A new UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Vietnam was launched on September 17.

The US$4.38 million programme is funded by the Government of Norway and will be run by the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development over two years.

It is a joint programme of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). The Central Highland province of Lam Dong has been selected as a pilot site.

According to the UN, REDD will support the Vietnamese Government in reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and will create financial incentives for Vietnam to preserve and improve its forests. It will also help to combat climate change, conserve biodiversity and reverse land degradation and desertification.

In addition, the programme will look at ways to help the countries of the lower Mekong basin avoid cross-border leakages of emissions.

Vietnam is one of nine countries chosen for the UN-REDD programme and it is the first country to fully implement measures to reduce deforestation and forest degradation.

The UN programme is of great importance as over half of Vietnam’s forests are in danger of degenerating.

VietNamNet/VOV