The National Forestry Plan for 2021-2030, with a long-term vision extending to 2050, has been officially approved by the Prime Minister under Decision No. 895/QĐ-TTg. This comprehensive plan aims to transform Vietnam’s forestry sector into a dynamic economic and technical field through sustainable forest management, protection, and development, while fostering widespread participation from organizations and individuals.
The plan emphasizes maximizing the potential, roles, and value of forests to drive sustainable development. It seeks to make substantial contributions to socio-economic growth, environmental protection, natural resource conservation, biodiversity preservation, and climate change adaptation.
Enhancing Forest Quality
One of the plan’s key objectives is to maintain national forest cover at a stable rate of 42-43 percent, with a strong focus on enhancing the quality of existing natural forests. The forestry production value is targeted to grow annually by 5.0 to 5.5 percent. By 2025, domestic consumption of wood and timber products is expected to reach $5 billion, increasing to $6 billion by 2030.
Income from timber plantations is projected to increase by 1.5 times by 2025 and double by 2030 compared to 2020 levels. Additionally, by 2030, all forests managed by organizations must be sustainably managed to enhance biodiversity, protect forest functions, and minimize legal violations within the forestry sector.
By 2050, the forestry sector is expected to evolve into a significant economic and technical industry, leveraging the unique advantages of Vietnam’s tropical forest resources. The sector will adopt modern, environmentally-friendly technologies to produce high-value products and services, actively participating in the global value chain and contributing to the country’s sustainable development.
Focus on Research and Reforestation
Looking ahead to 2030, the plan prioritizes scientific research and the development of new high-yield, high-quality tree varieties, particularly fast-growing indigenous species for timber production. The goal is to supply an average of 575 million trees annually.
Between 2021 and 2025, approximately 1.18 million hectares of forest will be planted, averaging 235,700 hectares per year. From 2026 to 2030, about 1.29 million hectares of forest will be established, with an annual average of 257,800 hectares. By 2030, the area of large timber forests is expected to reach one million hectares. Furthermore, the area of forests certified for sustainable management is projected to grow to around 500,000 hectares by 2025 and one million hectares by 2030.
Developing an International Timber Trade Hub
In the realm of wood processing and timber product trading, the plan emphasizes the development of timber trading centers within high-tech forestry zones. An international timber trading center will be established, supported by trade promotion programs and market expansion strategies.
The plan advocates for the use of modern, automated, and specialized equipment, and encourages the development of technologies that produce high-quality, value-added products. Developing a highly skilled workforce is also a priority, with updated training programs aligned with industry needs and business demands. Government funding will be allocated to upgrade training facilities to support these initiatives.
The total investment required to implement this ambitious plan is estimated at VNĐ217.3 trillion ($8.73 billion), with VNĐ106.9 trillion ($4.29 billion) allocated for the period from 2021 to 2025.
