Hoang Lien National Park faces new opportunities from carbon credits

Hopes of becoming an important “carbon reserve”

In the context of global climate change, ancient forests are not only green lungs that regulate the atmosphere but also emerging as invaluable “gold mines” through carbon credit trading mechanisms. In Vietnam’s Northwest region, Hoang Lien National Park stands before a significant opportunity to transform its forest potential into a sustainable financial resource.

Stretching across the majestic Hoang Lien Son range, the park has long been known as one of Vietnam’s richest biodiversity centers. Its value goes beyond rare flora and fauna; it lies in the massive carbon stocks stored within centuries-old forest canopies.

Statistics indicate that Hoang Lien National Park manages 28,498 ha of natural land, spanning Lao Cai Province (20,998 ha) and Lai Chau Province (7,500 ha). Forest cover reaches 90.29%. According to Nguyen Huu Hanh, Director of Hoang Lien National Park, the park’s forests meet the highest standards of special-use forests, with rich and medium-quality forest types dominating and ensuring long-term stability.

To be more specific, this “resource vault” includes over 815 ha of rich forest, more than 5,400 ha of medium forest, and over 14,000 ha of regenerating mountain forest. It also contains diverse mixed forests of timber, bamboo, and planted species. Such structural diversity confers on Hoang Lien an exceptional capacity for carbon absorption and storage.

Given its extensive natural forest area, Hoang Lien National Park clearly holds enormous potential for carbon credit commercialization. “If integrated into carbon credit mechanisms, the park could become a major ‘carbon reserve,’ providing a sustainable financial source for the unit,” said Director Hanh.

Compared to the national average, the park can fully stand alongside major special-use forests across Vietnam, and even lead the Northwest region, if supported by transparent mechanisms and proper investment in green-economy development.

Thorough technical and data preparation

To turn potential into real assets, qualitative assessments alone are insufficient. Understanding this, the park has undertaken meticulous technical and data preparations.

To access the carbon market, which is known for strict standards, Lao Cai Province has issued a plan to evaluate forest status and carbon reserves for the 2024-2025 period. The park is coordinating closely with provincial authorities to conduct reviews, surveys, and assessments of current forest conditions. These measurements are not simply inventory work but also the basis for defining how the park will participate in the future carbon credit market.

Carbon-market revenue will be allocated to two main goals: reinvesting in conservation and improving community livelihoods. For conservation work, revenue will be allocated to restoring degraded ecosystems. The goal is to enhance carbon storage capacity and expand rare-plant conservation programs. Investment in science and technology is emphasized.

“We will invest in data systems and technologies to accurately measure the carbon absorbed and stored by forests, ensuring transparency and project effectiveness. Upgrading modern monitoring equipment, as well as providing patrol facilities and training for rangers and contracted forest protection communities, are also our top priorities,” said the Director of Hoang Lien National Park.

For community livelihood improvement, the park plans to distribute funds directly to local households based on their forest protection areas and participation in conservation activities.

Beyond this, the park seeks to help residents transition to sustainable farming models, reduce chemical fertilizer use, and earn more from clean agricultural products. Green-economy projects such as ecotourism will also be promoted to create long-term incomes based on restored forest resources. Community education and climate-change awareness programs are considered key to ensuring that residents actively participate in the green transition.

Capacity building is needed for forest management units

Despite immense potential and active preparation, Hoang Lien National Park still faces several obstacles in carbon credit commercialization. As a forest management unit, Director Hanh identified major bottlenecks: carbon credit commercialization remains a new field in Vietnam, lacking specific, detailed, step-by-step guidelines. This leaves forest management units confused. Therefore, clear directives and standardized procedures are urgently needed.

Preparing documentation, conducting inventories, and monitoring carbon stocks currently require substantial time and resources. To meet international MRV (Measurement, Reporting, and Verification) standards, government agencies must provide technical and financial support, along with capacity-building programs, for forest-management units. Crucially, establishing a close cooperative mechanism between the state, businesses, and communities is essential for resolving emerging issues transparently.