E5.1.1. Policies, laws and regulations related to enhancing social and environmental benefits from forests

In the Viet Nam context, this safeguard element E5 is understood as creating and implementing policies and measures that seek to enhance the socio-cultural, economic, ecological, biological, climatic and environmental contributions (or benefits) provided by forest resources. The policies and measures (PaMs) of Viet Nam’s National REDD+ Action Program aim to enhance both environmental and social benefits.

Viet Nam's Country Safeguards Framework covers the assessment of benefits and risks of REDD+ actions and seeks to promote benefits. Viet Nam has in place a legal framework and processes for the assessment of social and environmental benefits and risks, and for the promotion of benefits in the forestry sector.

The Law on Forestry (2017) requires that “sustainable management, exploitation and use of forests must go hand in hand with preserving natural resources as well as enhancing the economic, cultural and historical values of forests, protecting the environment, responding to climate change and improving people's livelihoods". In addition, this Law has regulated 5 eligible forest environmental services to mobilise financial contributions from businesses, creating new sources of funding. This supports linking service providers (forest owners) and businesses using forest environmental services (e.g. hydroelectric plants, clean water production and supply facilities, industrial production facilities, etc), contributing to increasing the value of forests, improving livelihoods, and raising people's awareness of forest protection.

The Program on Sustainable Forest Management and Forest Certification[1] focuses on sustainable management and use of forest resources, biodiversity conservation, environmental protection and forest environmental service values. It aims to promote forest certification in order to meet the requirements of the domestic and international markets on the legal origin of timber; to create a source of wood materials planted in forests to implement sustainable forest management, meeting at least 80% of the demand for export wooden furniture production; and to raise the value of planted forest timber, contributing to poverty reduction and increase added value for the forestry sector.

Viet Nam’s policy framework, including the National Biodiversity Strategy to 2030, with a Vision to 2050;[2] Viet Nam's Forest Development Strategy for the period of 2021 - 2030, and vision to 2050,[3] MARD Circular No. 12/2022/TT-BNNPTNT on guiding a number of forestry activities to implement the Program on Sustainable Forestry Development (PSFD), and the National Target Program on socio-economic areas of ethnic minorities and mountainous areas in the period of 2021-2030[4] phase I: from 2021 to 2025, emphasise that the forest sector should contribute to economic growth, poverty alleviation and environmental protection.

Decision No. 208/QD-TTg[5] on developing the multi-use value of forest ecosystems program to 2030, and vision to 2050, also emphasises the development of forest ecosystems through: sustainable development of wood material supply, increasing the value of non-wood forest products and medicinal materials; combining agricultural, forestry and fishery production effectively and sustainably; expanding forest environmental services, including carbon absorption and storage services, eco-tourism, resort and entertainment businesses; community tourism.

 

[1] Decision No. 1288/QD-TTg dated 1 October 2018 on Sustainable Forest Management and Forest Certification

[2] Decision No. 149/QD-TTg dated February 14, 2022 on National Biodiversity Strategy to 2030 and vision to 2050

[3] Decision No. 523/QĐ-TTg dated April 1, 2021 on Forestry Development Strategy in 2021-2030 period

[4] Decision No. 1719/QD-TTg dated October 14, 2021 on National Target Program socio-economic areas of ethnic minorities and mountainous areas

[5] Decision No. 208/QD-TTg dated February 29, 2024 of the Prime Minister approving the Project for developing the multi-use value of forest ecosystems to 2030