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Action

Exploring synergies between the FLEGT VPA legality definition and REDD+ safeguards in Vietnam

  • Year

    April-May 2013

  • Location

    Vietnam

  • Partners

    Vietnam National REDD+ Network sub-technical working group on safeguards. Steven Swan, consultant.

  • Funded by

    European Union

Introduction

The project explored synergies between processes to develop a FLEGT Voluntary Partner Agreement (VPA) timber legality definition and REDD+ safeguards in Vietnam. The development of a VPA timber legality definition and REDD+ safeguards in countries involved in both FLEGT VPA and REDD+ processes, such as Vietnam, creates opportunities for complementarities.

The objective

The objective of the project was to explore complementarities between processes for developing REDD+ safeguards and a VPA legality definition in Vietnam, a country that is involved in both. Safeguards built into the international REDD+ framework minimise social and environmental risks from REDD+ and enhance benefits. Developing safeguards involves analysing and improving national policies, laws and regulations. The FLEGT VPA process requires similar analyses to develop a VPA timber legality definition.

European Forest Institute

The challenge

In 2013, Vietnam embarked on formulating safeguards for REDD+ according to a road map agreed through a multi-stakeholder process. The objective was to meet UNFCCC REDD+ obligations for safeguards. The sub-technical working group on REDD+ safeguards, established under the National REDD+ Network and co-chaired by the Vietnam Forest Administration (VNFOREST) and the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV), undertook a comprehensive gap analysis of relevant national policies, laws and regulations.

The legality definition is narrower in scope compared to the environmental and social sustainability aspects of the REDD+ safeguards.

In parallel, Vietnam engaged in negotiations for a FLEGT VPA with the EU. The VPA requires the development of a timber legality assurance system (TLAS) and a definition of what constitutes legal timber.

The timber legality definition and the UNFCCC REDD+ safeguards are structurally mismatched. Although potentially dealing with aspects related to the allocation of forest titles, forest tenure and rights to use forests, the main purpose of the timber legality definition is to verify the legality of timber along the value chain. The legality definition is thus narrower in scope compared to the environmental and social sustainability aspects of the REDD+ safeguards.

At the time of the study, the processes in Vietnam to develop a VPA legality definition and REDD+ safeguards were at different stages. The challenge was to find immediate opportunities for synergies between the two processes. This meant exploring, for example, whether analyses of gaps in existing policies, laws and regulations for the draft legality definition could also inform the development of REDD+ safeguards.

The approach

The EU REDD Facility worked with the co-chair of the Vietnam National REDD+ Network sub-technical working group on safeguards to explore interactions and the potential for synergies between the processes for developing REDD+ safeguards and the FLEGT VPA in Vietnam.

Results and impact

Results

  • The study found potential synergies between processes to develop REDD+ safeguards and a VPA legality definition in:
    • Analysing gaps in policies, laws and regulations, and institutional and information systems
    • Communicating with stakeholders and the broader constituency
    • Civil society participation structures and processes, including feedback mechanisms
    • Building civil society capacity for participating in the development of policies, laws and regulations, and reforms
    • Assessing environmental and social impact
    • Monitoring impact
    • Transparency and systems for providing the public with access to information
  • The study found that challenges in realising FLEGT and REDD+ synergies in Vietnam are:
    • Limited technical understanding of the two processes
    • Limited understanding of opportunities for synergies between the two processes and of constraints to synergies
    • Lack of political incentives for coordination
    • Challenges in coordinating development partners
    • Scarce in-country human resources
    • Time constraints
  • The project published an internal report and an article.

Impact

  • The study informs the work of the sub-technical working group on REDD+.

Resources

About the EU REDD Facility

The EU REDD Facility supports countries in improving land-use governance as part of their efforts to slow, halt and reverse deforestation. It also supports the overall EU effort to reduce its contribution to deforestation in developing countries. The Facility focuses on countries that are engaged in REDD+, an international mechanism that incentivises developing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their forest and land-use sectors. The Facility is hosted by the European Forest Institute and was established in 2010.

Disclaimer

This website has been produced with the assistance of the European Union and the Governments Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands. The contents of this site are the sole responsibility of the European Forest Institute’s EU REDD Facility and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of funding organisations.