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Forest context

Viet Nam’s forests comprise a mix of tropical and subtropical ecosystems that sustain biodiversity, protect watersheds, and support rural livelihoods. Forest and land-use dynamics are shaped by agricultural expansion, plantation forestry and forest-linked commodities, notably timber, coffee, and rubber. Deforestation continues to be a challenge, although forest coverage rates have been relatively stable in recent years. Ongoing development of a carbon market is generating financing for forest protection and development, and a database of provincial-level forest boundaries is being developed to support implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation. A Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the EU came into force in 2019, spurring development of a Vietnam Timber Legality Assurance System (VNTLAS) ensuring all timber products are verified as legally produced.

Our approach

EFI has supported Viet Nam in strengthening forest governance, improving forest smallholder livelihoods, and reinforcing traceable commodity value chains. We engaged with a range of actors – including national and local authorities, farmers and producers, the private sector, civil society and forest-dependent communities – through multistakeholder platforms to ensure inclusive forest-related policy formulation and implementation.

In the timber sector, EFI supported the VNTLAS development and worked with key stakeholders engaged in VPA processes to strengthen regulatory frameworks, build capacities and increase transparency and inclusive decision-making in the forest sector. We also supported smallholder tree growers and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) with training and guidance to improve business practices and take on a greater role in policy development.

Beyond timber, EFI has also provided guidance in meeting the requirements of the EU Deforestation Regulation to actors in the rubber and coffee sectors, and undertaken preliminary scoping fieldwork on mining and its impact on forests. Work in the Central Highlands applied jurisdictional sustainability expertise and tools to support social inclusion and the resilience of food production systems and supply chains.

Projects in Viet Nam

Project

EFI Rapid Response Programme

We support countries to strengthen forest governance and address land-use and climate challenges.

  • Inclusive governance
Aerial view of a rainforest and a river
Project

Forest Smallholders Project

We tested solutions to smallholders’ key challenges in pilot projects and shared lessons from these pilots nationally, regionally and internationally.

  • Inclusive governance
Two women working as forest smallholders use a diameter tape to measure a tree trunk during a forest inventory.
Project

EU REDD Facility

We supported partner countries improve land-use to combat deforestation, and EU efforts to stop developing country deforestation.

  • Inclusive governance
Aerial view of a winding river flowing through a dense tropical rainforest under a cloudy sky.
Project

EU FLEGT Asia Programme

We worked to improve forest governance and promote legal trade of timber across Asia.

  • Inclusive governance
Panoramic view of a lush, tropical rainforest valley in Asia, featuring dense green canopy and a prominent karst limestone peak under a cloudy sky.
Project

EU FLEGT Facility

We supported the EU and timber-producing countries in the implementation of the FLEGT Action Plan with a focus on Voluntary Partnership Agreements.

  • Inclusive governance
A man in a high-visibility vest uses a yellow measuring tape to record the diameter of a large fallen log in a dense forest, while two colleagues look on.

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