Officials from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) andnorthern Dien Bien province have agreed to expand their pilot forestsustainable management project beyond selected areas given initialencouraging achievements.

They met in Dien Bien provinceon January 29 to review the progress of the five-year JICA-fundedproject on Sustainable Forest Management in the Northwest Watershed Area(Susform – Now), which was commenced in the locality in August, 2010.

Theadded sites are Muong Phang commune (Dien Bien district) and Muong Muoncommune (Cha district), along with Sai Luong and Phieng Ban villages(Dien Bien district), Hang Tro B, Na Phat A, Tia Ghenh C, Huoi Mua Avillages (Dien Bien Dong district), and Ta Leng commune and Nam Thanhward (Dien Bien Phu city).

Susform – Now aims to assist localauthorities of the benefited locations in protecting and extending theirwatershed areas, reducing carbon dioxide emissions from deforestationand forest degradation, increasing secure livelihood for locals whileheightening their awareness of forest protection.
The initialoutcomes showed the forest in the benefitted sites was protected andexpanded effectively and the income of engaged local residents soared.

According to the JICA Tokyo Senior Advisor and Headof the Delegation to the review meeting, Hiro Miyazono, Susform-Nowshould be combined with the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation andforest Degradation (REDD) to raise its efficiency.

JICA will work with the Vietnam Administration of Forestry to co-coordinate Susform – Now in 2013.

Inthe 1970s, Dien Bien province encountered severe forestoverexploitation in its watershed areas, which seriously affected thelocality’s ecosystem.-VNA