FDS 2006-2020:
- To establish, manage, protect, develop and sustainably use 16.24 million ha of land planned for forestry;
- To ensure the wider participation of various economic sectors and social organisations in forestry development in order to increase their contribution to socio-economic development, protection of the ecological environment, conservation of biodiversity, provision of ecosystem services, reducing poverty and improving living standards for rural people in mountainous areas and contributing to national defence and security.
FDS 2021-2030:
- To build the forestry truly into an economic - technical sector; establish, manage, protect, develop and sustainably use of forest and land areas having been planned for forestry;
- To ensure the extensive and equal participation of all economic sectors in forestry activities, maximally mobilise all society’s resources for forestry, apply advanced and modern science and technology in forestry development;
- To maximise the potentials, roles and values of forests so that the contribution of forestry can be increasingly significant to the socio-economic development, environmental and ecological protection, insurance of water security, mitigation of natural disasters, proactive and effective response to climate change, conservation of natural resources and biodiversity, provision of diverse forest ecosystem services, creation of jobs and incomes for people, maintaining national defence and security and successfully implementing national goals for sustainable development;
- To make the State administration system for forestry streamlined, efficient and effective.
FPDP 2011-2020:
* To properly protect existing forest areas; to effectively and sustainably use forest resources and planned forestry land;
* To raise forest cover to 42-43% by 2015 and 44-45% by 2020; to increase forest yield, quality and value; to restructure the forestry sector toward raising its added value; to basically meet domestic and export demands for timber and forest products;
* To generate more jobs and raise incomes for people whose lives depend on forestry, contributing to eradicating hunger, reducing poverty and maintaining security and defence.
NTP 2016-2020:
- To improve the productivity, quality and value of each type of forest, increasing the value of production forest per area unit; to contribute fulfilling the requirements for disaster mitigation, protection of the ecological environment, and responding to climate change and sea level rise; to create jobs, raise incomes, and support hunger eradication and poverty reduction, improving the livelihoods of people earning a living from forests in association with the process of building new rural areas, ensuring security, defence, order and social security;
- To increase the value of forestry production from 5.5% to 6% per year, reach national forest cover of 42%, and increase the value of timber and forest exports to US$8-8.5 billion, maintaining 25 million jobs.
Program 2021-2025:
- Protection and sustainable development of the entire existing forest area and newly created forest area in the period of 2021 - 2025; contribute to maintaining a stable national forest coverage rate of about 42%; continue to improve the productivity and quality of forests, meet the requirements of supplying raw materials for production and consumption, protect and protect the environment, conserve biodiversity, minimise negative impacts caused by natural disasters. ear, enhancing the ability to adapt to climate change;
- The growth rate of forestry production value is 5.0 - 5.5%/year. The export value of wood and non-timber forest products will reach about 20 billion USD by 2025, of which the export value of non-timber forest products will reach over 1.5 billion USD, increasing the proportion of deep processing and export of wood products. and high value added forest products;
- Contributing to creating jobs and increasing incomes for people participating in forest protection and development activities. By 2025, income from planted production forests will increase by an average of 1.5 times/unit area compared to 2020.
The overall goal of the National REDD+ Programme is to: Contribute to protecting and improving the quality of the existing natural forests, expanding the forest area and improving the quality of plantation forests; linking with the implementation of national goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, forest protection and development, green growth; mobilising international support, getting access to carbon markets; and improving people's lives and the country's sustainable development.
The National REDD+ Programme’s specific objectives are:
For the period 2017-2020:
- Contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through REDD+ activities; expand the forest cover to 42% and reach 14.4 million hectares of forest by 2020;
- Meet the requirements of REDD+ readiness, ensuring there is capacity to access financial resources for results-based payments as per international requirements;
- Improve the quality of natural forests and planted forests to increase carbon stock and environmental forest services; replicate effective models of forest plantation; sustainable management, protection and conservation of natural forests;
- Contribute to improve forest governance, create jobs, improve the living conditions of the people associated with the New Rural Programme and ensure security and national defence.
For the period 2021-2030:
- Stabilise the natural forest area by 2030 at least at the same level as 2020, and increase forest cover up to 45% of national territory, contributing to realise the national target of reducing total greenhouse gas emissions by 8% by 2030 compared with business as usual (BAU) scenario as committed in the Paris Agreement on climate change. This contribution may increase to 25% if receiving international support;
- Replicate highly effective models on REDD+ and sustainable forest management, integrate fully REDD+ into sustainable forestry development programmes;
- Complete policies, laws and action framework of the REDD+ programme and access financial resources for results-based payments in accordance with international requirements.
Map of Vietnam's forest status [This is pilot post_ENG]
Map of Vietnam's forest status as of December 31, 2019 [1]
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has just announced the current state of national forests in 2019. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2019, the national forest area is 14,609,220 hectares.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has just announced the current state of national forests in 2019. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2019, the national forest area is 14,609,220 hectares; in which, natural forest is 10,292,434 ha; planted forest is 4,316,786 ha.
The area of forest land eligible to calculate the national coverage rate is 13,864,223 ha, the coverage rate is 41.89%.
Thus, the area of forested land nationwide increased by 117,925 hectares compared to the national announcement of forest status in 2018; forest cover rate increased by 0.24%.
Source: VNFOREST
Principle 1.2 of the National REDD+ Programme (NRAP)[1] specifically states that the ‘’REDD+ Programme is designed in compliance with policies and laws of Vietnam, and consistent with international treaties and agreements that Vietnam has participated or signed’’.
Coordination and alignment of the NRAP with overall national forest protection and development efforts are ensured through a high-level State Steering Committee that brings together representatives from relevant government ministries, parliamentary committees including the Ethnic Council and the Committee for Science, Technology and the Environment, and other relevant stakeholders. The State Steering Committee is responsible for the overall coordination and direction of both the National Target Programme for Sustainable Forest Development 2016-2020[2] and the NRAP.
Prior to approval, the NRAP relevant government ministries and agencies were consulted to ensure consistency with national forest strategies, programmes and plans, including the key programmes identified under Safeguard A. Since the NRAP was adopted, Vietnam has also approved a new Forestry Development Strategy 2021-2030[3] and a five-year Socio-Economic Development Plan (2021-2025)[4], both of which reference REDD+ implementation as a continued goal.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) is responsible for organising consultations on the NRAP, as well as seeking comments from relevant government ministries and agencies prior to approval. The Ministry of Justice is also responsible for review of the NRAP, ensuring consistency with national forest strategies, plans and programmes.
MARD continues to coordinate REDD+ implementation among the relevant ministries and within the agricultural and rural development sector in Viet Nam, including reviewing budgets and lists of REDD+ projects for integration into the implementation plans of related National Target Programmes (e.g. NTP on Climate Change)[5].The Ministry is also responsible for coordinating with relevant ministries, agencies and organisations to monitor and assess the REDD+ programme on an annual basis.
[1]NRAP, Decision No 419/QD-TTg dated 5/4/2017. Vietnamese; English
[2] National Target Programme for Sustainable Forest Development for the period 2016-2020. Vietnamese; English
[3] Forestry Development Strategy in the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050.
No content avaiable yet
The table below provides an overview of the targets of key national forestry programmes (see A1.1.2; A1.1.3 and A1.1.4) and the contribution of REDD+ as well as Viet Nam’s progress towards achieving them. Progress has been assessed based on the country’s third Biennial Update Report and REDD+ technical annex and other relevant reports (see reference list provided below).
| National programme goal/target | Year | Progress |
| Forestry Development Strategy (2006-2020). | ||
| To establish, manage, protect, develop and sustainably use 16.24 million ha of land planned for forestry. | 2020 | Forest cover reached 14.6 million hectares (mha) in 42% in 2020[1], including 2.2 mha (15%) for biodiversity conservation; 4.6mha (32%) for environment protection and 7.8 mha (53%) for timber and NTFPs production[2]. Natural forest cover has increased from 9 million to 10.3 million hectares in 2020[1]. Afforestation and reforestation have contributed to increased forest cover. Concentrated afforestation averaged 227,500 ha/year between 2006 and 2020. In 2019, there was over 4.3 million ha of planted forest area, exceeding the strategic target of 1.5 million ha by 2020 in the Strategy (2006-2020)[3]. |
| To ensure the wider participation of various economic sectors and social organisations in forestry development in order to increase their contribution to socio-economic development, protection of the ecological environment, conservation of biodiversity, provision of ecosystem services, reducing poverty and improving living standards for rural people in mountainous areas and contributing to national defence and security. | 2020 | The forestry sector accounted for 0.65% of the national GDP in 2020. The sector’s production value (including forest product processing and environmental services) grew to 4.87% in 2020[3]. Annual emission reductions (18.3 MtCO2/year) and removals 38.5 MtCO2/year) during 2010-2018 also suggest progress in protection and reforestation in Viet Nam’s forests[4]. The PFES revenue increased over the last decade. The total payment for PFES in 2011 reached 282,93 billion VND ; 1284,66 billion VND in 2016 and 2800 billion VND in 2019[5]. The average income of households contracted to protect forests under PFES is VND 2 million/ household/year, since its implementation[3]. The strategy also has a target reducing the number of poor households in key forestry areas (by reducing poverty for 70% of households by 2020): progress is mixed, with reductions of 31.1% to 60.8% across different regions: for example, the proportion of poor households in the North Central region reduced from 22.2% to 8.7%, down 60.8%; while in the Central Highlands the rate reduced from 24% to 13.9%, a reduction of 42.1%[3]. |
| Forestry Development Strategy in the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050. | ||
| To build the forestry truly into an economic - technical sector; establish, manage, protect, develop and sustainably use of forest and land areas having been planned for forestry. | 2030 | Not yet assessed |
| To ensure the extensive and equal participation of all economic sectors in forestry activities, maximally mobilise all society’s resources for forestry, apply advanced and modern science and technology in forestry development. To maximise the potentials, roles and values of forests so that the contribution of forestry can be increasingly significant to the socio-economic development, environmental and ecological protection, insurance of water security, mitigation of natural disasters, proactive and effective response to climate change, conservation of natural resources and biodiversity, provision of diverse forest ecosystem services, creation of jobs and incomes for people, maintaining national defense and security and successfully implementing national goals for sustainable development. | 2030 | Not yet assessed |
| National Target Programme for Sustainable Forest Development for the period 2016-2020. | ||
| To improve the productivity, quality and value of each type of forest, increasing the value of production forest per area unit; to contribute fulfilling the requirements for disaster mitigation, protection of the ecological environment, and responding to climate change and sea level rise; to create jobs, raise incomes, and support hunger eradication and poverty reduction, improving the livelihoods of people earning a living from forests in association with the process of building new rural areas, ensuring security, defence, order and social security. | 2020 | Between 2006 and 2020, 5 million jobs were created in the forestry sector[3]. The average productivity of planted forests in 2019 was about 15 m3/ha/ year, a 1.5 increase on productivity compared to 2009; intensive plantation of highly productive certified varieties reached 20–25 m3/ha/year[3]. The country expects to achieve a yearly forestry production growth rate of 5.5-6% and produce 20 cubic metres per hectare annually from artificial forest by 2020[1]. As of 2020, 4.3 million hectares of planted forests have produced 30 million m3 of wood, supporting 4,600 processing enterprises. Wood product exports in 2020 were expected to reach up to USD 13 billion[1]. The average income of households contracted to protect forests under PFES is VND 2 million/ household/year since its implementation[3]. See above for more information on PFES revenues. |
| To increase the value of forestry production from 5.5% to 6% per year, reach national forest cover of 42%, and increase the value of timber and forest exports to US$8-8.5 billion, maintaining 25 million jobs. | 2020 | Forest coverage increased, reaching 41.9% in 2019 and 42% in 2020[1]. Between 2006 and 2020, 5 million jobs were created in the forestry sector[3]. The sector accounted for 0.65% of the national GDP, while its production value (including forest product processing industry and environmental services) grew to 4.87% in 2020[3]. Wood product exports were valued at USD 10.3 billion in 2019[6]. |
| Program on sustainable forestry development for the 2021-2025 period. | ||
| Protection and sustainable development of the entire existing forest area and newly created forest area in the period of 2021 - 2025; contribute to maintaining a stable national forest coverage rate of about 42%; continue to improve the productivity and quality of forests, meet the requirements of supplying raw materials for production and consumption, protect and protect the environment, conserve biodiversity, minimise negative impacts caused by natural disasters. ear, enhancing the ability to adapt to climate change. | 2025 | Not yet assessed |
| The growth rate of forestry production value is 5.0 - 5.5%/year. The export value of wood and non-timber forest products will reach about 20 billion USD by 2025, of which the export value of non-timber forest products will reach over 1.5 billion USD, increasing the proportion of deep processing and export of wood products. and high value added forest products. | 2025 | Not yet assessed |
| Contributing to creating jobs and increasing incomes for people participating in forest protection and development activities. By 2025, income from planted production forests will increase by an average of 1.5 times/unit area compared to 2020. | 2025 | Not yet assessed |
| Forest Protection and Development Plan for the period 2011-2020. | ||
| To properly protect existing forest areas; to effectively and sustainably use forest resources and planned forestry land. | 2020 | Forest cover reached 14.6 million hectares (mha) in 42% in 2020[1], including 2.2 mha (15%) for biodiversity conservation; 4.6mha (32%) for environment protection and 7.8 mha (53%) for timber and NTFPs production. Natural forest cover has increased from 9 million to 10.3 million hectares in 2020[2]. Annual emission reductions (18.3 MtCO2/year) and removals 38.5 MtCO2/year) during 2010-2018 also suggest progress in protection and reforestation in Viet Nam’s forests[4]. |
| To raise forest cover to 42-43% by 2015 and 44-45% by 2020; to increase forest yield, quality and value; to restructure the forestry sector toward raising its added value; to basically meet domestic and export demands for timber and forest products. | 2020 | Forest cover has increased, reaching 41.9% in 2019 and 42% in 2020[1]. In the period 2010-2018, the total forest land increased by 0.801 million ha (mha) from to 14.462 mha, of which planted forest area increased by 1.115 mha but natural forest area decreased by 0.314 mha[4]. In the past 10 years, annually, roughly 230,000 hectares of trees have been planted (of which, 215,000 hectares were production forest)[7]. As of 2020, 4.3 mha of planted forests have produced 30 million m3 of wood supporting 4,600 processing enterprises. In 2020, Viet Nam was expected to export up to USD 13 billion worth of wood products[1]. |
| To generate more jobs and raise incomes for people whose lives depend on forestry, contributing to eradicating hunger, reducing poverty and maintaining security and defence. | 2020 | Between 2006 and 2020, 5 million jobs were created in the forestry sector[3]. Progress in the reduction of poor households in forest areas is mixed, with reductions of 31.1% to 60.8% across different regions: for example, the proportion of poor households in the North Central region reduced from 22.2% to 8.7%, down 60.8%; while in the Central Highlands the rate reduced from 24% to 13.9%, a reduction of 42.1%[3]. The PFES program has generated more than USD 400 million between 2008-2022[8].PFES revenue increased over the last decade. The total payment for PFES in 2011 reached 282,93 billion VND ; 1284,66 billion VND in 2016 and 2800 billion VND in 2019[5]. The average income of households contracted to protect forests under PFES is VND 2 million/ household/year, since its implementation. PFES revenue has also supported 199 management boards and 84 forestry companies[3]. |
[1] Kiet, A. (2020) Vietnam's nationwide forest coverage reaches 42%: Minister. Hanoi times. Available at https://hanoitimes.vn/vietnams-nationwide-forest-coverage-reaches-42-minister-314704.html
[2] Vu Tan, P., Hoang Anh, L. (2022) Delivering Vietnam’s NZ emission and free deforestation targets: key challenges. Presented at "Leveraging the Glasgow Leader’s Declaration on Forests and Land Use to accelerate climate actions - Bonn Climate Change Conference", Available at https://www.slideshare.net/CIFOR/delivering-vietnams-nz-emission-and-free-deforestation-targets-key-challenges
[4] Viet Nam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (2020) BUR3 Technical Annex on REDD+ according to Decision 14/CP.19. Available at https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/Viet%20Nam_Technical%20Annex%20on%20REDD%20.pdf
[5] Hang Nguyen, TT., Singh, R. (2020) (De)Forestation in Vietnam: A Political Ecology Perspective. E3S Web of Conferences 203, 03013
[6] Timber trade Portal, Overview of timber sector of Viet Nam. Available at https://www.timbertradeportal.com/en/viet-nam/121/timber-sector
[7] Viet Nam Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (2020) Biennial update report (BUR). BUR 3. Available at https://unfccc.int/documents/273504
Provincial REDD+ Action Plans (PRAPs) and other subnational REDD+ plans provide a basis for consultation, planning, implementation and monitoring of REDD+ policies and measures within a particular province, and for mobilising and coordinating the utilisation of resources from different sources for these policies and measures, contributing to overall REDD+ and forest protection and development efforts in the country.
National guidelines[1] on the development of PRAPs provide guidance to provinces on setting objectives that are based on the specific conditions of each province while aligned with the overall objectives of the NRAP and the Forest Protection and Development Plan. These guidelines set out the expected scope, stakeholders, contents, implementation arrangements, resourcing, and monitoring and evaluation of the PRAPs, including a standardised template.
PRAPs are developed based on analysis of direct and indirect drivers of deforestation and degradation as well as barriers to enhancing forest carbon reserves and identification of areas with the potential to implement REDD+ activities. Provincial People’s Committees are responsible for appraisal and approval of the PRAPs, ensuring consistency with national forest strategies, plans and programmes. In addition, the PRAP guidelines note an expected contribution to mobilising resources for and implementing the NRAP[2].
For PRAPs that were adopted during the development of the current NRAP, it is anticipated that they will be progressively harmonised with the NRAP, integrating key contents relevant to the specific provincial context, needs and challenges.
In addition to PRAPs, some REDD+ programmes in Viet Nam will be implemented in particular regions, such as the FCPF Emission Reductions (ER) Program in the North-Central Coast Region of Viet Nam. The ER Program aligns with the priority policies and measures set out in the NRAP[3].
Of Viet Nam’s 63 provinces and centrally-administered cities, 20 had approved PRAPs covering a range of periods up to 2020.
Provincial REDD+ Action Plans (PRAPs) approved
| Province | Date Approved | Period |
| Bắc Kạn | 06/2016 | 2015-2020 |
| Bình Thuận | 06/2016 | 2016-2020 |
| Cà Mau | 04/2016 | 2016-2020 |
| Đăk Nông | 01/2017 | 2016-2020 |
| Điện Biên | 08/2017 (revised version) | 2013-2020 |
| Hà Giang | 07/2017 | 2017-2020 |
| Hà Tĩnh | 06/2016 | 2016-2020 |
| Hoà Bình | 09/2017 | 2017-2020 |
| Kon Tum | 08/2017 | 2017-2020 |
| Lai Châu | 09/2017 | 2017-2020 |
| Lâm Đồng | 01/2015 | 2015-2020 |
| Lào Cai | 06/2016 | 2016-2020 |
| Nghệ An | 06/2016 | 2016-2020 |
| Phú Thọ | 06/2017 | 2017-2020 |
| Quảng Bình | 04/2016 | 2016-2020 |
| Quảng Ngãi | 01/2018 | 2018-2020 |
| Sơn La | 08/2017 | 2017-2020 |
| Thanh Hóa | 12/2016 | 2016-2020 |
| Thừa Thiên Huế | 12/2016 | 2016-2020 |
[1] MARD Decision No. 5414/2015/QD-BNN-TCLN.
Viet Nam is a party to 17 international conventions and agreements that are relevant and applicable to the five REDD+ activities encompassed by the National REDD+ Programme and Provincial REDD+ Action Plans.
The relevant international conventions and agreements to which Viet Nam is a party are:
- Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 1992
- Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity (The Biosafety Protocol), 2000
- Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), 1969
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), 1979
- Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, 2005
- Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), 1973
- Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, 2003
- Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially Waterfowl Habitats (RAMSAR), 1971
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), 1966
- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), 1966
- UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, 1972
- United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), 1994
- United Nations Convention against Corruption, 2005
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 1992
- Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC, 1997
- United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), 2007
Viet Nam's Law on Conclusion, Accession and Implementation of International Treaties (2016)[1] states that international treaties take precedence over domestic legislation; in case of any inconsistency, international treaties apply.
Prior to approval of the National REDD+ Programme (NRAP)[2] and each Provincial REDD+ Action Plan, relevant government ministries and agencies were consulted to ensure consistency with relevant international conventions and agreements. Consultation on Provincial REDD+ Action Plans also ensured that they are consistent with the Forest Protection and Development Plan for the period 2011-2020, and the NRAP, which themselves were subject to consultation to ensure consistency with relevant international conventions and agreements.
The objectives of the 17 international conventions and agreements relevant to REDD+ to which Viet Nam is a party are as follows:
| Instrument | Date | Objective |
| 1. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) | 1992 | Conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources. |
| 2. Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity (The Biosafety Protocol) | 2000 | To contribute to ensuring an adequate level of protection in the field of the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health, and specifically focusing on transboundary movements. |
| 3. Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) | 1969 | To eliminate acts or practice of racial discrimination against persons, groups of persons or institutions and to ensure that all public authorities and public institutions, national and local, act in conformity with this obligation. |
| 4. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) | 1979 | To ensure that States Parties condemn discrimination against women in all its forms and pursue by all appropriate means and without delay a policy of eliminating discrimination against women. |
| 5. Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions | 2005 | To protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions; to create the conditions for cultures to flourish and to freely interact in a mutually beneficial manner; to encourage dialogue among cultures with a view to ensuring wider and balanced cultural exchanges in the world in favour of intercultural respect and a culture of peace; to foster inter-culturality in order to develop cultural interaction in the spirit of building bridges among peoples; to promote respect for the diversity of cultural expressions and raise awareness of its value at the local, national and international levels; to reaffirm the importance of the link between culture and development for all countries, particularly for developing countries, and to support actions undertaken nationally and internationally to secure recognition of the true value of this link; to give recognition to the distinctive nature of cultural activities, goods and services as vehicles of identity, values and meaning; to reaffirm the sovereign rights of States to maintain, adopt and implement policies and measures that they deem appropriate for the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions on their territory; to strengthen international cooperation and solidarity in a spirit of partnership with a view, in particular, to enhancing the capacities of developing countries in order to protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions. |
| 6. Convention on the Rights of the Child | 1989 | That State Parties respect and ensure the rights set forth in the present Convention to each child within their jurisdiction without discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the child's or his or her parent's or legal guardian's race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status. |
| 7. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) | 1973 | Regulation of international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora. |
| 8. Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage | 2003 | To safeguard the intangible cultural heritage; to ensure respect for the intangible cultural heritage of the communities, groups and individuals concerned; to raise awareness at the local, national and international levels of the importance of the intangible cultural heritage, and of ensuring mutual appreciation thereof; to provide for international cooperation and assistance. |
| 9. Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially Waterfowl Habitats (RAMSAR) | 1971 | The conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world. |
| 10. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) | 1966 | To ensure that State Parties respect and ensure to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the civil and political rights recognised in the Covenant, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. |
| 11. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) | 1966 | To ensure that each State Party to the Covenant undertakes to take steps, individually and through international assistance and co-operation, with a view to achieving progressively the full realisation of the economic, social and cultural rights recognised in the Covenant by all appropriate means, including particularly the adoption of legislative measures |
| 12. UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage | 1972 | To ensure that effective and active measures are taken by State parties for the protection, conservation and presentation of the cultural and natural heritage situated on their territory. |
| 13. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) | 1994 | To combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought in countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa, through effective action at all levels, supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements, in the framework of an integrated approach which is consistent with Agenda 21, with a view to contributing to the achievement of sustainable development in affected areas. |
| 14. United Nations Convention against Corruption | 2005 | To promote and strengthen measures to prevent and combat corruption more efficiently and effectively; to promote, facilitate and support international cooperation and technical assistance in the prevention of and fight against corruption, including in asset recovery; to promote integrity, accountability and proper management of public affairs and public property. |
| 15. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) | 1992 | To achieve, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention, stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. |
| 16. Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC | 1997 | The Protocol shares the objective and institutions of the UNFCCC. |
| 17. United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) | 2007 | The UNDRIP promotes the rights of indigenous peoples. |
[1] Law No. 108/2016/QH13, promulgated by the National Assembly dated 9 April 2016, Article 6(1).
The table below provides an overview of the progress towards selected targets set by Viet Nam under several key international conventions relevant to REDD+. The contribution of the forest sector and REDD+, as well as overall progress, has been assessed using official national reports and other relevant reports (see reference list provided).
| National programme | Target | Progress |
| National Biodiversity Strategy to 20210, Vision to 2030 (2013) | ||
| To improve the quality and increase the area of protected ecosystems, ensuring that the area of terrestrial protected areas (TPAs) accounts for 9% of the total territorial area | 2020 | As of 2018, area of TPAs has reached 2,269,426 ha, accounting for 6.84% of the territorial area[1]. As of 2021, TPAs covered 7.58%, according to the World Bank[2]. The area of special use forest TPAs will increase to 2.4 million ha by 2020, as set out in Decision 1976/QD-TTg (2014) of the Prime Minister approving the master plan for the national special use forest system[1]. |
| Forest coverage reaches 45% (revised to 42%) | 2020 | Forest cover reached 41.9% in 2019 and 42% in 2020[3]. |
| Primary forest remains at 0.57 million hectares, and is coupled with effective protection plans; mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and coral reefs are maintained at the current levels | 2020 | Natural forest cover has increased from 9 million to 10.3 million hectares in 2020[3]. It is estimated that there are about 0.5 million ha of primary forest in Viet Nam[1]. |
| 15% of degraded critical ecosystems are restored | 2020 | According to Viet Nam’s 6th National report to the CBD, there is no data available yet[1]. Afforestation and reforestation have contributed to increased forest cover. Concentrated afforestation averaged 227,500 ha/year between 2006 and 2020. In 2019, there was over 4.3 million ha of planted forest area, exceeding the strategic target of 1.5 million ha by 2020 in the Forest Development Strategy (2006-2020)[4]. |
| The number of internationally-recognized protected areas is increased to 10 Ramsar wetlands, 10 biosphere reserves, and 10 ASEAN heritage parks | 2020 | Viet Nam has 9 Ramsar Sites with a total area of 120,549 ha; eleven World Biosphere Reserves and 10 ASEAN heritage parks[5]. |
| To improve the quality and populations of endangered, rare and precious species, ensuring that no species become newly extinct, and significantly improve the status of endangered, rare, and threatened species | 2020 | As of 2014, there were 362 species of animals, and 219 species of plants in Viet Nam listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In the Viet Nam Red Book (2007), the total number of threatened species is listed as 882 species, consisting of 418 animal species and 464 plant species. Through a 2014-2017 project, the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources of the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology updated the Red Book to include 1,211 species with new classifications, an increase on 2007[1]. |
| By 2030, 25% of the area of natural ecosystems of international importance will be restored | 2030 | No data available yet |
| Viet Nam’s NBSAP includes the ‘’task’’: Implementation of forest regeneration program using methods and approaches such as biodiversity conservation, enhancing carbon stock, and adaptation and mitigation of climate change: - Integrate biodiversity conservation targets into the implementation of the national REDD+ action program (NRAP); - Map areas of high biodiversity value in the REDD + program; promote the use of native species for forest enrichment and restoration; and contribute to jointly targets on biodiversity conservation and adaptation to climate change; - Reduce risks to biodiversity from implementation of REDD+ through the application of stringent social and environmental security mechanisms | 2020 | In Viet Nam, the Forestry Law (2017) requires forestry planning to be consistent with national strategy on biodiversity[6].The principles, goal and specific objectives of the NRAP[7] refer to the conservation and enhancement of natural forests, and REDD+ measures include a number that will contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services, including ‘’models for natural forests enhancement, protection and conservation, including in natural production forests and special use forests, and forest rehabilitation and enrichment with native species’’. A 2023 preliminary analysis conducted under the REDD-pac project of the potential of REDD+ to deliver biodiversity conservation benefits in Viet Nam including mapping spatial distribution of carbon stocks and parameters for biodiversity[8]. In addition, the national guidelines for the development of Provincial REDD+ Action Plans also provide direction on environmental and social benefit and risk assessment, and require compilation of maps related to forests, such as the three forest management categories (including special use and protection forests)[9]. Viet Nam’s safeguards approach, including national clarification of the safeguards, assessment of REDD+ benefits and risks, and parameters in its SIS, consider potential risks to biodiversity and ecosystem services, as well as potential benefits. See Safeguard E [insert link]. |
| National voluntary Land Degradation Neutrality targets for the period 2017-2020 with vision to 2030 (2017) | ||
| Forest protection in 1,000,000 ha in the North West, Highlands, South Central with local resources and 2,000,000 ha with international support | 2020 | By 2010, Vietnam had planted 79,810 ha of SUF and by 2019 the planted SUF area was 86,570 ha. Planted PTF area in 2010 was 614,265 ha and in 2019 was 692,730 ha. Thus, the total planted area of SUF and PTF by 2010 was 779,300 ha and by 2019 was 694,075 ha. SUF and PTF together cover about 48% of the forestland area [6]. Data per region not available yet
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| Natural forest restoration in 160,000 ha in the North West, Highlands, South Central with local resources and 250,000 ha with international support | 2020 | Data per region not available yet |
| Afforestation in 275,000 ha in the North West, Highland, South Central with local resources and 100,000 ha with international support | 2020 | Concentrated afforestation achieved an average of 227,500 ha/year between 2006 and 2020. In 2019, there was over 4.3 million ha of planted forest area in Vietnam[10].
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| Forest plantation with large timber species in 80,000 ha in the North West, South Central with local resources and 100,000 ha with international support | 2020 | Data per region not available yet
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| Updated NDC targets (2020) | ||
| Overall target: Viet Nam will have reduced its GHG emissions by 9% compared to the BAU scenario by 2030 with its own domestic resources, equivalent to 83.9 million tonnes CO2eq. | 2030 | No data on GHG emissions reductions since 2020 available yet. Annual emission reductions (18.3 MtCO2/year) and removals 38.5 MtCO2/year) during 2010-2018 suggest progress in protection and reforestation in Viet Nam’s forests[10]. The expected contribution of the LULUCF sector to GHG emissions reductions is 1% with domestic resources (9.3 MtCO2e) and 1.3% with international support (11.9 MtCO2e)[1].
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