A model for planning forest conservation in Viet Nam

An IKI project serves as a perfect example for the joint planning of REDD+ measures in Viet Nam. The UN-REDD Programme continues to use this approach.

Why are forests being chopped down? And how can we avoid their destruction in future? There are often no obvious answers to these questions. Many factors play a role, and many different people and groups are involved. For this reason, all relevant actors should participate in the associated analysis and planning. An International Climate Initiative (IKI) project in Viet Nam, which is being implemented by SNV (Netherlands), demonstrates how this works. The project approach was so successful that it, at the request of the Vietnamese Government, is now being put to further use and transferred to other regions as part of the UN-REDD Programme funded by Norway. It is a good example for the dissemination of innovative climate change mitigation and forest protection strategies and for the coordination of various donor countries.

The IKI project primarily concentrates on linking REDD+ (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation) with sustainable social development for the local population and the conservation of biodiversity. In doing so, it is working closely with the local population, ranging from the planning of measures to monitoring to fair benefit-sharing. Based on this experience the project published a guidebook about the methodology for participatory subnational planning for REDD+: www.snvworld.org (external)

Using this model as an example, SNV brought together forest owners, representatives of the local government and affected ethnic minorities for a series of workshops as part of the UN-REDD Programme in Binh Thuan province. There they jointly identified the drivers leading to the destruction of the forests. All participants then worked out strategies with the help of SNV to combat this destruction. Furthermore, they discussed the possible benefits of the proposed measures for the people, as well as the associated risks. This information serves as a basis for forest conservation on the ground. In addition, similar planning processes are to be held in other regions.

The measures within the framework of IKI and the UN-REDD Programme thus go hand-in-hand to support Viet Nam in implementing its national REDD+ strategy.