FLOURISH National Inception Workshop in Viet Nam

From 17-18 December 2018, RECOFTC - Viet Nam Country Programme and Nghe An Forest Protection and Development Fund organize the National Inception Workshop on "Production-driven Forest Landscape Restoration under REDD+ through Private sector – Community Partnerships" (FLOURISH) in Nghe An province. 

According to Mr. Nguyen Khac Lam, Director of Nghe An FPD Fund “Que Phong and Quy Chau are mountainous districts and their areas of natural forest and plantations is quite big. These districts are also famous with traditional craft villages using non timber forest products (NTFP) such as rattan-bamboo products; incense products, fabric weaving, medicinal plants.. In the national inception workshop, all participants will discuss and identify 4 communes that are the most suitable with FLOURISH requirements”.

In the opening speech, Mr. Dinh Viet Hong, Vice Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People Committee emphasized that “Nghe An province has the biggest area of forest and forestry land; the area covered by forest reaches to 57,7%. It is potential to develop forests plantations for the needs of timber and building materials production in province. On the date of 29th September 2018, Nghe An Provincial People Committee approved the updated versions of Provincial REDD+ Action Plan (PRAP) for period of 2018-2020 and vision to 2030. It enable policy environment for FLOURISH activities in Nghe An province. The 419 km long border between Nghe An and 3 provinces of Lao PDR is the longest international border with Laos in Vietnam. In recent years, many international cooperation activities in forest protection and development, forest fire control, illegal timber and forest products movement have well implemented by Nghe An province (Viet Nam) and Hua Phan, Xiêng Khoang, Bolykhamxay provinces (Lao PDR). I believe that under FLOURISH project, the international cooperation will be more encouraged”.

The national inception workshop of FLOURISH project in Nghe An is received participation and consideration of many relevant stakeholders at provincial and district level, such as representatives from Provincial People Committee, Quy Chau and Quy Hop District People Committee, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Foreign Affair, Department of Finance, Department of Industry, Department of Planning and Investment, Department of Forest Protection and Development, Quy Chau and Que Phong District of Forest Protection and Development, University of Vinh, and several private enterprises of NTFP and craft products.

“Local enterprises need both technical and financial support from projects and government in creating a sustainable connection with local communities through the product value chains, aims to build community capacity as long-term and sustainable material suppliers; and to strengthen capacity on market access for enterprises. Forest Steward Council certificate for forest plantations of communities and household groups are expectation from local enterprises such as Phu Quy Company under FLOURISH project”, Mr. Le Quoc Thanh, Director of TH Phu Quy, said.  

“I would like to highly appreciate the participation of all relevant stakeholders to the FLOURISH National Inception Workshop, especially Mr. Dinh Viet Hong, Vice Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People Committee. Through FLOURISH, RECOFTC in Viet Nam will work closely with Nghe An FPD Fund and INBAR in coordination, cooperation and co-organization of project activities for contribution to forest landscape restoration via REDD+ mechanism in Que Phong and Quy Chau districts, and creation of partnership among private sector and local community”, noted Dr. Chandra Silori, Deputy Executive Director of RECOFTC.