Dong Nai forests achieve FSC certification

The former Dong Nai and former Binh Phuoc provinces were both among the localities with the largest forest areas in the Southeast region. Therefore, after the two provinces were merged, the total forest area of the new Dong Nai province became significantly large.

According to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Long, Head of the Forest Development Division under the Dong Nai Forest Protection Sub-Department, the new Dong Nai province has a total area of 370,000 hectares under the planning of the three forest categories. Of which, approximately 142,000 hectares are planted forests, with the remaining area consisting of natural forests and other forest types.

Dong Nai has substantial potential to develop and expand its planted forest area due to its mild climate, which is suitable for the growth of forest tree species as well as other crops.

Mr. Long assessed that the potential of planted forests in Dong Nai lies not only in timber trees but also in additional income from non-timber forest products such as resin, rubber latex, and cashew nuts. These species have all been classified by the State as multipurpose trees and are planted on agricultural land. Thus, after the merger, the potential and revenue from forests in general and planted forests in particular in Dong Nai are massive. Average revenue from planted forests in Dong Nai ranks among the highest nationwide.

According to Mr. Long, sustainable forest management creates benefits for multiple stakeholders. For example, owners of FSC-certified forests enjoy higher selling prices for timber and forest products compared to uncertified forests. Workers also benefit, as FSC requires forest owners to ensure the rights and welfare of employees, local residents, and communities dependent on forests. Forest management activities must maintain or enhance the long-term economic and social well-being of forestry workers and local communities.

State management is also more efficient in FSC-certified forests since, to obtain this certification, forest owners must comply with legal regulations, and land and forest resources must be clearly defined. All stages, from tending to protection, must follow standardized procedures. For this reason, the issuance of FSC certification and other sustainable forest management certifications is a strong priority for Dong Nai Province.

In recent years, many units and enterprises in both the former Dong Nai and former Binh Phuoc provinces have paid attention to implementing sustainable forest management. As a result, Dong Nai province currently has a significant area certified for sustainable forest management.

The Xuan Loc Protection Forest Management Board currently has 3,600 hectares of FSC-certified forests. In addition to that area, La Nga–Dong Nai Forestry Company Limited also has about 7,300 hectares achieving this certification. Member companies of the Vietnam Rubber Group in Dong Nai have more than 40,000 hectares of rubber plantations certified for sustainable forest management. In total, the area of planted forests in Dong Nai with sustainable forest management certifications, including FSC, VFCS, and PEFC, now reaches approximately 61,000 hectares.

According to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Long, with the great benefits from planted forests that achieve FSC certification and other sustainable certifications, the area certified for sustainable forest management in Dong Nai will expand significantly in the coming period.

Mr. Nguyen Duy Cong, Deputy Director of the Xuan Loc Protection Forest Management Board, said the Board is planning to expand its production forest area. Implementing Decision 735 of the Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee on the detailed review of the planning for special-use forests, protection forests, and production forests, and the development of the provincial forestry planning map, the Xuan Loc Protection Forest Management Board will convert all protection forest areas to production forest planning. Based on this transition, the Management Board will continue to develop and expand the area of FSC-certified forests in the near future.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Dien, Deputy Director of the Department of Forestry and Forest Protection, to realize the export target of USD 23–25 billion by 2030, Viet Nam's wood industry must overcome numerous barriers, particularly the requirements of major markets (such as the U.S. and the EU) in terms of legal timber sources and sustainable forest management standards.

Thus, the Vietnam Forestry Development Strategy for the 2021–2030 period, with a vision toward 2050, identifies sustainable forest management and forest certification as top priorities. The goal is to achieve around 1 million hectares of forests certified for sustainable management by 2030.

*1 USD = 26,364.00 VND (Source: Vietcombank)