National Target 9 corresponds to Target 9 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. It aims to ensure the sustainable management and use of biodiversity, especially wild species, through forestry, non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and fisheries so as to contribute to socio-economic development and provide essential benefits to all people, particularly forest-dependent and coastal communities and ethnic minorities. It applies local and traditional knowledge in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and secures sustainable livelihoods.

The target is identified bases on a number of policies, such as the National Biodiversity Strategy to 2030, vision to 2050 (Decision No. 149/QD-TTg, 2022), the Vietnam Forestry Development Strategy 2021-2030, vision 2050 (Decision No. 523/QD-TTg, 2021); the National Forestry Master Plan 2021-2030, vision 2050 (Decision No. 895/QD-TTg, 2024); the National Target Program on Sustainable Forestry Development 2021-2025 (Decision No. 809/QD-TTg, 2022); the Plan for Protection and Exploitation of Fisheries Resources 2021-2030 (Decision No. 389/QD-TTg, 2024); and the results-based forest-carbon payment mechanism for the North Central region (Decree No. 107/2022/ND-CP, ERPA).

Key quantitative elements:

• Forest coverage maintained at 42-43%; forestry production value growing 5.0-5.5% per year (Decision 523, 809 and 895).
• Export value of timber and NTFPs US$23-25 billion by 2030 (about US$20 billion by 2025, of which NTFP exports >US$1.5 billion); domestic forest-product sales >US$6 billion by 2030 (Decision 523, 809 and 895).
• Sustainable forest management (SFM) certification >1 million ha by 2030 (500,000 ha by 2025); 100% of forests owned by organizations under sustainable management by 2030 (Decision 523, 809 and 895).
• Income per unit area from planted production forests doubled by 2030 (1.5 times by 2025) against 2020; NTFP area about 700,000-800,000 ha (2025) (Decision 523 and 895).
• Forest allocated to organizations, households, individuals and communities: 3,744,600 ha (2,890,100 ha with forests) (Decision 895).
• Social benefits: 80% of mountainous/ethnic-minority households in forested areas participating in forestry production by 2030 (50% by 2025); ethnic-minority forestry income doubled by 2025 against 2020 and reaching about half of national per-capita income by 2030; vocationally trained forestry workers 50% by 2030; gender equality ensured (Decision 523).
• Forest environment services expanded, including forest-carbon payments: under the ERPA, Vietnam transfers 10.3 million tCO2 from North Central natural forests, with revenue paid to forest owners and communities and 50 million VND/community/year for livelihood development (Decree 107).
• Fisheries: sustainable exploitation with a workforce of about 600,000 by 2030 and area-based protection of aquatic resources and breeding grounds supporting fishing livelihoods (Decision 389).

Reference

Decree No. 107/2022/ND-CP on piloting the transfer of emission-reduction results and financial management of the greenhouse-gas emission reductions payment agreement in the North Central Region (in Vietnamese). https://congbao.chinhphu.vn/van-ban/nghi-dinh-so-107-2022-nd-cp-38413/42749.htm

Decision No. 523/QD-TTg approving the Viet Nam Forestry Development Strategy for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050 (in Vietnamese). https://vanban.chinhphu.vn/default.aspx?pageid=27160&docid=202996

Decision No. 809/QD-TTg approving the Sustainable Forestry Development Programme for 2021-2025 (in Vietnamese). https://vanban.chinhphu.vn/?pageid=27160&docid=206117

Decision No. 895/QD-TTg dated 24 August 2024 approving the National Forestry Master Plan for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050 (in Vietnamese). https://vanban.chinhphu.vn/?pageid=27160&docid=211000

Decision No. 389/QD-TTg dated 9 May 2024 approving the Master Plan for protection and exploitation of fisheries resources for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050 (in Vietnamese). https://vanban.chinhphu.vn/?pageid=27160&docid=210213

• Sustainable forest management and certification: apply SFM across all state-owned forests; expand certified area to >1 million ha by 2030; sustainably exploit timber and forest services (Decisions 523, 895 and 809).
• Sustainable use of NTFPs and biodiversity-based products: develop NTFP zones (rattan, bamboo, medicinal plants, resin, etc.), agro-forestry models and biodiversity-based value chains that benefit local communities (Decisions 523 and 895).
• Community forestry, forest allocation and benefit-sharing: allocate forests to households, individuals and communities; expand community-based forest management; and share benefits, including through ERPA forest-carbon payments and payment for forest environmental services (PFES) (Decisions 523 and 895, Decree 107).
• Forest environment services and results-based finance: expand PFES (water regulation, eco-tourism, carbon sequestration,) implement the ERPA emission-reduction payment mechanism and develop mechanisms for payment for wetland and marine ecosystem services to channel benefits to forest owners and communities (Decisions 149, 523 and 895, Decree 107).
• Sustainable fisheries and aquatic-resource use: reorganize fisheries production, protect aquatic resources and breeding grounds, and secure livelihoods for fishing communities while bringing the fishing workforce to sustainable levels (Decision 389).
• Local and traditional knowledge and sustainable livelihoods: apply local and traditional knowledge and customary sustainable use; support the livelihoods of ethnic minorities and forest and coastal communities; and ensure gender equality (Decisions 149 and 523). 
• Enablers: policy and legal frameworks for mechanisms for payment for wetland and marine ecosystem services; strengthen the application of science, technology and digital monitoring (GIS, remote sensing, forest-resource monitoring); promote capacity building and international cooperation.

Reference

Decree No. 107/2022/ND-CP on piloting the transfer of emission-reduction results and financial management of the greenhouse-gas emission reductions payment agreement in the North Central Region (in Vietnamese). https://congbao.chinhphu.vn/van-ban/nghi-dinh-so-107-2022-nd-cp-38413/42749.htm

Decision No. 149/QD-TTg dated 28 January 2022 approving the National Biodiversity Strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2050 (in Vietnamese). https://vanban.chinhphu.vn/?pageid=27160&docid=205263

Decision No. 523/QD-TTg approving the Viet Nam Forestry Development Strategy for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050 (in Vietnamese). https://vanban.chinhphu.vn/default.aspx?pageid=27160&docid=202996

Decision No. 809/QD-TTg approving the Sustainable Forestry Development Programme for 2021-2025 (in Vietnamese). https://vanban.chinhphu.vn/?pageid=27160&docid=206117

Decision No. 895/QD-TTg dated 24 August 2024 approving the National Forestry Master Plan for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050 (in Vietnamese). https://vanban.chinhphu.vn/?pageid=27160&docid=211000

Decision No. 389/QD-TTg dated 9 May 2024 approving the Master Plan for protection and exploitation of fisheries resources for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050 (in Vietnamese). https://vanban.chinhphu.vn/?pageid=27160&docid=210213

• Ecosystem approach: forests, aquatic systems and biodiversity are managed as ecosystems providing multiple goods and services (Decisions 149, 523, 895 and 389).
• Contribution and rights of local communities: forests are allocated to households and communities; community forestry and ERPA benefit-sharing (about 50 million VND/community/year) engage local people and forest-dependent ethnic minorities (Decisions 523, 895, Decree 107).
• Different value systems: the traditional cultural identity, living space and knowledge of ethnic minorities are preserved and applied in sustainable use (Decisions 523 and 149).
• Fulfilment of the three objectives of the Convention: VN9 balances conservation, sustainable use and equitable benefit-sharing (including access and benefit-sharing, PFES and forest-carbon finance) (Decisions 149, 523, Decree 107).
• Gender: gender equality is explicitly ensured in forestry participation and training (Decision 523 and 149).
• Access to financial resources: benefits and financing flow through PFES, the ERPA forest-carbon payment, state budget, credit and mobilised social resources (Decisions 523, 809, Decree 107).
• Consistency with international agreements: the target aligns with CITES, VPA/FLEGT, the Paris Agreement/NDC and the World Bank/Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (Decisions 523, Decree 107).
• Science and innovation: research, GIS and remote sensing, and forest resource monitoring underpin sustainable management (Decisions 523 and 895).
• Formal and informal education: communication, vocational training and forestry extension build the capacity of communities and producers (Decisions 523 and 809).
• National circumstances, priorities and capabilities: targets reflect Vietnam’s forest structure, ethnic-minority livelihoods and development priorities (Decisions 523, 895 and 809).
• Cooperation and synergies; whole-of-government and whole-of-society: implementation spans the ministries of agriculture and environment (MAE) and provincial People’s Committees, with communities, businesses and associations.
• Collective effort towards the targets: VN9 is delivered through a coordinated set of forestry, fisheries and biodiversity policies.

National target 9 covers the following elements:

• Sustainable management and use of wild species: covered by SFM certification, sustainable timber and NTFP exploitation, and sustainable fisheries (Decisions 523, 895, 809, and 389).
• Social, economic and environmental benefits for people: covered through forestry values and export targets, income growth, jobs, PFES and ERPA emission-reduction payment  (Decisions 523, 895, Decree 107).
• Those most dependent on biodiversity and in vulnerable situations: covered by ethnic minority and forest/coastal-community livelihood, income and participation targets (Decision 523).
• Biodiversity-based activities, products and services: covered by NTFP zones, agroforestry, ecotourism and forest environment services (Decisions 523 and 895).
• Customary sustainable use and knowledge of local communities: partially covered by community forestry, forest allocation to communities and application of local/traditional knowledge (Decisions 523 and 149).

• Non-state organizations support forest owners in obtaining sustainable forest management certification (IUCN, WWF, GIZ, USAID, UNDP, FAO, and the Research Institute of Sustainable Forest Management and Forest Certification (SFMI)).
• Ethnic minority peoples and local communities commit to participating in the management of forests and natural resources.

• Strengthen the expansion of incentive programs such as the PFES scheme for protecting natural resources, payment for wetland and marine ecosystem services, and results-based forest-carbon finance, building on the North Central ERPA.
• Sustained investment in SFM certification, NTFP value chains and community forestry.
• Enhance international cooperation with UN organizations, including the World Bank/FCPF, UNDP, UNEP, FAO, and CITES, to secure technical and financial support.
• Improve data on benefits from wild-species use and on traditional occupations.

• The North Central ERPA (Decree 107) is Vietnam’s first large-scale results-based forest-carbon payment scheme and a concrete channel for delivering National Target 9 benefits to forest owners and communities. Extending this benefit-sharing mechanism to other regions would strengthen the target. Vietnam is negotiating a similar agreement with LEAF/Emergent for the Central Highlands and South Central Coast region.
• Customary sustainable use by indigenous peoples is addressed mainly through community forest management and benefit-sharing rather than a dedicated legal framework.