Group Certification for Smallholder's Plantations -- Challenges and Opportunities: Case Study of Quang Tri Smallholder Forest Certification Group in Central Vietnam
The 3rd International Congress on Planted Forests, Forthcoming
Posted: 12 Oct 2013
Date Written: April 1, 2013
Abstract
The forest area in Vietnam has been increasing over the last 20 years, particular as a result of Government policies on reforestation. However, the quality of the forest has been decreased and timber production has been shifted from natural forest to plantation. Out of the total 2.9 million ha of plantations which are managing by different owners, smallholder’s plantations account for 1.3 million ha. Smallholders have established mainly mono-plantations by planting exotic species as Acacia, Eucalyptus for woodchip supplying. Most of plantations were established after 1992 under some huge reforestation programs aiming at rural poverty alleviation through sustainable forestry. An assessment was conducted to gain insights into the challenges and opportunities of plantation management of local smallholders. The assessment was carried out using case study approach of one smallholder’s plantation group in Quang Tri, Central of Vietnam. This group was a pilot project of group certification with technical supports of WWF. In 2010, this group of 118 registered smallholders with 247.8 ha of acacia plantations became the first group in Vietnam to be FSC certified.
The assessment showed that the smallholders have an increased profit (premium price) of approximately 20% from the sale of certified woodchips and saw logs in comparison with non certified products and they are able to sell products directly to buyers. In addition, the capacity of group leader and village group leaders has also been enhanced. The assessment also revealed a number of challenges regarding low commitments and motivations of farmers (as they owned only one to two ha plantation), new knowledge of sustainable plantation management, responsibility of village group leaders, technical and financial support for group extension and sustainability, and involvement and support of government and local authorities.
This shows the need for sustainable plantation management in order to provide raw materials for woodchips and timbers to feed pulp mills and processing manufactories. It is required to increase the number of native species in current plantations to avoid mono-cultivation and look for potential neighbor plantations to join the group. The forest certification shows it is a good market tool to promote sustainable forest management in smallholders’ plantation and contribute to poverty alleviation.
Keywords: Central of Vietnam, group certification, plantation, smallholder, sustainable forest management, Vietnam
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