FGM Workshop Background Paper - REDD - VietNam

• Forest governance monitoring in Viet Nam assessed by 3 pillars and 6
principles;
• Strengthening forest governance monitoring in Viet Nam;
• Conclusion.
1.2. Method of preparation of the background paper for the workshop
Forest governance is a broad concept and a complex issue to monitor. Moreover in
the Vietnamese context – like in many other countries- the term forest governance is
relatively new term that is not readily understood by everybody as to what it means,
what it entails, and in which it differs from (or relates to) forest monitoring (see
chapter 2). Moreover emerging international frameworks like one mentioned in the
program on forests (PROFOR) Food and Agricultural Organization of United nations Rome, 2011 that is
elaborated into 3 pillars, 6 principles, 13 components and 77 sub-components, - if
untailored - appear to be too generic and too difficult for their immediate application
in the context of countries like Vietnam; this proofed to be particularly so at the level
of components and sub components. 2
In the context of Viet Nam the Viet Nam Forestry Development Strategy 2006-2020
is the main policy programme for forest (see Box 01). In other words, – and in line
with the opinion of the persons interviewed - the governance to implement the 5
programs of the strategy and their targets should be the focus and starting point of
forest governance monitoring.
Because of explanations above the documentation analysis and interviews, were
conducted in the context of the following two relations:
• Firstly, the relation between FGM on one side and implementation of the 5
programs of Vietnam Forestry Development Strategy 2006-2020 and their
targets, on the other side. In current circumstances this, perhaps, is an
appropriate way to get the background paper for the workshop, because by
this way the paper can bring what the workshop participants are familiar with,
interested in and confident to join discussions.
• Secondly, FGM is assessed through documentation analysis and interviews in
the context of the FAO FGM framework, but only of the 3 pillars and 6
principles and not 13 components and 77 sub-components.
Recently, Vietnam achieved some very important results in forest sector, especially
in increase of forest cover, forest products export and poverty reduction in
mountainous areas. The way in which forest governance is taking place in Vietnam,
no doubt, has provided considerable contributions to those achievements, also
2 This is illustrated by the experience of the national consultant at the earlier stages of this study. Initially, the
national consultant tried to use 13 components and 77 sub-components of the FAO/PROFOR framework, to
assess FGM in Vietnam. The consultant sent the framework to 46 people (including 32 from domestic
organizations and 14 from international organizations) requesting them to assess FGM in Vietnam accordingly to
13 components and 77 sub-components of the framework. Opinion of majority of the requested was that it is too
difficult to assess FGM in Vietnam by using the 13 components and 77 sub-components of the framework. And
the consultant is in the similar view. In fact, it is too difficult to classify what is being done in Vietnam, in terms of
FGM, into 13 components and 77 sub-components of the “FAO framework for assessing and monitoring forest
governance”. Until time when the consultant started writing the background paper, only 6 assessments in the
mentioned way were received. As explained by the respondents the main reason of the difficulties is the
components and sub-components of the FAO framework are still general.
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