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Dutch funds help Vietnam forests bloom

HA NOI — A project funded by the Netherlands government aims to help Viet Nam’s poorest regions sustainably develop their non-timber forest resources.

The Non-Timber Forest Products Research Centre is implementing the second phase of a support project that began in 1998, the centre announced recently.

From now until 2007, the new stage will try to strengthen the capacity of research and management institutions in Viet Nam to support ecologically sustainable and equitable use of non-timber forest products.

These products include varieties of mushrooms, bamboo, flowering plants that yield products like saffron, and seeds like cardamon with cooking and medicinal purposes.

Pilot sites are located in the north and central regions of the country: Hoanh Bo and Van Don districts in northern province of Quang Ninh; Son Dong in Bac Giang Province; Cam Xuyen in Ha Tinh; Tuyen Hoa in Quang Binh and Dakrong in Quang Tri.

The non-timber forest products scheme is divided into two funds, one is research-focused to provide additional value to the research carried out by the government under the 5 million-hectare reforestation programme.

This fund mainly supports research conducted by the centre, the Forest Science Institute of Viet Nam and other institutions, universities and NGOs.

The second fund supports practical field experience to benefit farmers, communities, forest development and forest protection units across Viet Nam.

Investment in the second phase is expected to be five times that of the first phase. — VNS