On May 16, 2026, the Quynh Tam Commune People’s Committee successfully hosted the “Stakeholder consultation workshop on the FSC forest certification smallholder group profile for Quynh Tam Cooperative”. This milestone event was organized under Project AIN 8748, which aims at sustainable forest management and certification for smallholder plantations in Vietnam.
The workshop saw full participation from key stakeholders, including leaders and forestry officials of Quynh Tam commune; representatives of the local Forest Protection Station; the North Nghe An Protection Forest Management Board; 12 village heads; representatives of major smallholder households, forestry experts, and the entire FSC Certification Management Board of Quynh Tam Cooperative. Mr. Truong Van Phuc, Director of Quynh Tam Cooperative, introduced the participants, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Phuong, National Project Coordinator for AIN 8748, delivered the opening remarks and outlined the workshop’s expectations.
Presentation of Core Technical and Management Topics
During the workshop, representatives of the Project Management Board presented strategic and technical forestry orientation topics for the locality:
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Raw material timber potential assessment: Analyzing timber volume and current status to shape supply capacity and enhance the economic value of smallholder plantations.
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Social impact and forestry risk assessment report: Identifying socio-economic impacts on local livelihoods and potential cultivation risks, while proposing effective mitigation measures.
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Sustainable forest management plan: Outlining technical roadmaps, harvesting, and replanting procedures in accordance with strict international standards.
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Biodiversity and High Conservation Value Forest report: Assessing ecosystems and proposing conservation measures for indigenous flora and fauna alongside economic activities.
Strategic Orientation and Problem-Solving from Local Authorities
Speaking at the workshop, the Quynh Tam commune forestry official highlighted the substantial benefits for forest owners joining the FSC system, such as increasing the commercial value of timber, accessing advanced cultivation practices, and securing long-term market stability. To resolve existing forest land management difficulties caused by historical factors and complex terrain, the local government announced plans to remeasure all forest land areas in the coming time. Concurrently, the commune authorities directly addressed residents’ procedural inquiries and actively encouraged more households to join to expand the smallholder group’s scale.
Furthermore, in light of the approaching severe heatwave, the representative of the North Nghe An Protection Forest Management Board issued urgent warnings regarding forest fire risks. Forest owners were requested to strictly control vegetation debris clearance, entirely avoid slash-burning during peak heat days with strong Foehn winds, adhere to regulated timeframes, clear firebreaks, and maintain close coordination for fire patrol and monitoring.
Dynamic Discussions and Practical Field Experiences from Villages
The consultation session witnessed active and practical contributions from village heads and local smallholders to internalize field procedures:
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Insights from Tien Son village: Sharing field experiences in managing 7-year-old plantations, focusing on density adjustments and proper thinning techniques to transition from small-timber to high-quality FSC large-timber models.
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Cultivation and vegetation debris clearance techniques: Engaging in deep discussions regarding optimal planting density and safe slash-burning methods compliant with forest fire prevention regulations.
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Occupational safety & Disaster response: Emphasizing the necessity of wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) during forestry operations and drafting proactive contingency plans for storms, flash floods, and landslides to minimize asset damage.
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Administrative bottleneck resolution: Local authorities acknowledged and pledged support for households with lost forest land-use rights certificates to secure their legal rights when joining the certification group.
The consultation workshop in Quynh Tam commune not only facilitated the finalization of technical reports for Project AIN 8748 but also fostered strong cohesion and consensus among authorities, technical units, and the local community. This builds a solid foundation for Quynh Tam Cooperative to realize its goal of expanding FSC-certified forest areas, elevating forestry economic value, and ensuring long-term environmental sustainability.
