Vietnam to secure over $71mn for forest emissions reduction efforts

The Forestry and Forest Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment announced on Saturday that the project was officially approved at the 44th GCF Board meeting held in Songdo, South Korea, on Thursday.

The initiative, supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is part of Vietnam’s Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation program, which rewards emission reductions from forest conservation and carbon stock enhancement.

The funding will be implemented over six years in northern Vietnamese provinces including Phu Tho, Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, and Tuyen Quang.

Authorities said the project will strengthen forest monitoring systems, improve land and forest management, and enhance the economic value of forests to support local communities.

This marks the fourth GCF-funded project carried out by JICA in Vietnam, reflecting long-term cooperation between Japan and Vietnam in forestry and climate change.

Officials emphasized that the approval is the result of sustained collaboration in building forest monitoring systems and calculating carbon emission reductions.

Expected outcomes include stronger institutional frameworks for low-emission development planning, improved forest governance, and direct contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The project also supports Vietnam’s nationally determined contributions and aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 13 on climate action and Goal 15 on life on land, as well as the objectives of the Paris Agreement.