On January 25 ICRAF took part in the Forest Sector Support Partnership (FSSP) Annual Review meeting in Hanoi. The gathering plays a key role within the sector for information sharing, policy dialogue and providing an opportunity to reflect on past achievements and future goals.

ICRAF country coordinator Minh Ha Hoang attended the meeting along with Terry Sunderland from the Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) in Indonesia.

‘These meetings are a focal point for the sector and help us work together more effectively. I always walk away with many new research ideas,' Minh Ha said.

This year participants had the opportunity to attend one of three lively afternoon sessions focussing on sustainable forest management and climate change; forest protection, biodiversity conservation and Payments for Environmental Services (PFES); and market changes in timber processing and trade.I

n addition to a reflection on the forestry sectors performance for the past year, the 2011 meeting provided an opportunity to learn about the sectors progress in the Viet Nam Forestry and Development Strategy 2006-2020.

There were many successes towards strategy goals in Vietnam during this period such as an increase in forest cover, a reduced poverty rate, and the introduction of a number of breakthrough policies including Decree 99 in 2010.

Decree 99 will enable those who provide environmental services by actively protecting the forest to receive payments from those that utilize these services (PFES). ICRAF Vietnam is currently piloting PFES in Bac Kan province in the north-east of Vietnam as part of it's Rewards, Use and Shared Investment in Pro-poor Environmental Services (RUPES) program.

ICRAF and CIFOR exhibited a joint display of policy briefs and other relevant publications at the meeting. The fast take up of materials demonstrated participants keenness to deepen their knowledge of the issues and better understand each organisations role in these common forestry goals for Vietnam.

Photo (above): ICRAF country coordinator Minh Ha Hoang attended the meeting along with Terry Sunderland from the Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) in Indonesia. Photo: Lisa Fitzgerald/ICRAF Vietnam

Photo (left): Different voices and perspectives were shared in a discussion to identify the coming years key priorities for forest protection, biodiversity conservation and Payments for Environmental Services. Photo: Lisa Fitzgerald/ICRAF Vietnam