FLOURISH project enhances the value chain of bamboo products in Nghe An

Attending the workshop were representatives from: RECOFTC Asia-Pacific Regional Office; International Bamboo and Rattan Network; Dresden University of Technology (Germany); Delegates from countries in the project area, Thailand and Laos.

On the Vietnamese side, there were representatives from the Office of the General Department of Forestry; Department of Science, Technology and International Cooperation; Vietnam Forest Protection and Development Fund and RECOFTC Office in Vietnam. Together with representatives of the Provincial People's Committee and relevant partners.

Leaders of Nghe An Province Forest Protection and Development Fund discussed the project implementation process in the locality. Photo: Hong Nhung

Formed and put into operation since 2018, the specific objectives of the FLOURISH project in Nghe An are: Establishing models of production forest landscape restoration under a cooperation mechanism between the private sector and the community with the support of local authorities; Cooperation agreements between the community and the private sector and local authorities are signed and implemented; Increasing the area of ​​forest sustainably managed by communities/households or improving forest use agreements; Increasing the ability to prevent forest fires in the pilot model; Increasing carbon stocks and the ability to provide forest environmental services in the pilot model; Sharing successful pilot results at local, national and international levels.

After 4 years of operation, a cooperation agreement on the value chain of cycad products has been signed between the village/hamlet communities and the enterprise (Duc Phong Company Limited). The FLOURISH project and RECOFTC Hanoi Office in coordination with local authorities, District Forest Protection Department, and Duc Phong Company Limited have also implemented training courses on exploitation, preliminary processing, restoration and enrichment of cycad forests for cycad exploitation groups in the project participating communes (in Quy Chau and Que Phong districts).

RECOFTC representatives share experiences and successful pilot results at local, national and international levels. Photo: Hong Nhung

In addition, the model of “Propagation of mangroves by dividing roots” has also been built to gradually expand mangrove forest resources in the project area. This is an effective propagation method to help people replant forests from the fund for forest environmental service payments, contributing to further improving the effectiveness of forest protection and development policies.

Within the framework of the Workshop, delegates visited the model of planting bamboo using the method of root separation; Model of managing natural bamboo forest in Chau Thang commune, Quy Chau district.

Quy Chau people invest in growing linden and bamboo trees to contribute to forest protection and development. Photo: Hong Nhung

Speaking at the workshop, Ms. Vo Thi Nhung - Deputy Director of Nghe An Department of Agriculture and Rural Development affirmed: The FLOURISH project has ended, but the value that the project has brought, the lessons learned during the project implementation will help the management, protection and development of forests; the livelihoods and economic benefits of forests of households in the coming time will be increased.