Enviro News Asia, Hanoi – The Vietnam Sustainable Forest Management and Biodiversity Conservation Project (VFBC), a collaborative initiative between the Government of Vietnam and USAID implemented from 2021 to 2025, has delivered significant results in forest management, biodiversity conservation, and community livelihood development, even after being forced to conclude two years ahead of schedule following the suspension of US funding.
The project, implemented across 11 provinces and three national parks, aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance carbon sequestration in natural and plantation forests, and conserve biodiversity across landscapes of nationally significant ecological value.
By March 31, 2025, VFBC had completed more than 80 percent of its planned activities. Of its 51 key performance indicators, 45 met required targets, with 35 exceeding their original goals. The project supported the effective management of 960,000 hectares of forest, trained nearly 39,400 people against an original target of 28,388, and helped strengthen the institutional capacity of 177 organizations, more than double the planned number. It also supported the development of 65 policies related to forest management and biodiversity conservation, nearly twice the initial target.
On livelihoods, nearly 67,900 people benefited from sustainable livelihood models, well above the target of 40,900. All 35 planned enterprises received project support, and all targeted communities producing agricultural and non-timber forest products, as well as community-based tourism groups, were successfully linked with businesses through value chains, expanding market access and improving household incomes. The project also achieved its target of 50,000 forest patrol days.
Some indicators fell short, however, after USAID suspended Official Development Assistance funding beginning in January 2025, cutting more than US$10.79 million, approximately 43 percent of the total budget, and preventing all activities scheduled for the 2025-2026 period from being carried out. Only six of 15 planned protected areas and protection forests completed sustainable management plans, and conservation activities for endemic species were only partially completed.
Despite ending early, the project completed all required acceptance, handover, and close-out procedures. Fourteen handover agreements covering project results have been signed between central and provincial authorities, with recipient institutions integrating the project’s outputs into their ongoing operations. On June 6, 2025, USAID formally acknowledged the project’s implementation results and recognized achievements accomplished during its run in Vietnam. (*)
