Vietnam and Korea strengthen cooperation to develop multi-use forestry industry

On July 1, during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to Korea, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan held a bilateral meeting with Mr. Nam Sunghyun, Minister of the Korean Forest Service (KFS).

Positive outcome in forestry cooperation

In discussions with Korean Forestry Service, Minister Le Minh Hoan expressed his gratitude for their support and interest in collaboration. The Minister hopes that KFS will continue to support and enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries, especially in forestry, in line with both nations' strong traditional relationship and potential.

In June 2023, the Memorandum of Understanding between the two Ministries on forestry cooperation marked a significant milestone in their relationship. Through this agreement, Vietnam and Korea have identified and agreed on priority goals for sustainable forest development.

Minister Le Minh Hoan highly appreciated Korea’s involvement in forestry cooperation programs and projects with Vietnam in recent times. A notable example is the “Restoration and Management of Mangrove Forests in the Red River Delta” project in Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh. This project has garnered significant attention from the Korean and Vietnamese Governments, reflecting their commitment to addressing climate change in the current global context.

To date, the project has planted and restored over 200 hectares of mangrove forests and established a 3-hectare mangrove seedling nursery, which has been handed over to local forest managers for operation and use. Additionally, a sustainable forest management plan for Xuan Thuy National Park has been developed, providing a framework for effectively managing the Ramsar site and protecting the biosphere over the next 10 years.

Relevant parties have carried out activities within the project framework to develop livelihoods for people living along the forest edge. These activities include developing a mangrove honey product chain and implementing aquaculture models under the forest canopy, among others.

KFS Minister Nam Sunghyun expressed his joy at the project's achievements. He also mentioned the cooperation on REDD+ (the Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Vietnam mechanism), commending Vietnam for being the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to be recognized as eligible for results-based payments for emissions reduction efforts under the REDD+ program.

KFS leaders acknowledged Minister Le Minh Hoan's proposal for cooperation in applying remote sensing technology in forestry. This technology will enable early detection of forest changes, model forest structure, calculate biomass and forest carbon stocks, and detect and monitor rare plant species.

“The application of high technology in forest fire management is important. Korea will consider supporting Vietnam in building a high-tech application system to forecast, warn, detect, and monitor forest fires. At the same time, improving livelihoods through the process of coastal forest restoration will help Vietnam's coastal communities increase their resilience and ability to respond to climate change,” said Mr. Nam Sunghyun.

New proposals

Currently, Vietnam has over 14,700,000 hectares of forest, with more than 42% coverage, playing a critical role in sustainable development and ensuring environmental security. 

Recognizing forests as a national resource, the head of the Agriculture and Rural Development sector discussed with KFS the restructuring of the forestry industry towards a multi-use approach. This approach focuses on improving productivity, output, and the value of planted forests, with a special emphasis on cultivating large timber forests, enhancing the welfare value of forests for people, preserving biodiversity, and responsibly implementing international commitments related to forests.

Minister Le Minh Hoan proposed that Korea support the development of multi-use forests, build sustainable forest livelihoods linked with indigenous landscapes and tourism, and create value from forest ecosystems for public welfare.

The Minister shared details of the project “Technical Support for Sustainable Forestry Development and Low-Emission Forestry in Vietnam,” which aims to implement the Glasgow Declaration on Forests and Land Use. This project seeks to increase the forestry sector’s contribution towards the net-zero emissions goal by 2050 while also enhancing livelihoods and creating sustainable income streams for forest owners.

Additionally, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development hopes to receive advice from KFS on developing the forest carbon credit market. This development aims to create a foundation for policy change, strengthen the capacity to develop the forest carbon market and increase income for local communities and forest owners in Vietnam. The ministry also aims to pilot mangrove carbon credits and plant and restore mangrove forests in various localities with available land resources.

The two ministries agreed to establish the Korea - Vietnam Forestry Cooperation Center to enhance cooperation. The Minister of KFS committed to assigning specialized agencies to coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to develop and propose specific programs and projects.

Accordingly, some areas that need to be promoted include forest landscape restoration in dry areas in Vietnam; developing a digital map of land use to support the development of medicinal plants under the forest canopy; and cooperating in building and operating high-tech nurseries for forest trees, medicinal plants, and precious and rare plants according to Korean standards.

Previously, Minister Le Minh Hoan attended the business forum of the two countries and visited the cooperative that grows and processes ginseng and develops the national ginseng brand.

The two Ministers agreed that improving the capacity of managers, businesses, and people will contribute to forest protection and development, sustainable forest management, and biodiversity conservation. This will promote business in the forestry sector such as trade, wood processing, wood products and non-wood products.