German-supported forestry initiative brings benefits to Vietnam’s stakeholders

The project has significantly advanced the implementation of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (VPA/FLEGT) signed between Vietnam and the European Union.

The ‘Support for the Implementation of VPA/FLEGT in Vietnam’ project has strengthened Vietnam’s Timber Legality Assurance System (VNTLAS), implemented comprehensive capacity development measures, empowered verification agencies, promoted due diligence among private enterprises, and established a comprehensive baseline for future impact monitoring.

After four years of implementation, the project officially concluded, marking important achievements in strengthening the VNTLAS, enhancing management capacity and promoting corporate accountability, Nguyen Huu Thien, deputy director general of the Vietnam Forestry Administration (VNFOREST), said on the second day of the two-day forum titled ‘Ensuring Timber Legality for Sustainable Forestry Development in Vietnam’, held in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday.

Through the project, the intensive engagement with stakeholders was clear, with more than 80 events organized with the direct participation of around 2,500 people, helping to ensure that all state agencies, the private sector, and other partners remain committed to a legal timber value chain in Vietnam, said Christopher Scholl, Deputy Consul General at the Consulate General of Germany in Ho Chi Minh City.

Nearly 1,500 key stakeholders joined 38 training courses on due diligence and verification, he said.

Almost 40 new trainers were qualified to provide high-quality, learner-centered training, using three standard training curricula developed by the project.

“The private sector plays a central role. Almost 400 company staff were trained on due diligence,” he noted, highlighting a key benefit of the project.

“After four years full of technical studies, workshops, training, field visits, reviewing and testing and refining approaches, we have the opportunity today to appreciate the achievements of this hard work,” he stressed.

Nguyen Thi Quynh Chi, a representative of the Vietnam Customs, highlighted the benefits of the project, which has helped strengthen customs operations.

Numerous training courses were organized for customs officers, not only providing in-depth knowledge on the control of timber imports and exports, but also equipping the customs agencies with tools to identify legal timber and guidance documents on the legal procedures of various countries, she said.

Through the project, the customs officials also gained valuable insights and lessons from international experiences.

“The value of this project went beyond new knowledge and skills, but it has transformed our mindset, our way of thinking, our approach to work, how we organize training sessions, and how we teach and communicate with trainees,” said Nguyen Thi Bich Thuan, from the Institute of Management for Agriculture and Rural Development (IMARD).

Since 2021, the institute has conducted training for 300 forest rangers, along with dozens of customs officers and staff from forestry-related enterprises, she added.

The project was funded by the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany (BMZ) and jointly implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and VNFOREST under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment from October 2021 to September 2025, with a budget of 4.3 million euros (US$5 million).

Over the past four years, the project has conducted 44 policy dialogues and workshops with the participation of over 1,000 stakeholders contributing their inputs, and developed and issued a standardized training package on due diligence for enterprises.

WoodID, an AI-powered timber identification tool, was launched at the event as a key outcome of the project.

To date, WoodID has successfully identified over 260 timber species, supported by a database of more than 78,000 images and with over 8,000 downloads.

The tool is now being used by customs officers, forest rangers, enterprises, and researchers, contributing to greater transparency and efficiency in timber supply chain management.

“These achievements not only contribute to strengthening management capacity and enhancing transparency in the timber supply chain, but also reaffirm Vietnam’s strong commitment to fulfilling its international responsibilities,” said Thien.

“They pave the way for a more transparent, sustainable, and responsible forestry sector, while enhancing the reputation and competitiveness of Vietnamese timber products in both domestic and international markets,” he added.

Dr. Michaela Baur, country director of GIZ Vietnam, said that the project’s outcomes not only help enhance legality and transparency in Vietnam’s timber industry, but also significantly contribute to forest protection, create sustainable livelihoods for millions of workers, and reaffirm Vietnam’s position as one of the world’s leading timber processing and exporting hubs.