Building an independent monitoring system contributes to forest protection

View of the Workshop. Photo: Ngoc Anh

Attend the workshopHaveRepresentatives of the Vietnam Forestry Administration, the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, the Vietnam Forestry Science and Technology Association; social organizations, non-governmental organizations in the North Central region and delegates from the EU sponsor.

On the side of Nghe An province, there were comrade Nguyen Tien Lam - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development; leaders of Ky Son and Tuong Duong districts and communes in the project area...

Project “Enhancing the participation of grassroots social organizations (CSOs) in monitoring programs”REDD+in Vietnam” was carried out in Ky Son and Tuong Duong districts of Nghe An province for 4 years, with a total budget of 550,078 EUR; of which the European Community funded 495,705 EUR... The project was implemented by the Sustainable Forest Management and Forest Certification Research Institute (SFMI) and the Center for Environment and Biological Resources (CEBR).

Comrade Nguyen Tien Lam - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Director of the Nghe An REDD+ program: Nghe An province is very pleased to be selected as the project area "Enhancing the participation of grassroots social organizations (CSOs) in monitoring REDD+ programs in Vietnam" funded by the European community. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and relevant agencies will create favorable conditions and participate most actively in forest protection and development activities in general and project activities in particular. Photo: Ngoc Anh

Mr. Nguyen Phu Hung - Vice President of Vietnam Forestry Science Association: The role of social organizations and people in using technology is to monitor the REDD+ program in Vietnam, satisfying the requirements of the World Bank for the North Central REDD+ Program. Photo: Ngoc Anh

The project was approved by the EU for funding in the context of the National REDD+ Program approved by the Prime Minister on April 5, 2017 with the general goal of contributing to the protection and improvement of the quality of natural forests, expanding the area and improving the quality of planted forests; integrating with the implementation of national goals on greenhouse gas emission reduction, forest protection and development, green growth; attracting international support, moving towards access to the carbon credit market; improving forest governance, creating jobs, improving people's living conditions associated with the New Rural Program and ensuring national security and defense.

The project aims to enhance the participation of civil society organizations (CSOs) in promoting governance andforest developmentin Vietnam; building capacity for civil society organizations (CSOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) in the forestry sector, helping civil society organizations cooperate with each other and with forestry agencies to facilitate effective community participation in monitoring REDD+ programs.

In particular, social organizations in the North Central region and Hanoi will form an independent forest monitoring network (FCIM), with sufficient capacity to master and use TERA-I technology for forest change monitoring activities.

Ms. Nguyen Tuong Van - Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation of the General Department of Forestry - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development spoke at the workshop. Photo: Ngoc Anh

“The European Union is ready to support the project launched today to strengthen the participation of civil society organizations in forest governance. The project is very suitable and timely support for the Vietnam-EU Voluntary Partnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade, which has been in effect for more than a year. The EU believes that the participation of many civil society organizations in the project will create momentum to promote more effective forest management and protection in Vietnam in the coming years.”

Mr. Ludovino Rui - First Counsellor of the EU Delegation to Vietnam

Protecting community forests in Tuong Duong district (Nghe An). Photo courtesy

The expected outcomes of the project are to raise community awareness and access to information technology on forest governance, enhance transparency for better management at all levels of government. Improve the functions of CSOs related to REDD+ in the process of mapping, documenting forest changes, and overcome some existing problems in forestry sector governance. Create opportunities to enhance interactions between grassroots CSOs and stakeholders; enhance recognition of the role and contributions of CSOs in the forestry sector...