Vietnam is the latest member country to have its national forest system endorsed by the world’s leading forest certification organisation PEFC (the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification).

Vietnam is the first PEFC member to supply PEFC-certified natural rubber and rubberwood, according to Dr Bui Chinh Nghia, Chairman of Vietnam Forest Certification Office (VFCO), who remarks that the process for the endorsement has been worthwhile.  VFCO started working towards the PEFC system in 2015, became a PEFC member in June 2019, and applied for endorsement in September 2019.

The PEFC endorsement is a recognition of Vietnam’s efforts to build an accessible national forest certification system that meets and even exceeds the global sustainability benchmark, adds Dr Nguyen Quoc Tri, Director General of the Vietnam Administration Forest.

The certification of 12,000 hectares of Acacia and Rubber plantation by VFCS before the endorsement by PEFC has shown the substantial determination of Vietnamese stakeholders to make.

Dr Le Van Binh added that the endorsement was not merely a technical scope of work, relating that there has been enormous support through projects and initiatives, which have helped to build capacity, improve the market access for Vietnamese certified products and provide a platform to encourage stakeholders in sustainable forest management throughout the country.

“Vietnam is an excellent example of PEFC’s effort and our unique approach, working together as an alliance, where we have mature members in the key consuming markets, helping new members like Vietnam to grow by offering market linkage supports,” said Ben Gunneberg, CEO of PEFC International.

Moving forward, VFCO targets 50,000 hectares of certified plantations in 2021, and is ready to test different mechanisms to make forest certification even more accessible to more small landowners and companies in the country.

Alongside certification expansion, building market acceptance of PEFC/VFCS certified products is another priority of VFCO.

“Continuous improvement of our national system to provide sustainability assurance and strengthen market confidence in our brand is our aim. VFCO is looking forward to collaborating with other PEFC family members for our success in the year to come,” said Dr Bui Chinh Nghia.

https://rubberjournalasia.com/vietnams-natl-forest-system-obtains-pefc-endorsement-eyes-50k-ha-of-certified-plantations-in-2021/