On July 31, the Center for Rural Development in Central Vietnam (CRD), the Center for People and Environment in the Central Highlands, and Dong Nai Provincial Forest Protection Department (FPD) jointly organized a launching ceremony “Support Group to implement Voluntary Partnership Agreements on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (VPA-FLEGT) in Dong Nai province”.
This activity was implemented under the framework of the project “Support small businesses to comply with legal timber requirements to effectively participate in domestic and international legal timber supply chains” funded by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) through the EU-FAO program.
Attending in the launching ceremony, 17 representatives come from the state administrative agencies, civil society organizations and wood industry associations in Dong Nai province such as Dong Nai Provincial FPD, Bien Hoa city Forest Protection sub-department, Handicraft and Wood Industry Association; Trade and Investment Promotion Center, representatives of businesses and households in wood industry in the localities.
With the aim to introduce the Executive Board and plan of network activities in the future, Dr. Phan Trieu Giang introduced the group’s mission, organizational structure and activities. Concurrently, at the launching ceremony, participants discussed and agreed some important contents including: operation regulations and plans; voluntary organizations/individuals, and organizations and members of the Executive Board.
This activity is an important step in capacity building and awareness raising for VPA-FLEGT stakeholders in Dong Nai province. In addition, participants could have better understanding about legal timber requirements of VPA-FLEGT, the seriousness of the agreement implementation and issues that can directly affect businesses, especially small businesses and households in wood industry in the localities.
Bao Hoa