Ha Noi, Viet Nam. The ceremony of UN-REDD Viet Nam Phase II Programme was held today to overview of the results and achievements, highlight some key outputs of the Programme and its sustainability as well as the strategy for maintaining the momentum for REDD+ in Viet Nam.

Participants of the meeting are the leaders from Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), VN Forest, United Nations agencies, the Norwegian Embassy, non-governmental organizations and related provinces
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Viet Nam, United Nations Development Programme and UN Environment are jointly implementing the UN-REDD Programme for Viet Nam, while MARD’s Viet Nam Administration of Forestry (VNFOREST) is its national implementing partner.

FAO led major interventions such as building national capacity in establishment and submission of forest and forest reference emission levels, formulating a National Forest Monitoring System and sub-national REDD+ initiatives, supporting forest law enforcement to address drivers of deforestation and forest degradation as well as implementing interventions under the Provincial REDD+ Action Plans, encompassing Bac Kan, Binh Thuan, Ca Mau,  Ha Tinh, Lao Cai, Lam Dong provinces. These activities aim to demonstrate how greenhouse gas emission reductions and sequestration targets can actually be achieved through practical interventions and the amendment or extension of national programmes, which have impacts on forest cover and biomass.

During the workshop, participants shared knowledge, lessons learned, experiences and key successes from the last nine years, specifically the last five years of Phase II. Through this Programme, FAO and Viet Nam have taken a remarkable step forward and displayed a willingness to continue working closely together towards achieving sustainable development goals SDG and Agenda 2030.

This event not only marked the major achievements of the UN-REDD Viet Nam Phase II Programme, but also celebrated 10 years of the UN-REDD Programme, with Viet Nam a partner for nine years as one of the nine pioneering pilot countries in REDD+.