Introduction
Vietnam has an amazingly diverse wildlife in its remaining
tropical forest and wetland areas, despite its dense human
population. Only recently three large mammal species were
discovered in the border area of Vietnam with Laos. Internationally,
the importance of Vietnam's forest resources is also increasingly
recognized Vietnam's geographical position, spanning tropical
and sub-tropical zones, and within the Indo-Burma biodiversity
hotspot area means that there is a unique range of species
present in the country.
In Vietnam, the forestry sector is given three broad strategic
objectives:
- An economic development objective which focuses on commercial
tree plantations and economically viable forestry and wood
processing enterprises
- An environmental protection objective which includes the
protection of natural areas and their environmental services
- A social development objective which focuses on meeting
the basic needs of rural households and poverty reduction.
At this moment, much of Vietnam's forest biodiversity is
under threat. The last decades, forests have been dramatically
degraded. Similar to the situation in other poor agricultural
countries, deforestation has been a consequence of agricultural
expansion and uncontrolled exploitation of forests. Additionally,
as Vietnam has moved from a socialist to a market economy,
the decrease in the diversity and quality of forest resources
has also played a role in forest degradation.
The rapid industrial and urban development in Vietnam has
created a number of social challenges for natural resources
utilization. There have been some fundamental changes in the
forestry sector in Vietnam during the last decades, related
to the socio-economic development. Sector wide issues as poverty
reduction, gender, and community participation receive increasing
attention in policy development and the focus is on long-term
sustainable use of forests. Also, Vietnam's forestry sector
has sought more international cooperation.
Relevant knowledge and sound scientific research is needed
to support current developments and the increasing complexity
of the forestry sector in Vietnam. These new trends are also
creating new opportunities and direction for forestry research.
Forestry research institutions need to re-evaluate their activities,
capacities and priorities in light of the new policy goals
for poverty alleviation and sustainable development.
Tropenbos International (TBI) -
Vietnam
TBI-Vietnam offers partnership in research and capacity building.
It focuses on management-oriented and policy supporting information
and training. The social, economic and ecological aspects
of forest conservation and utilisation are studied in their
mutual interaction. TBI-Vietnam supports the development of
policies, techniques and methods for conservation and sustainable
utilisation of tropical forest resources in Vietnam.
The Forest Sector
Support Program (FSSP) and the Five Million Hectare Reforestation
Programme (5MHRP) form the programme framework. The programme
started in 2002.
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