Representatives of the Vietnamese Non-Governmental Organization on FLEGT (VNGO-FLEGT) Network – including SRD, CORENARM, and SFMI – with the head of delegation, Mrs. Vu Thi Bich Hop, conducted the main study on the REDD+ and FLEGT linkage in Lam Dong from November 21st to 25th, 2015.
Based on the scoping study results from early November 2015, the study group interviewed 106 households in the Lac Duong and Di Linh districts in the Lam Dong Province where the REDD+ program was implemented.
Mrs. Vu Thi Bich Hop - SRD Executive Director interviewed households in Lac Duong District
During the first three days, the activities carried out included: (i) Interviews with key officials from the districts and communes to collect information on the implementation of forest and land management and protection, forest allotment, legal procedures for timber harvesting and transportation; (ii) Interviews with households which are allotted forest to protect; (iii) In-depth interviews with households, leaders and elders from 8 villages. The study group also organized group discussions for households, forest owners… and built 16 problem and solution trees.
The study group discovered some key issues: (i) Deforestation, forest degradation and illegal logging in the study areas are still happening (small scale, but over wide area, latent and potentially more risks); (ii) The pressures of livelihoods and land for agricultural production are the leading risk of deforestation and forest degradation; (iii) The current management mechanisms and coordination between local stakeholders are facing many difficulties and obstacles in the implementation process; (iv) Social security and environment are the top priorities of both REDD+/FLEGT.
Group discussions for forest owners in Da Nhim Commune
From these results, the study group organized a consultation workshop on the REDD+ and FLEGT linkage study results in illegal timber controls in November 25th, 2015 in Da Lat City with the participation of the 13 leaders of provinces, districts, communes, and forest owners in the Lam Dong Province.
At the opening of the workshop, Mrs. Vu Thi Bich Hop, on behalf of the network, emphasized the necessity of the implementation of REDD+ and FLEGT and presented the study results from the Lac Duong District. Additionally, Mr. Tran Nam Thang – member of the VNGO-FLEGT Network steering committee presented the study results from the Di Linh District. Through two reports, the study group received lots of positive feedback for the detected problems and feasible solutions. In addition, other feedback from stakeholder, especially representatives of provincial and district leaders, on solutions to prevent illegal logging gave the study group more information and a comprehensive assessment before writing completed study reports.
From the study results on the FLEGT and REDD+ linkage in the Lac Duong and Di Linh districts and a stakeholders consultation, on November 27th in UNREDD+ office, SRD and the study group organized a meeting to share the study results with the national UNREDD+. In the meeting, the study on FLEGT and REDD+ was appreciated and received lots of valuable comments, such as: solutions to improve the situation and contribute to policy revision; priority applicable measures consistent with the resources (financial, human resources and implementation capacity) to make the landmark change; feasibility and risks assessment for the selected solutions… These comments would be considered in the completed study reports.
-SRD-
Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD)
No.31, Alley 19 Kim Dong Street, Hoang Mai District, Ha Noi
Phone: +84 24 3943 6676/78 | Fax: +84 24 3943 6449
