Sustainable forest management through standards and certification

Completing the legal framework

According to Dr. Nguyen Hoang Tiep, Deputy Director of the Office of Sustainable Forest Management Certification, Vietnam has participated in sustainable forest management since 1998. However, before 2014, the forestry sector had not yet applied legally binding policies on principles, criteria, and procedures for implementing sustainable forest management.

“At that time, activities related to sustainable forest management only stopped at the pilot and spontaneous level. To complete the system of legal documents on sustainable forest management and certification of sustainable forest management to serve state management, and to create favorable conditions for organizations, enterprises, and forest owners to implement sustainable forest management, the Government and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) issued documents and regulations on sustainable forest management,” Dr. Tiep said.

He also noted that the system of legal documents regulating sustainable forest management and certification has been continually improved and now essentially meets the practical requirements of management and production for localities and forest owners.

In addition, local authorities promptly issued guidelines, directions, and instructions, as well as organized dissemination, training, and workshops for forest owners on sustainable forest management plans. They also appraised and submitted these plans for approval as required. Party committees and local authorities at all levels have paid close attention, provided direct guidance, and coordinated closely with relevant agencies.

Sustainable forest management certification is a document that recognizes a specific forest area as meeting the criteria for sustainable forest management. Common certifications include international certifications from reputable organizations such as the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification), as well as national certifications granted by Vietnam under the VFCS/PEFC system.

Exceeding the target of the certified forest area

According to Dr. Nguyen Hoang Tiep, as of July 2025, Vietnam had 674,946 ha of forests certified for sustainable management, including 224,237 ha certified under the national VFCS/PEFC system.

“This figure has surpassed the target of 500,000 ha of certified forest by 2025 set in the forestry development strategy,” Dr. Tiep said.

To date, 70% of the forest areas managed by organizations have completed the development and approval of sustainable forest management plans. Provinces with large planted forest areas such as Tuyen Quang, Yen Bai, Thanh Hoa, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, Binh Dinh, and Binh Phuoc (rubber forests) have identified certification as a priority, especially for households. This is a production organization solution designed to enhance the value of planted forests and generate income for forest growers.

Furthermore, the forestry sector has established linkages between enterprises and households in production, forming household groups with the support of enterprises. As a result, forest areas certified under the enterprise linkage model now account for nearly 20% of the country’s total certified forest area.

A consulting team has also been established to support localities and forest owners in building sustainable forest management plans and obtaining certification under international standards (FSC and VFCS/PEFC). Certification assessment has been socialized, and a team of domestic auditors (including lead auditors) has been developed to meet the requirements of forest certification organizations and reduce certification costs.

“The establishment of the national forest certification system (VFCS/PEFC) has helped affirm Vietnam’s role in sustainable forest management and responsibility in the use of legal raw materials. It also enables forest owners to more quickly access sustainable forest management certification,” Dr. Tiep emphasized.

A positive signal for the forestry sector is the increasingly close coordination between agencies within the sector, along with the active participation of relevant units in building and operating the national forest certification system. This has accelerated the implementation of sustainable forest management and certification in Vietnam.

However, Dr. Tiep also pointed out that in implementing regulations on sustainable forest management and certification, some localities and forest owners still face difficulties and obstacles. The total area of certified production forests remains relatively small, accounting for approximately 17% of the country’s total production forest area. Most certified forest areas are funded by forest owners themselves or through linkage with wood processing enterprises.

“Production forest areas are mostly fragmented, not concentrated, and mainly managed by households and individuals. Meanwhile, about 1 million households are managing planted forests, making it difficult to organize the development of sustainable forest management plans and prepare certification dossiers,” Dr. Nguyen Hoang Tiep shared.