In an effort to fight climate change, Vietnam will continue to work to increase forest coverage and importantly, ensure the quality of forest, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) said on April 23.

Apart from boosting preservation of biodiversity, Vietnam will strengthen silvicultural methodology, said Deputy Director of International Cooperation Department under the MARD, Tran Kim Long, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Week and the 22nd session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission in Hanoi .

In terms of policy, Mr Long said, a strategy on forestry development by 2020 has been approved, which has given an impetus for improving effective management of forests.

Dr Daniel Murdiyarso from the Centre for International Forestry Research, said the strategy is a promising start to improvement and provides a solid policy tool to support further work.

Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Jan Heino also commended Vietnam’s approach so far in sustainable forest management.

Vietnam has developed a number of programmes and projects to protect and develop forests, including Programme 327 to “green” wastelands and bare hills, and a project to plant 5 million hectares of forest from 1998-2010. In addition, the law on forest protection and development was amended in 2004.

As a result, Vietnam has increased its forest acreage from 9.3 million ha in 1995 to 12.87 million ha in 2006. The forest coverage now is 38% of the country as compared to over 20% in the 1990s.

The Asia -Pacific Forestry Week and the 22nd session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission is being held from April 21-25. The event attracted the participation of over 400 representatives from 33 members of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission, over 30 non-governmental organisations, research institutes and businesspeople. (VNA)