There are still many difficulties in issuing sustainable forest management certifications.

Efforts to obtain FSC forest certification

Thanh Chuong district is one of the localities that implemented the FSC certification program quite early, and has initially achieved good results.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Dai, residing in Hamlet 5, Hanh Lam Commune, Thanh Chuong District, shared: "My family owns 7.4 hectares of acacia trees, which received sustainable forest certification in May 2023. Thanks to training to improve awareness and techniques, we now know how to care for acacia trees according to proper procedures, and how to measure and assess timber volume."

The certified land area will have its products purchased by businesses under signed contracts, so the family feels secure and can care for the acacia trees until the 7-year cycle before selling them, with an expected yield of about 170-190 tons/ha. Previously, using the old method, acacia trees were harvested and sold every 4 years, with a yield of only about 70-80 tons/ha.

Mr. Dang Huu Hanh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Hanh Lam commune, said: Since the beginning of 2022, the people of Hanh Lam commune who plant forests have received guidance and support from relevant departments and agencies in preparing the necessary documents and procedures to obtain sustainable forest certification.

By May 2023, Hanh Lam commune had 3,800 out of 4,000 hectares certified for sustainable forest management. Prior to this, relevant agencies had frankly pointed out both major and minor errors made by households, and forest-planting households had to seriously implement the requirements to achieve FSC certification.

Forests certified under FSC standards must meet the following criteria: They must have land use certificates, and the seedlings must be grown from seeds or cuttings; no FSC-banned chemicals or fertilizers must be used; and production processes from planting and caring to harvesting must be strictly adhered to. Furthermore, no waste must be dumped into the forest, and burning of harvested vegetation is prohibited.

Mr. Tran Phi Hung, Head of the Agriculture Department of Thanh Chuong district, added: Since 2021, the district has coordinated with relevant units to implement the program. To date, over 6,200 hectares have been certified under FSC standards in Thanh Huong commune, Thanh Thuy commune, and the Thanh Chuong Protective Forest Management Board.

Relevant units organized training sessions to support local people in improving their capacity for sustainable forest management according to FSC standards; reviewed and completed the dossiers for FSC certification assessment. Thanh Chuong Wood Production and Trading Joint Stock Company also supported forest growers with 500,000 VND/ha to cover the costs of obtaining certification.

All FSC-certified areas in the district are covered by Thanh Chuong Wood Production and Trading Joint Stock Company's product purchase agreement, so forest growers don't have to worry about private traders manipulating prices. This company also buys entire trees, including trunks and tops, without requiring bark removal, which benefits acacia growers and increases their economic value by 7-10% compared to selling freely outside.

Que Phong district has a large area of ​​natural bamboo forests (approximately over 17,000 hectares of bamboo-growing forests), mainly concentrated in Dong Van and Thong Thu communes. In recent years, the local government and relevant agencies have made efforts to coordinate with international organizations to certify sustainable forest management for 837.2 hectares of bamboo in the area. Accordingly, the certified bamboo forest area is being sustainably harvested, conserved, and cared for.

Obtaining sustainable forest management certification for 837 hectares of bamboo is very significant in developing a legal raw material market, allowing bamboo products to access export markets and increase their economic value.

Currently, Que Phong district is continuing to coordinate with relevant departments and agencies to obtain sustainable forest management certification for the remaining bamboo growing area, aiming to develop bamboo cultivation to meet export quality standards.

There are still many difficulties.

According to a report by the Provincial Forest Protection Department, from 2022 to the present, Nghe An province has had 26,184 hectares of forest certified under the FSC standard out of a total of 170,000 hectares of raw material forest. Specifically: Chau Binh commune, Quy Chau district, has been granted FSC certification for 2,886 hectares of acacia forest; Thanh Chuong district has 6,200 hectares of acacia forest; Le Duy Nguyen forest planting enterprise (Hoang Mai town) has 820 hectares; Yen Thanh district has 1,980 hectares; Anh Son district has 2,823 hectares…

Forest areas certified under FSC standards all have businesses that guarantee the purchase of their products. For example, Thanh Chuong Wood Production and Trading Joint Stock Company has a contract to purchase acacia wood products from Thanh Son, Ngoc Lam, Thanh Huong, Thanh Thinh, and Thanh An communes in Thanh Chuong district; An Viet Phat Company guarantees the purchase of products from Dong Thanh and Thinh Thanh communes in Yen Thanh district; Khanh Tam Forestry Company has signed a commitment to purchase bamboo raw materials from Que Phong district…

Mr. Nguyen Khac Hai, Head of the Forest Utilization and Development Department (Forestry Sub-Department), said: "Receiving sustainable forest certification will benefit people by allowing them to harvest large timber, increasing economic value, and especially by securing product purchase agreements with businesses at stable prices."

However, the number of FSC-certified forests in the province is still low compared to the total existing forest area. This is due to Nghe An's mountainous terrain, steep slopes, heavy rainfall causing erosion in planted forest areas, and the fragmented and small-scale nature of forest cultivation practices.

Not to mention the long time required to grow large timber forests, coupled with economic pressure, risks from natural disasters, and market fluctuations; in mountainous areas, where living conditions are difficult and capital is lacking, many households are hesitant to plant large timber forests and convert small timber forests to large timber forests. Those involved in forest planting have not yet recognized or fully understood the benefits of forest certification, and are still concerned about the market for certified timber.

Furthermore, the forest product processing industry has not developed synchronously, and the supply chain linkages from planting, caring for, and protecting forests to harvesting, producing, and consuming products are not sustainable.

Obtaining FSC certification requires significant investment, and the cost of hiring experts to conduct annual FSC certification assessments is quite high, exceeding the capabilities of small-scale forest growers. Furthermore, Nghe An province currently lacks a policy to support forest owners in obtaining FSC certification; support mainly comes from businesses that purchase acacia wood products, providing farmers with subsidies ranging from 500,000 to 1,000,000 VND per hectare.

Recently, the Provincial People's Committee has worked with localities, businesses, and relevant sectors to accelerate progress and resolve difficulties and obstacles in the process of forest certification. It has directed localities currently implementing forest certification to review the area of ​​planted forests in their localities that meet the criteria for certification and to recommend them to businesses for implementation.

Furthermore, it is necessary to strengthen the dissemination of information and guidance on sustainable forest management and forest certification to households and individuals in the area. Continue to attract domestic and foreign investment in forest development in the area, aiming for the efficient use of forest resources and forest land.

It is expected that from now until the end of 2023, Nghe An will complete the dossiers to grant forest certification for an additional 4,500 hectares in Tan Ky, Do Luong, and Anh Son districts. The goal is to have at least 50,000 hectares of planted forest certified throughout the province by 2025.

FSC certification is awarded by the Forest Stewardship Council to encourage sustainable forest resource management practices.FSC certification contributes to environmental protection and the preservation of natural ecosystems. Economically, FSC helps minimize waste from forest resources. Forest products bearing the FSC label have higher economic value, typically 20-30% higher than similar products.