The UN REDD initiative seeks to achieve cost-effective and verifiable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD), and applies to all types of tropical forests. The first REDD network meeting was part of FSSPs (Forest Sector Support Partnership) annual meeting in Hanoi. A great number of representatives from Government Ministries, foreign embassies, NGOs, local partners and interested participants met with the aim of collaborating innovative, creative and professional thoughts on the forest sector, climate change and the road ahead for Vietnam.
The first phase
Establishing a national REDD network for all stakeholders has been a key activity in UN-REDDs first phase in Vietnam.
– 2009 has been an important year in terms of laying the foundation for all the activities in 2010, said Ambassador Ståle Torstein Risa during his opening remarks.
– Now the time has come to make the REDD network operational. Thanks to Vietnam’s great efforts during this first period, we are ready to move ahead, Ambassador Risa underlined.
The REDD Network
Vietnam was the first country to sign and implement the UN-REDD program. The REDD program was launched by Norway at the Bali Summit in 2007, and was formally approved by Vietnam August 28th 2009. Norway was given the role as co-chairman and has assured full financial support of the first and implementing phase. It is a joint program between three UN organizations – FAO, UNDP and UNEP – and will be executed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The aim is getting Vietnam “REDD-ready” by 2012, and the The Lam Dong province has been selected as the pilot site.
– The collaboration for REDD implementation has seen great progress in 2009, though key activities still remains, Mrs. Pham Minh Thoa, Deputy Director General in Department of Forestry (DoF) said before opening the discussion.
Read more about the UN REDD program here
Mrs. Thoa from Department of Forestry (DoF) listing up key activities for 2010 . Photo: Nina Elisabeth Nordrum Vennevold