The Forest Sector Development Project

Training course on lending procedures within project

The FSDP is a two-pronged project with two main focuses: (i) production forest plantation development in four provinces of central Vietnam: Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh, and (ii) conservation fund. It is expected to support smallholders the establishment of some 66,000 ha of commercial forests.

The total project fund values at 22.6 million SDR. The project development objectives are: 1) strengthening forest management and biodiversity conservation, through the revision of selected policies, and regulations regarding the management of production plantation forest, and special forests uses . In addition, farm forestry groups will be established to develop smallholder forestry, and the promotion of forest plantation certification to ensure environmental sustainability, higher prices, and improved and secured market access for participating households. 2) based on different cropping systems, forest plantations will be established. A participatory approach will involve village consultations, and technical and environmental screening of proposed sites, including land allocation, and certification for land uses rights. Extension and services delivery shall assist smallholders in forestry plantation activities, plantation design and management, and, plantation investments in the form of credits; 3) conservation, and sustainable use of biodiversity resources; and, 4) project management activities will include the coordination of project implementation with the various government agencies at central, provincial and district levels, monitoring, and cooperation with partnerships. By the end of 2007, together with credit and procurement activities, training courses on Credit Manual to VBSP staffs, borrowers and partners were held at 4 project provinces. The training workshops are conducted annually to improve the implementation effectiveness and efficiency and deal with difficulties and shortcomings.