Gender

Mainstreaming in

Forestry Policy

in Viet Nam

Workshop on Gender Mainstreaming in National

Forestry Policy

3rd November 2013, New Zealand

Contents

1. Overview of forestry policy in Viet Nam

2. Forestry policy development process

3. Challenges/gaps in gender

mainstreaming in forestry policy process

4. On-going initiatives on gender

mainstreaming in forestry policy

5. Recommendations

1. Overview of forestry policy in Viet Nam

Since 2003, Viet Nam has promulgated 165

forestry related legal documents with around

140 legal documents are still valid.

5 laws;

39 decrees;

01 Resolution of Political Ministry;

20 Decisions and Instructions of Prime Minister;

105 Circulars, Decisions and Instructions at

Ministerial level.

Impact of policy on sector

development

Forestry production value increased sharply during

last decate ( from 4 % in 2005 to 6,4% in 2012

The national forest cover has been increased

during last decade (from 35,5% in 2002 to 39,7% in

2012);

Impact of policy on sector

development (cont.)

Timber processing and export processing and

exporting are rapidly increased (from 435 Mil USD in

to 4.6 Bil USD in 2012).

PFES policy has truly gone into lives of people,

becoming a light-spot of policy on socialization of

the forest sector: the revenues from PFES in 2012

gained 1,130.8 bil. VND

Challenges for Forestry Sector

At global level

- Globalization and regionalization,

- Timber import-export and trade barriers,

- Climate change and international commitments.

At national level

- High demands of cultivation area due to population

growth,

- Pressure on forest land conversion for development

purposes such as hydro-power, infrastructure,

mining..

- The typical features and disadvantages of forestry

sector.

Orientations for forestry policy

development in the future Create legal framework on establishment of national stable forest

estate;

Further accelerate shifting from state management on forest

resources to social forest; promote community based forestry and co-

management scheme

Establish and harmonize relation between forest ownership, forest

use rights, forest business rights and rights to benefit from forest,

particularly rights to property from natural production forest;

Finalize appropriate investment policy mechanism applicable to the 3

forest categories;

Create favorable legal framework for PFES and REDD+

implementation;

Encourage timber processing enterprises to apply timber legality

assurance system, FSC CoC certified timber.

2. Forestry Policy Development Process

1. Identify issue

2. Collect and analyze

3. Elaborate Policy

4. Review and approve

5. Issue/ Promulgate 7. Implement policy

8. Monitor policy

9. Evaluate policy

10. Revise policy

6. Allocate resource for policy

implementation

1

2

3

4

3. Gaps in gender

mainstreaming in forestry policy development process

Lack of enabling environment for women to present their

perceptions and to be involved in decisions making

processes;

Lacking of confidence in raising voice/opinion in the

policy making process ( little or no opinions)

Unclear guidelines on gender integrating into forestry

policy development process;

Limited concerns and commitments at all levels/sectors on

gender equity;

Limited capacity of the system working on gender

equality, lack of full time and professional staff in ministries,

sectors and provinces.

4. On-going initiatives on

gender mainstreaming in forestry policy

Improving legal framework for gender

mainstreaming in forestry policy:

National strategy on gender equality 2011-2020;

National action program on gender equality 2011-2015;

Viet Nam forestry development strategy 2006-2020

National strategy to response to CC

Enhancing facts and data on gender equality

Set up national statistic indicators on gender

Set up target (30%) for women involve in leadership at all

level;

Some facts on gender in forestry

activities

Research women’s participation in some activities (2006-

2010)

- Women take over 50% of forestry activities

- Women’s role in the development of production,

processing and consumption (45%); exploitation of

non-timber products (70%), plantation (57%), nursery

(70%).

- Dissemination of forestry policies and laws: 10%

- Participation in forestry extension activities and training:

20%

- Forest Protection and Management: 20%

- Management and staffing. At department and sub-

department level (15%).

On-going initiatives on gender

mainstreaming in forestry policy

Using check list questions and indicators for

approval forestry development and protection

plans to ensure identifying and addressing

gender gaps in the project

Focus on 3 dimensions:

Design of activities/ interventions,

Stakeholder engagement/involvement &

Benefit-sharing

5. Recommendations

Development of regulation on women proportion

participating in policy/decision making process;

Institutionalization of gender integrating and

strengthening participatory approach;

Set up monitoring mechanism on gender equality

for all steps of policy development process;

Recommendations (Cont.)

Development and implementation enabling

conditions to support women to be fully active and

self -management

Awareness raising and capacity strengthening on

gender policy equality implementation;

Gender-budgeting and resources are key for

implementing gender-specific activities

Nguyen Tuong Van Viet Nam Administration of

Forestry (VNFOREST), MARD

Thank you!