The Japanese Government will provide technical assistance on sustainablemanagement of natural resources to the five mountainous provinces ofDien Bien, Lai Chau, Son La, Hoa Binh and Lam Dong from 2015-2020.

TheMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), the Ministry ofNatural Resources and Environment, authorities of the five provinces andthe Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a document onthe project in Hanoi on July 9.

The project,focusing on policy support, sustainable forest management and reducingemissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+),biodiversity and knowledge sharing is expected to help improveVietnamese localities’ capacity in managing natural resources.

As the primary focus of the project, sustainable forestmanagement and REDD+ will promote the implementation of the provincialREDD+ action plan (PRAP) in Dien Bien and the design of PRAPs in LaiChau, Son La and Hoa Binh.

Speaking at the signingceremony, MARD Deputy Minister Ha Cong Tuan highlighted the significanceof the project, saying it will contribute to accelerating the country’sforestry restructuring plan.

Credit loans and technicalassistance provided by the Japanese Government have supported Vietnam’sforestry sector in recovering forest resources and built capacity ofstaff working in the field.

According to the Deputy Minister,the MARD will direct relevant agencies to work with localities and theMinistry of Natural Resources and Environment to carry out the project.

Heasked the localities to swiftly design and enact REDD+ action plans incombination with the implementation of the national forest protectionand management programme.

The REDD+ action plan isintended to counteract downgrading ecosystem and biodiversity inVietnam. In 2012, the Government issued the National REDD+ Action Planwith the aim to improve forest management and climate changeresilience.-VNA