Thai Nguyen promotes FSC certification evaluation and issuance

FSC is a certification granted to forest owners or producers of forest products that meet sustainability criteria, with an emphasis on the balancing of forest environmental protection, social benefits and local community interests.

According to experts, FSC-certified forests are poised to become a sustainable supply of forest material and a 'passport' to improve the quality of forest products. Additionally, certified forests facilitate access to various demanding markets around the world, such as the United States and the EU, which impose an increasingly strict requirement for legally sourced materials. FSC-certified forests are estimated to provide an economic value 20% to 30% higher compared to that of conventional forests.

In response to the significance and importance of FSC sustainable forest management certification, Thai Nguyen province has actively coordinated with relevant agencies to implement sustainable forest certification, with positive initial results.

According to Thai Nguyen province's Department of Forest Protection, FSC-certified forests offer long-term benefits and protect the ecosystem of planted forests. Forest growers can receive technical advice from businesses on the care and monitoring of forests. Additionally, these businesses pledge to purchase timber products at prices higher than the market average.

With the benefits of FSC sustainable forest management certification, the majority of forest owners in Thai Nguyen have actively participated in the FSC certification evaluation process. To date, the total area of FSC-certified sustainable forests in Thai Nguyen province has reached over 3,700 hectares.

In 2023, Vo Nhai District People's Committee issued a plan for sustainable forest management and FSC certification; established a representative board to develop a sustainable forest management plan with a focus on FSC certification. Additionally, the district signed an agreement with a business specializing in forestry to implement sustainable forest management plans and FSC certification for acacia growers in the district's communes.

The projected FSC-certified forest area in the communes of Binh Long and Dan Tien reached nearly 2,500 hectares in the years between 2023 and 2024, accounting for 88.5% of the total forest area with over 700 participating households. Similarly, the projected FSC-certified forest area in the communes of La Hien, Cuc Duong, and Vu Chan reached 3,800 hectares, accounting for 87% of the total forest area with 1,700 participating households.

With its significant potentials and strengths in forestry, Vo Nhai district acknowledged that obtaining FSC certification is crucial for local development. In addition, the certification will contribute to sustainable forest resource use and management; biodiversity conservation; environmental protection, and forestry economic efficiency improvement for the local community.

Dong Hy district is currently managing nearly 900 hectares of forest area certified for sustainable forest management, bringing the total certified area in the district to over 2,200 hectares with the participation of more than 850 households.

Similarly, the GFA Sustainable Forest Management Certification Organization in Dai Tu district granted FSC certification to 1,500 hectares of forest area located in the three communes of Yen Lang, Minh Tien, and Duc Luong in January 2024.

Phu Luong district recently received FSC sustainable forest management certification for over 5,100 hectares with over 3,600 participating households. This achievement has made Phu Luong the district with the largest certified forest area in Thai Nguyen province, covering four communes: Yen Do with over 1,800 hectares and 1,000 participating households; Yen Lac with over 1,000 hectares and 790 participating households; Yen Ninh with over 1,100 hectares and 700 participating households; and Yen Trach with over 1,200 hectares and 1,100 participating households.

Thai Nguyen province has identified sustainable forest management as a key development trend for the local forestry economy, thereby promoting economic growth for local farmers. With the province's potentials and strengths in the forestry sector, obtaining FSC certification is crucial for sustainable forest resource management; with an emphasis on enhancing forestry economic efficiency for the local community and society as a whole, and affirming the brand value of local forestry products.

With over 5,100 hectares of FSC-certified forest, Phu Luong district currently houses the largest certified forest area in Thai Nguyen province. By the end of June 2024, the GFA Sustainable Forest Management Certification Organization officially granted FSC certification to a group of forest planting households in Phu Luong.