricultural and forestry units, biodiversity conservation units within the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and representatives from the provinces of Quang Tri, Thua Thien - Hue, and Quang Nam, recently visited major national parks in the United States.

Vietnam acquired valuable insights that it can employ to its future forest management, forest protection, and biodiversity conservation attempts following the visit. The visit also served as a motivation for Vietnam to establish a "national park passport" program, which is designed to enhance the promotion of forest-based ecotourism.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Quoc Tri expressed gratitude for Vietnam's assistance in supporting WWF's biodiversity conservation initiatives. MARD and WWF have established a foundation for ongoing collaboration in a variety of fields, including forest management and the broader scope of conservation area management, as Mr. Prasanna De Silva, Senior Executive Director overseeing Global WWF Offices, expressed his satisfaction with the positive results achieved thus far.

Local cooperation between MARD and WWF has also garnered significant support, resulting in positive outcomes in the implementation of practical biodiversity protection activities and the raising of awareness, extending beyond the national level. This accomplishment underscores the joy that the two parties take in their partnership.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Quoc Tri expressed his gratitude to USAID and WWF for their active participation in assisting Vietnam in addressing the aftermath of storm Yagi during the meeting. Additionally, he recommended that USAID and WWF continue to provide assistance to Vietnam in the future with respect to biodiversity conservation.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Quoc Tri confirmed that Vietnam's present forest area is nearly 15 million hectares, with a forest cover rate exceeding 42%, and the export value of timber and forestry products exceeds 15 billion USD, as a result of significant efforts. The forestry sector of Vietnam has experienced success and growth as a result of the support of international organizations like USAID and WWF, as well as the efforts of citizens, enterprises, forest proprietors, and forest management and protection forces.

“Vietnam's goal for the time to come is to sustainably expand and preserve the current forest area, ensuring effective use of both planted and production forests. Under the motto "forests sustain forests," Vietnam's forestry sector will concentrate on utilizing the biodiversity of forests to encourage forest ecotourism. The MARD leader underscored that the goal is for all individuals to share the responsibility of managing, safeguarding, and developing the forests while simultaneously enjoying the air and landscapes.

In order to achieve this goal, Deputy Minister Nguyen Quoc Tri requested that USAID and WWF maintain their assistance to Vietnam in a variety of abilities, including the maintenance of the results of implemented projects, which are essential for the sustainable growth of the forestry sector. Additionally, it would be favorable to extend the outcomes of these initiatives to numerous other regions throughout the nation.

The MARD leadership also sought assistance in the development of strategies for biodiversity conservation, the enhancement of forest management teams' skills through regular study and exchange programs, and the acquisition of modern instruments for this discipline.

On the same day, Deputy Minister Nguyen Quoc Tri, on behalf of MARD, presented a commemorative medal for Agriculture and Rural Development to Mr. Prasanna De Silva, Senior Executive Director of Global WWF Offices, in recognition of his substantial contributions to the development of Vietnam's agriculture and rural development.