Vietnam. An Overview from the REDD Countries Database

In 2010 Vietnam had around 44% forest cover, more than a 50% increase since 1990 when forest cover was less than 30%. Despite an overall increase in forest area over recent years various regions of Vietnam still have high rates of deforestation and forest degradation, and fragmentation is occurring throughout the remaining natural forests. There has been considerable work undertaken in Vietnam to get ready for REDD, and the country is advancing across many areas.

Vietnam is currently in the implementation phase of the UN-REDD programme and has received USD 4.38 million to assist the Vietnamese government to get ready to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. Vietnam also presented its R-PP to the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) in October 2010 and has requested an additional USD3.6 million from the FCPF to support REDD readiness in the country. Vietnam has a number of plans, policies and laws that support REDD activities, including the National Target Program to Respond to Climate Change, which aims to assess the impact of climate change on Vietnam, identify measures to combat climate change, and strengthen the capacities of organizations involved in responding to climate change. The National Target Plan also commits to working with the international community to mitigate the effects of Climate Change.

Although REDD in Vietnam is being driven by the national government, subnational activities are taking place that will influence countrywide outcomes. For example, the Cat Tien Landscape pro-poor REDD project supports local institutions to establish a forest carbon monitoring programme that can compensate local villagers as well as reducing deforestation and degradation in the Cat Tien National Park. Other sub-national activities include capacity building for district and provincial officials who will be in charge of implementing essential REDD functions such as a benefit distribution system and carbon monitoring methodologies.