On 24 August 2023, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang signed Decision No. 993/QD-TTg approving the national plan to implement the Glasgow Declaration on forests and land use until 2030. The overall objective of the Plan is to contribute directly to the goals of sustainable agricultural and rural development, the goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change, and conserving biodiversity, sustainable forest management, transition to green economy, circular economy; promote sustainable livelihoods for local people and communities, ensure food security and protect the environment in order to implement commitments of the Glasgow Declaration.
Six areas covered by the Glasgow Declaration
The Declaration was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November 2021. A total of 143 nations signed the declaration, accounting for over 90% of the world’s forests. This effort aimed to “halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030 while delivering sustainable development and promoting inclusive rural transformation.”
The Glasgow Declaration of Leaders on Forests and Land Use aims to stop and reverse deforestation and land degradation by 2030, contributing to the goal of keeping global temperature rise at 1.5oC also support sustainable development and equitable transition in rural areas through specific actions.
The main content of the Declaration focuses on the role and interrelationship between forests, biodiversity and sustainable land use, contributing to achieving a balance between human-caused greenhouse gas emissions and absorption of GHGs, climate change adaptation and sustainable development. The declaration includes six areas of action:
- Preserving and accelerating the recovery of forests and terrestrial ecosystems.
- Implementing sustainable trade, development, production and consumption policies without deforestation and land degradation.
- Reducing forest and land vulnerability, strengthen resilience and enhance livelihoods through community empowerment, strengthen land tenure systems, develop sustainable agriculture, recognizing the multi-valued nature of forests.
- Implementing and, if necessary, adjusting policies and programs that encourage sustainable agriculture, promoting food security and avoiding harm to the environment.
- Reaffirming international financial commitments, increasing financial contributions from many different sources for agricultural development and sustainable forest management, forest conservation and restoration, and support for people and local communities.
- Facilitating the linkage of capital markets with the implementation of the Paris Agreement and international goals to reverse forest loss and degradation; have strong policies to accelerate the process of forest restoration and improvement, sustainable land use, biodiversity and achievement of climate goals. Countries participating in the Declaration will make joint efforts to implement the above six areas of action. Country can choose areas of action appropriate to each country's specific context.
Vietnam targets recovery of 20% degraded forests by 2030
The National Plan by 2030 aims to realise goals of sustainable agricultural and rural development, greenhouse gas emission reduction, climate change response, biodiversity conservation, sustainable forest management, and transition to a green and circular economy. Under the plan, the area of downgraded natural forests restored and upgraded is set at 10% by 2025, and 20% by 2030. Meanwhile, the area certified for sustainable forest management is expected to reach 0.5 million hectares by 2025, and 1 million hectares by 2030.
Vietnam will perfect mechanisms and policies to promote sustainability in agro-forestry production and consumption, and raise resilience of forest land to climate change. In order to achieve such goals, efforts will be made to advance rural livelihoods by empowering the community, consolidating the land management system and improving the multi-purpose management of forests. The plan also aims to promote the access to and efficient use of domestic and international financial resources, as well as public-private partnership in agro-forestry production, and sustainable forest management, and support local residents, especially ethnic minority groups. The Plan sets out key tasks and solutions such as:
- Preserving and accelerating the restoration of forests and terrestrial ecosystems; formulating and perfecting domestic and international trade policies, promoting the development of sustainable production and consumption of goods for mutual benefit, without deforestation and land degradation.
- Implementing solutions to reduce the vulnerability of forests and land; strengthening resilience and improving rural livelihoods through community empowerment, strengthening land management systems, developing sustainable agriculture, enhancing the multi-purpose value of forests; while ensuring the rights of people and local communities in accordance with Vietnamese law and international practices.
- Formulating and organizing the effective implementation of policies and programs for sustainable agricultural development, ensuring food security and environmental protection.
- Strengthening access, mobilizing and effectively using domestic and international financial resources, public-private partnership to develop agricultural production, forestry and sustainable forest management, conservation and restoration ecosystems, supporting local communities and ethnic minorities.
- Integrating financial sources to limit deforestation and forest degradation, have effective and efficient mechanisms and policies to accelerate the transition to a resilient economy and achieve international goals on forest management, sustainable land use, biodiversity conservation and climate change response.