REDD+ sustainable benefits from forest ecosystem services
(Baonghean) - Since the implementation of the "REDD+ greenhouse gas emission reduction" program, forest environmental "services" have brought many benefits, helping people earn more income while doing a good job of protecting forests sustainably.
Ready for REDD+
REDD+ is an initiative to provide financial support to developing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through five activities: (1) Reducing emissions from deforestation, (2) Reducing emissions from forest degradation, (3) Conservation of forest carbon stocks, (4) Sustainable forest management, and (5) Enhancement of forest carbon stocks.
The main goal of REDD+ is to contribute to the mitigation of global climate change. REDD+ also brings environmental and social benefits to the countries participating in REDD+ implementation.
Unlike other initiatives, REDD+ is a mechanism in which countries participating in the Forest Carbon Partnership Fund (FCPF) only pay REDD+ countries based on the recorded greenhouse gas emission reduction results (also known as results-based payments).
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| A corner of the mountains and forests of Western Nghe An. Photo: Thanh Hai |
Taking action with REDD+, on June 21, 2016, Nghe An Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 2859/QD-UBND on the Action Plan "Reducing greenhouse gas emissions through efforts to limit deforestation and forest degradation, sustainably managing forest resources, conserving and enhancing forest carbon stocks" in Nghe An province for the period 2016 - 2020.
The overall objective is: Reduce 15% of greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (equivalent to a reduction of 4,000 ha of lost forest and 4,500 ha of degraded forest) and increase carbon stocks absorbed from forests in the period 2016 - 2020 in the province. Mobilize domestic and international resources to participate in forest protection and development in localities for socio-economic development, environmental protection and sustainable forest development.
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| Officers of Que Phong Forest Protection Department patrol the forest. Photo: Ho Phuong |
Regarding the scope of implementation, the province focuses on prioritizing 89 communes of 13 districts including: Anh Son, Con Cuong, Dien Chau, Do Luong, Ky Son, Nghia Dan, Que Phong, Quy Chau, Quy Hop, Tan Ky, Thanh Chuong, Tuong Duong and Yen Thanh.
The specific direction is to build a system of organization, management, and operation to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, conserve and enhance forest carbon stocks; improve capacity to access and implement REDD+ activities. Establish baseline emissions levels; upgrade the forest monitoring system, develop measures to ensure environmental and social safety; develop a financial management mechanism and benefit sharing from REDD+ and a plan to implement REDD+ activities in the province.
To date, the REDD Project Phase 2 (FCPF2) has coordinated with local forestry management units to disseminate information on REDD+ in conjunction with forest management, protection and development to management staff of 18 districts and 32 communes with more than 2,500 participants.
This is the core force to disseminate and organize the implementation of REDD+ at the grassroots level. Organize training courses on forest management using tablets. In 2017-2018, the project organized 7 training courses for 235 forest rangers and large forest owners in the province. The project also equipped 150 tablets which were handed over to forest rangers and forest owners. In addition, the project also organized propaganda about REDD+ through media such as articles, news on the provincial radio and television...
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| Forest rangers promote forest protection in Tri Le, Que Phong. Photo: Ho Phuong |
In particular, the project has coordinated with units such as forest rangers, protective forest management boards, Pu Hoat Nature Reserve... to integrate propaganda about REDD+ with propaganda content on forest management, protection and development, forest fire prevention and fighting in the locality. The FCPF2 Project Management Board organized many consultations to propose solutions for REDD+ implementation, supported the development and implementation of the forest allocation project associated with the allocation of forestry land in the province. Developed a plan for urgent measures to protect and prevent illegal logging and exploitation of forest products in key areas (2016-2020).
Benefits from forest environmental services
According to experts, the Carbon Fund, entrusted by the World Bank (WB), is expected to purchase 10.3 million tons of carbon from Vietnam (expected price of 5 USD/ton), Vietnam will collect more than 51 million USD, and Nghe An alone will collect more than 10 million USD.
Thus, REDD + is an ecosystem service comparable to forest environmental services. Under the condition of absolutely not exploiting natural forests, people will participate in REDD + to protect forests to exploit forest ecosystems, including to have revenue from forest environmental services, from selling carbon, ecological services associated with tourism and indigenous agricultural and forestry products, improving people's lives.
This is a new approach, applied in many countries around the world and is considered a sustainable financial mechanism for biodiversity conservation and poverty reduction. Socio-economic development activities are creating a lot of pressure on ecosystems. Applying payment for environmental services can also be considered a tool to minimize impacts on ecosystems in particular and biodiversity in general.
Therefore, determining the key goals and tasks for each ecological region, currently it is necessary to protect the existing natural forest area well, especially the natural forest area in border forests and special-use forests (Pu Mat, Pu Hoat, Pu Huong) to ensure national defense, security, preserve biodiversity and protect the ecological environment. Focus on zoning and improving the quality of natural forests.
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| The mangrove forest - Tuong Duong (Tam Dinh commune, Tuong Duong district). Photo: Ho Phuong |
Develop and improve the quality of planted forests, especially large timber forests in Con Cuong, Que Phong and Tuong Duong districts. Promote new planting of mixed bamboo and rattan in humid forests and lakeside areas. Promote advantages, effectively exploit forest resources, natural landscapes (ecosystems) and brand values of the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve to develop ecotourism and community tourism to improve the lives of ethnic communities in the region.
Exploiting land with typical microclimates to develop endemic and rare medicinal species, high-value non-timber forest products under natural forest canopy to enrich forests and increase income, in conjunction with current forestry policies of the State (with an area of about 20,000 hectares with endemic microclimates and terrain at an altitude of over 700m in 4 remote districts of Ky Son, Que Phong, Tuong Duong, Con Cuong).In 2019, continue to promote REDD+, the Emission Reduction Program, the REDD+ Action Plan associated with forest protection in 93 communes in the REDD+ implementation area. Support the Project "Forest allocation associated with forestry land allocation". Support forest product management activities, increase the value of forest products (timber and minor forest products). Implement activities of the Project "Emission reduction and transfer of emission reduction rights in the North Central region".
