Lead implementer: UNDP

Partners: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the Provincial People’s Committees (PPCs) of Dak Nong and Lam Dong, with support from the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), European Forest Institute (EFI), Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Key thematic areas

The project will work to prevent further biodiversity loss while conserving, restoring and sustainably using vital land and forest ecosystems, to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Challenges

Severe environmental degradation, and few income-generating opportunities around protected areas, have been exacerbated by climate extremes and political instability in the Central Highlands. Poor natural resource management has led to severe land degradation, dissatisfaction among communities, and reduced availability of education, health, infrastructure and social services. Disruption of wildlife corridors and human encroachment on buffer areas around parks have weakened ecosystems, accompanied by an escalation in poaching to supply international wildlife trafficking networks. Ethnic minorities and indigenous communities are particularly affected by this social and environmental disruption.

Goal

To improve environmental sustainability, social inclusion, and resilience of food production models and supply chains in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam.

Approach

The project aims to improve environmental sustainability, social inclusion and resilience of food production and supply chains in Viet Nam’s Central Highlands. This will see a reduction in natural forest losses and degradation, with efforts to protect biodiversity, restore priority ecosystems, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve livelihoods – especially for ethnic minorities and women – in agriculture, forestry and ecotourism value chains. Food production will be sustained and quality enhanced through improved farming practices, better organization of producers and transparent, shortened supply chains.

Specific actions

Working in four districts of two provinces in Viet Nam – Di Linh and Lac Duong districts in Lam Dong; and Dak G’Long and Dak R’Lap districts in Dak Nong – this project aims to reduce emissions equivalent to about 3 million tonnes of CO₂ in the area by the end of the project, supporting the work of the UN’s Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) programme. An integrated land-use plan and map will also be produced for each pilot district, with clear sustainability targets and action plans. A robust cross-sectoral monitoring and evaluation system and platforms will be developed for multistakeholder dialogues, and local institutions and farmers will be trained in sustainable production. The project will support beneficiaries on the ground to develop the prioritized agriculture and non-timber forest product and services models. The project will also carry out land-use finance mapping, as well as analysing and formulating business and financial cases to effectively engage the business and financial sector.