Over VND 72 billion in ODA for Quang Ngai forests

The People's Committee of Quang Ngai Province has officially informed the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of its agreement in principle to participate in the project titled “Participatory Conservation and Management of Forest Ecosystems in South Central Provinces”, funded through non-refundable ODA provided by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany via the German Development Bank (KfW).

Under the proposal, the project's total investment in Quang Ngai is estimated at approximately VND 88.7 billion, of which more than VND 72.6 billion will come from German grant aid, while the remainder will be covered by provincial counterpart funding.

Scheduled for implementation between 2027 and 2032, the project will focus on biodiversity conservation, natural forest restoration, strengthening forest management capacity, and improving livelihoods for communities living near forests.

According to the plan, the project will be implemented in several communes with large areas of natural forest, including Ba To, Ba Xa, Ba Vinh, Minh Long, Son Mai, Tra Bong, Ca Dam, and Tay Tra, as well as adjacent forest areas.

The project consists of four main components. One of the key elements is community forest management, which aims to allocate at least 540 hectares of forest to local communities, establish a minimum of five community forest management boards, and provide financial support for forest protection activities.

Through this approach, local residents will not only benefit from forest resources but will also play a direct role in forest management, helping strengthen stewardship and responsibility for protecting forest ecosystems.

The project will also enhance biodiversity monitoring, develop forest resource databases, provide equipment for forest rangers and forest owners, and pilot the use of SMART technology in forest management. Training and capacity-building activities will help local communities develop forest management skills, build sustainable livelihoods, and participate in non-timber forest product value chains.

According to Mr. Do Tam Hien, Vice Chairman of the Quang Ngai Provincial People's Committee, the province will work closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the German Development Bank, and the Forestry Projects Management Board throughout the preparation, approval, and implementation of the project, in accordance with Vietnamese regulations and commitments made to the donor.

The province has also assigned its Department of Agriculture and Environment to coordinate with relevant agencies in preparing project documents, seeking approval, and implementing project activities as planned.

Quang Ngai covers nearly 1.5 million hectares of natural land, including more than 1.14 million hectares of forest and forestry land. The province currently has nearly 887,000 hectares of forest, including approximately 659,000 hectares of natural forest. Forest cover reached around 59.45% by the end of 2025.

$1 = VND 26,395 - Source: Vietcombank