VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam aims to reduce emissions from deforestation and to increase its absorption of carbon dioxide (CO2) to 33 million tonnes.

Forest rangers review statistics on land use. — VNA/VNS Photo

The goal was identified during a conference on an emission reduction project in the country’s northern central region held in Ha Noi on Wednesday.

The project will be implemented in the six provinces of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Binh, as well as Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue, whose forest coverage accounts for 57 per cent, or 2.9 million hectares, of the total forest area in the country.

It will cover almost all of Viet Nam’s evergreen broadleaf forests and some forest areas where the biodiversity plays an important role, globally.

The global Forest Carbon Partnership Facility and World Bank committed to paying Viet Nam US$60 million for the absorption of 10.3 million tonnes of CO2 in six years, from 2018 to 2024.

Nguyen Van Ha, deputy director of the Viet Nam Administration of Forestry, said the project plays a significant role in raising awareness on the importance of forests.

“There is an economic benefit in protecting forests, as we gain lots of products from the forests and also get paid for reducing emissions from deforestation,” he said.

This project is the first regional-level project implemented by the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) programme in Viet Nam. 

VNS