EU, Germany Back Viet Nam's Natural Forest Conservation with New Program

The European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) have announced a joint program to support the conservation of natural forests in Vietnam from 2026 to 2030. This program will be jointly implemented by the Viet Nam Forestry Administration (VNFOREST) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The EU is contributing EUR 20 million to this initiative, which complements Germany's "Protection and Management of Protected Areas with Diverse Ecosystems" (MEPA) project (EUR 7.5 million), launched earlier this year. The program will support Vietnam's efforts to promote green and sustainable growth, strengthen climate change mitigation and adaptation, protect biodiversity, and develop environmentally sustainable forest-based value chains. Specifically, it will be implemented in five provinces—Son La, Dien Bien, Quang Ngai, Gia Lai, and Dak Lak—with a focus on strengthening climate-sensitive conservation, restoration, and management of natural forests. This includes digital biodiversity monitoring and community-based forest protection. It will also promote sustainable and inclusive forest-based value chains, generating fair and gender-balanced economic opportunities while supporting capacity building and the development of regulatory frameworks to scale up nature-positive solutions nationwide. Tran Quang Bao, Director General of VNFOREST, stated that the program reflects the shared commitment of Vietnam, the EU, and Germany to protect natural forests and promote sustainable and inclusive development. He noted that by strengthening forest restoration and advancing sustainable and climate-sensitive forest management and livelihoods, the program contributes to the long-term goals of Vietnam's forestry sector. Kristina Buende, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Vietnam, pointed out that Vietnam's forests play a critical role in climate action, biodiversity conservation, water and soil protection, and the livelihoods of around 25 million people involved in forestry activities. However, she added that climate change, forest degradation, and biodiversity loss continue to threaten these ecosystems, and under the "Team Europe" approach, the EU and its member states remain committed to supporting Vietnam in protecting and restoring forests for a resilient, low-carbon future. Michael Lehmann, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Germany in Vietnam, reaffirmed Germany's long-standing partnership with Vietnam in sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation. He stated that this project is part of Germany's long-term commitment to Vietnam's forestry sector, complementing the ongoing "Protection and Management of Protected Areas with Diverse Ecosystems" project. Together, these efforts support Vietnam's forestry, climate, and biodiversity targets, and the co-financing with the EU is a perfect example of the "Team Europe" approach. This program is part of Vietnam's environmental conservation policies under its one-party system, demonstrating its commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through international cooperation. In recent years, Vietnam has experienced rapid economic growth, but environmental challenges have become pressing issues. Such international support can boost domestic environmental regulation and the transition to a sustainable industrial structure. Especially with strong economic ties to China, aligning with international environmental standards is crucial for maintaining and expanding access to markets in the EU and other developed countries.