Project Description
This Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) served as a foundational technical assessment for evaluating the long-term sustainability of master planning in Vietnam’s forestry sector. Conducted by ICEM, the SEA also functioned as a capacity-building framework to train staff from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and its Department of Forestry (DOF) on SEA implementation. The SEA included a rapid review of three Provincial Forest Protection and Development Plans (FPDPs) and provided strategic guidance to inform the development of Vietnam’s National Forest Sector Master Plan (2010–2020).
Objectives, Activities and Results
The SEA aimed to ensure that environmental considerations were effectively integrated into forest sector planning at both national and provincial levels. Key activities included reviewing provincial and national forestry plans, conducting scoping and stakeholder consultations, analyzing baseline environmental data, and assessing environmental impacts and alternatives. ICEM updated MONRE’s core SEA training materials and delivered capacity-building events to national and provincial staff. The SEA identified opportunities for improving forestry practices through mitigation measures and informed the formulation of practical recommendations for the Master Plan. A final lessons-learned paper supported future policy development by evaluating the integration of environmental factors into forestry decision-making.
