Final Project Workshop in 2015 and Plan Development in 2016 of the Network of VNGO-FLEGT

On December 19^th 2015, in Da Nang city, the Network of Vietnamese Non-Governmental Organizations on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (VNGO-FLEGT) held a workshop to summarize the activities of 2015 and build action plans for 2016.

Mrs. Vu Thi Bich Hop – Executive Director of SRD and Chair of the Network Steering Committee – shared on the advocacy activities of the network in the past year, in the opening of the workshop. Since it was founded in January 2012, the network has completed many significant research reports that contribute positively to the process of Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) negotiation between the Vietnamese Government and the European Union. Following this, Mr. Le Cong Luong- Chief of Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA) - expressed high regards for the achievements of the network and SRD. In particular, SRD – as the chair of the network – was recently recognized as a forefront organization in cooperation and development, among 411 organizations under VUSTA. Furthermore, Mr. Le Cong Luong also shared the cooperation and development plan of VUSTA in 2016.

Mrs. Vu Thi Bich Hop - SRD Executive Director gave a speech on the network activities over the last year

In November 2015, the Network and SRD also implemented FLEGT- REDD+ linkage in Lac Duong and Di Linh district, Lam Dong provinice. It is expected to conduct the research in 4 other provinces of Bac Can, Lao Cai, Ha Tinh and Binh Thuan. Representative of the research group indicate key findings and solutions to strengthen both FLEGT and REDD+ effectively and efficiently through FLEGT- REDD+ linkage.  Moreover, it is essential to have concrete policy recommendations and adequate solutions in 2015. Mr. Duong Quoc Hung, representing the European Forest Institute, provided updates on the process of VPA/FLEGT negotiation in 2015 and upcoming lines in 2016.  Mr. Tran Ngoc Tue presented potential impacts of the Trans-Pacific Partnership on Trade on Vietnam. 

Mr. Le Cong Luong -  chief of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA) 

highly appreciated the achievements of the network and SRD

Through the group discussion, Mrs. Vu Thi Bich Hop, as Chair of the Network Steering Committee, summarized the action plan for the network in 2016, which emphasized:

·         Activities of the network will address strengthening the role and participation of CSOs in three programs: FLEGT, REDD+ and contribute to Forestry Law construction;

·         The network's study will mainly focus on key findings on illegal timber (timber harvesting, processing and transportation). Therefore, the network will continue to organize FLEGT- REDD+ linkage research and baseline studies on legal timber compliance of households in the timber supply chain;

·         Policy advocacy, so that CSO can take on an independent monitoring role in the VPA implementation. The policy activities will be started by holding policy dialogue on the role of CSO in the VPA monitoring and implementation by the FLEGT project in the Central region, in collaboration with the network;

·         Strengthening communications on VPA-FLEGT;

·         Strengthening connections between the VNGO-FLEGT network with other networks.

The network member presenting the action plan for the network

Delegates of the Workshop joined a commemorative photo session

-SRD-