Ensuring environmental and social safety in forestry enterprises

(Baonghean.vn) - That was the content of the Workshop organized by the Forestry Project Management Board on the morning of November 16 in Vinh City. Attending were representatives of the Protection Forest Management Board and forestry companies from the three provinces of Nghe An, Thanh Hoa and Ha Tinh.

Ensuring Environmental and Social Safety in Forestry Companies and Forest Management Boards in the North Central Regionis one of the important activities of the Emission Reduction Project (ER-PD) with the aim of raising awareness and building capacity for forestry companies and forest management boards in the three provinces of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh.

Thereby, helping these units comply well and meet the safety assurance policies of the World Bank, the Forestry Carbon Partnership Fund as well as the national REDD+ safety assurance framework during the process of participating in the North Central Region Emission Reduction Program.

At the workshop, participants were introduced to environmental and social safeguards in REDD+ implementation. Requirements for environmental and social safeguards for forestry companies and forest management boards to comply with when participating in the Emission Reduction Program.

Delegates attending the Consultation Workshop on “Ensuring Environmental and Social Safety in Forestry Companies and Forest Management Boards in the North Central Region”. Photo: Van Truong

Through the consultation workshop, staff of forestry companies and forest management boards at all levels have a better understanding of REDD+ and REDD+ related activities. Recognizing the importance of compliance with environmental and social safety when implementing the Emission Reduction Program, recognizing environmental risks when implementing afforestation, reforestation, and forestry development activities, such as converting natural forests to planted forests, loss of biodiversity, and fragmentation of natural ecosystems. Soil erosion and fertility, disease risks caused by alien species and the use of pesticides and fertilizers...

Social risks include involuntary resettlement, loss of productive land and income, livelihoods and lack of compensation. Restricted access to forest land leads to loss of productive land in upland areas and affects income, livelihoods and food security.

Caring for forestry seedlings at Pu Hoat Nature Reserve Management Board. Photo courtesy

At the workshop, students also discussed in groups to develop and propose measures to minimize impacts on environmental and social safety, and identify challenges in implementing those measures in the process of implementing REDD+ in the coming time.

Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Vu Hoai Ninh, coordinator of the FCPF-2 project, shared: In fact, REDD+ is still a fairly new field. Vietnam has been actively making efforts to develop an action plan to prepare for the initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from limiting deforestation, limiting forest degradation; conserving forest carbon stocks, sustainably managing forests and enhancing forest carbon stocks (REDD+).

Therefore, agricultural and forestry companies and protective forest management boards, in addition to performing professional tasks such as prioritizing the protection of natural forests and improving the quality of planted forests, maximize the benefits of forest services, such as soil and water protection, carbon storage, etc.

In particular, it is necessary to coordinate with sectors and local authorities to focus on improving the livelihoods of people living on forests. Raising awareness of the environment and society, enhancing people's participation in the management, protection and sustainable development of forests, conserving biodiversity and increasing forest carbon stocks to adapt to climate change.

Van Truong