Development of Market-Oriented Agroforestry in Quang Nam Province, Viet Nam (Phase I)
Expected starting date: 1st quarter 2003
Expected completion date: 1st quarter 2006
Project code: GCP/VIE/027/ITA
Scope: Trees outside forests, agroforestry
Project summary
A substantial decline in the quality and extent of natural forest cover in Viet Nam has led to widespread environmental deterioration, soil erosion, decreased watershed quality and shortages of key forest products, especially high-value timber. Concomitantly, rural poverty remains a major challenge in much of Viet Nam. Through its bold measures to allocate forest land to households and expand forest cover under the Five Million Hectare Reforestation Program, the Government of Viet Nam has opened exciting new opportunities for simultaneously addressing rural poverty and environmental degradation. This project will assist the Government and the rural people in Quang Nam Province to maximize the benefits of forest land allocation by supporting the development of environmentally sound and commercially profitable agroforestry systems. The project will provide capacity building, extension, demonstration and technical support for the development of market-oriented forest gardens and agroforestry systems in Quang Nam Province. The project will emphasize participatory approaches to identify farmer priorities and preferences, while maintaining high standards of technical excellence in forest garden development and management on a range of sites that will enable the production of commercially value wood and non-wood products. Capacity building, extension and marketing support will focus on the commercial benefits that farmers can obtain from agroforestry systems.