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Project AIN8748 supports Minh Thanh Agricultural Cooperative (Van Du Commune, Nghe An) in implementing an organic farming model integrated with large-timber forest plantations and value chain linkages.

Project AIN8748, titled “Evidence-based Forestry Decision-making, Sustainable Forest Management, and Forest Certification for Small-scale Plantations in Vietnam,” aims to build resilience for small-scale forestry livelihoods in Vietnam. This is achieved by promoting forest planning, certification, environmental management, and climate-smart agricultural practices in Hue City and Nghe An Province.

The organic agriculture model integrated with large-timber forest protection in Van Du Commune. Photo: Pham Tuan.

The project is funded by the Finnish Forest Association for Development (FFD) through the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. The Central Vietnam Climate Change Research Center (CCCSC) at Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry serves as the project coordinator in Vietnam. Direct beneficiaries include four cooperatives under the Hue City Cooperative Alliance and four cooperatives in Nghe An Province, including the Minh Thanh Agricultural Service and Construction Cooperative (Minh Thanh Cooperative) in Van Du Commune.

Two Organic Farming Models

The pilot models aim not only to diversify and increase local income through organic products but also to help farmers transition forest plantations from short-term livelihoods into long-term assets. This shift generates higher income while contributing to the mitigation of negative climate change impacts.

Under Project AIN8748, two organic models have been deployed: a 1.28-hectare organic rice model in Dong Than (Village 3) and a 1.7-hectare organic cucumber model in Cay Ngut (Village 8), involving a total of 12 households.

Minh Thanh Cooperative and participating households signed a commitment to implement organic farming alongside the protection of large-timber acacia plantations. Consequently, the Project provides partial funding for model development, capacity-building training on organic cultivation techniques, brand identity development, and guidance on production processes to achieve PGS (Participatory Guarantee System) organic certification.

Overview of the “Market Linkage for Certified Organic Agricultural Products” program on December 25, 2025. Photo: Dinh Tiep.

In exchange for these benefits, Minh Thanh Cooperative and the households committed to maintaining at least 40 hectares of large-timber acacia forest (trees aged 8 years and older), refraining from harvesting young forests, and strictly enforcing forest protection measures—specifically preventing illegal logging and littering within forest areas. Regular monitoring of the forest status is conducted collaboratively.

Regarding production, households pledged to follow organic technical protocols, avoiding chemical fertilizers, synthetic pesticides, or toxic chemicals on the supported areas, while sharing experiences to scale up the model within the community.

Creating a Foundation for Green Agriculture Development

Alongside the forest protection commitments, Project AIN8748 has organized training sessions on organic agriculture and PGS standards, established the Van Du PGS Coordination Board, trained PGS inspectors, and conducted soil and water sampling for professional analysis. Results showed that all indicators were below the thresholds permitted by PGS standards, creating favorable conditions for the models to achieve organic certification soon.

Additionally, the Cooperative has focused on developing product brand identities and planting Napier grass as biological buffers to protect the farming environment and increase product value. The Van Du PGS Coordination Board has already granted “Organic Transition” certification to the rice and cucumber production groups.

The Van Du PGS Coordination Board awards organic transition certificates to the rice and cucumber production groups. Photo: Dinh Tiep.

To expand market reach and increase post-certification value, on December 25, 2025, CCCSC (Hue University) collaborated with Minh Thanh Cooperative to host the program “Market Linkage for Certified Organic Agricultural Products.” This initiative is a vital step in promoting consumption linkages, enhancing the value of organic produce, and connecting green agriculture with forest resource protection and sustainable local development.

The event saw the attendance of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Phuong (Director of CCCSC and National Project Coordinator), leaders of Minh Thanh Cooperative, the Van Du PGS Coordination Board, and representatives from companies such as Biggreen and Tam Dat. Online participants included Mr. Tran Manh Chien (CEO of Bac Tom clean food chain and Head of PGS Vietnam Coordination Board), Dr. Tran Thi Thanh Binh (Director of the Organic Agriculture Center, Vietnam National University of Forestry), and Ms. Vu Le Y Voan (Senior Advisor to the FFF Project).

Signing ceremony for purchasing contracts of PGS-standard organic transition products. Photo: Dinh Tiep.

Following discussions, three organizations and two business households signed contracts to purchase PGS-standard organic transition products from Minh Thanh Cooperative.

Van Du Commune currently has over 1,590 hectares of rice, with approximately 250 hectares transitioning toward organic methods, and nearly 50 hectares of safe cucumber production. This presents significant potential for scaling the model and further developing organic agriculture linked with sustainable forest management.

Integrating organic production with specific forest protection commitments not only boosts local income but also enhances carbon sequestration, reduces emissions, and improves resilience to climate change. These project models have fostered a shift in production mindset—moving toward respecting ecosystems, protecting natural resources, and advancing sustainable green agriculture in the mountainous regions of Nghe An.

By Dinh Tiep Source: nongnghiepmoitruong.vn

In implementation of Project AIN 8748, from December 18–19, 2025, the Hue City Cooperative Alliance (TPHCA), in collaboration with an independent consultant and FSC internal auditor (Dr. Hoang Thi Nguyen Hai), conducted an internal audit to prepare for the M2 annual surveillance audit as required by the FSC certification system.

• Audit Locations: Included audits at the TPHCA office and field assessments at forest lots belonging to member cooperatives selected for sampling (Thuy Phuong Cooperative).

• Objectives: To assess compliance with the FSC Forest Management (FSC-FM) Standard among group members; evaluate the suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness of the Group Management System (GMS); verify the practical application of internal procedures and guidelines; assess the understanding, implementation capacity, and responsibility of the Group Management Board and cooperative members; and identify Non-Conformities (NCs) and areas for improvement to propose corrective and preventive measures before the official audit.

• Audit Results: Overall, TPHCA has proactively reviewed, updated, and maintained relatively complete FSC documentation. Forest owners and cooperative personnel have participated in numerous training sessions, possess experience in silviculture and forest management, and comply with the basic requirements of FSC standards. However, more focus is needed on waste management. Some reports require updates with recent field monitoring data, and monitoring forms must be fully completed with all necessary information.

Recommendations: In the coming period, cooperatives are urged to promptly address the identified non-conformities before the official audit. There should be increased communication and supervision regarding waste collection during forestry activities. Additionally, the Cooperative Alliance must continue to maintain and enhance internal inspection and monitoring in accordance with FSC standards.

PHOTOS FROM THE INTERNAL AUDIT PROCESS

Audit at the TPHCA office

Document review at the Cooperative Alliance

Field assessment (Thuy Phuong Cooperative)

Forest lot under maintenance/tending

Collecting plastic waste on the plantation lot

Forest lot undergoing vegetation treatment for planting

Within the framework of Project AIN 8748, a training course on “Advocacy for Forest Certification and Sustainable Forest Management” was held from November 28–29, 2025, at the Quynh Tam Agricultural Cooperative, Nghe An Province. The course was directly instructed by Mr. Truong Van Binh, an expert in forest certification, with the participation of forest-growing households both within and outside the cooperative.

The training aimed to help local households fully grasp information regarding Project AIN 8748 and its support activities; clearly understand Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) and FSC certification under a smallholder group scheme; and recognize the benefits, responsibilities, and obligations of joining a certification group. Participants received specific guidance on the conditions, procedures, and documentation required to register for the Quynh Tam Cooperative’s SFM and FSC group.

The curriculum focused on summarizing the FSC-STD-VN-01-2018 and FSC-STD-30-005 (V2.0) standards; the benefits of joining an SFM & FC group; legal requirements for land and forest plots; forest status review processes; mapping of raw material areas; silvicultural techniques to enhance SFM; the certification assessment process; and procedures for legal timber harvesting and trade within the value chain.

The workshop followed a sharing-dialogue-practice approach, creating an open atmosphere for households to discuss practical challenges related to land legality, forest plot records, and group registration. The instructor demonstrated sample dossiers and forest maps, then divided participants into groups to collect input data and finalize applications for participating households.

Following the training, on November 30, 2025, Mr. Truong Van Binh continued to support Project AIN 8748 in receiving and reviewing dossiers from households registering for FSC certification, contributing to the acceleration of documentation and the expansion of the cooperative’s sustainable raw material areas.

As a result, the training and post-training support finalized input dossiers for 33 households covering a total area of 45 hectares of plantation forest; these records are now archived at the Quynh Tam Cooperative office. Other households are continuing to supplement their documentation. Training materials were printed and distributed to participants, with digital copies sent to the Project AIN 8748 team.

Through this series of activities, forest owners’ awareness of raw material area linkages, sustainable forest management, and FSC certification has been significantly enhanced, laying an important foundation for developing responsible forestry in alignment with the goals of Project AIN 8748.

Within the framework of Project AIN 8748, a training course on “Inventory and Assessment of Plantation Forest Stock and Quality for Smallholders” was held from November 25–26, 2025, at the Quynh Tam Agricultural Cooperative, Nghe An Province. The course was directly instructed by Mr. Nguyen The Can, a silviculture expert.

The training aimed to equip forest owners and stakeholders with fundamental knowledge and skills to assess the growth, development, and stock of plantations—specifically hybrid acacia (Acacia hybrid) and mangium (Acacia mangium)—under the Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) and Forest Certification (FC) groups of the Quynh Tam Cooperative. This enables participants to predict timber yields at harvest age, determine market supply capacity, calculate investment efficiency, and select the optimal harvesting time.

The curriculum combined classroom theory with field practice. In the classroom, the instructor introduced concepts and methods for plantation forest inventory, including how to establish sample plots and measure basic indicators. In the field, participants were divided into groups to directly establish plots, measure trees, record data, and collect information from forest blocks representing various age classes. Subsequently, participants were guided through office-based data processing to calculate forest stock and growth rates.

Participants included representatives of forest owners, logging teams, monitoring teams, and the Project Management Board of Quynh Tam Cooperative. The training followed a “hands-on” approach, ensuring that participants could easily understand and apply the techniques directly to their production activities.

As a result, the class successfully practiced measurements and developed stock data for five sample plots across forest ages of 2, 3.5, and 4 years. Initial findings showed that: 4-year-old plantations averaged approximately 115 tons/ha, 3.5-year-old plantations reached 71 tons/ha, and 2-year-old plantations (with proper care and fertilization) reached 10.7 tons/ha. The common planting density among households ranged from 5,200 to 5,500 trees/ha.

Despite challenges posed by natural disasters and the impacts of Typhoon No. 10, which caused significant damage to middle-aged plantations and limited the selection of field sites, the training achieved its core objectives. The results serve as a vital basis for Quynh Tam Cooperative to develop reference materials on plantation stock by age class, supporting households in production planning, harvesting, and timber trade, toward efficient and sustainable forest management as targeted by Project AIN 8748.

From November 25–26, 2025, a survey and training course on Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) and Internal Inspectors was held at the Minh Thanh Cooperative. The program was designed according to the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the Center for Climate Change in Central Vietnam and was directly instructed by Dr. Tran Thi Thanh Binh, Director of the Center for Organic Agriculture at the Vietnam National University of Forestry.

The course was attended by 28 participants, including cooperative members specializing in rice and cucumber production in Hamlets 3 and 8, as well as key cooperative leaders, party cell secretaries, and hamlet heads. Participants attended fully and seriously, actively engaging in learning activities and group discussions throughout the training.

The training content focused on introducing the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS); the concepts and principles of organic agriculture; the basic standards of the Vietnam Organic Agriculture Association (VOAA); organic rice and cucumber cultivation processes; and the essential methods and skills of an inspector. Participants were guided on developing farm management plans, maintaining logs, and preparing inspection reports for both fields and processing areas.

The course followed a learner-centered approach, combining presentations, group discussions, practical exercises, and “learning through play” activities. Additionally, the program included field surveys in Hamlets 3 and 8, where soil and water samples were collected for environmental analysis and compliance checking against PGS requirements.

At the conclusion of the training, the organic rice and cucumber production groups were guided in completing their PGS application dossiers, including individual commitment forms, group regulations, and production area maps. The close coordination between the trainers and the Minh Thanh Cooperative ensured the effectiveness and quality of the program.

This survey and training course serves as a vital preparation step, laying the foundation for the establishment and operation of the PGS system at Minh Thanh Cooperative. It aims toward developing sustainable and transparent organic agriculture with community participation, in line with the project’s objectives.

SELECTED PHOTOS OF CLASSROOM AND FIELD ACTIVITIES

Within the framework of Project AIN8748, a training course on “Sustainable Forest Management Techniques” was held from November 23–24, 2025, at Quynh Tam Cooperative, Quynh Luu District, Nghe An Province. The course was directly instructed by Dr. Cao Thi Thu Hien, a lecturer from the Faculty of Silviculture at the Vietnam National University of Forestry, with the participation of 89 forest owners who are members of the Quynh Tam Cooperative.

The training aimed to enhance the awareness and capacity of forest owners in accessing forest certification, applying sustainable forest management (SFM) techniques, implementing Reduced Impact Logging (RIL), and complying with occupational safety requirements in forestry. Through the course, participants were equipped with knowledge and practical skills tailored to local forestry production conditions.

The training content focused on core issues such as: benefits and conditions for joining forest certification groups; techniques for seed selection, planting, tending, and protecting plantations; weed, pest, and disease management; protection of riparian corridors; maintenance of extraction roads; reduced impact logging techniques; and occupational safety.

The course was implemented using a learner-centered approach, combining presentations, group discussions, and the sharing of practical experiences. Participants were provided with comprehensive training materials and actively exchanged experiences in the production, harvesting, and protection of acacia plantations.

Through this training activity, forest owners significantly improved their understanding of the economic, social, and environmental benefits of sustainable forest management and FSC certification. It also contributed to promoting the formation and operation of the forest certification group at Quynh Tam Cooperative, aiming toward responsible and sustainable forest management in line with the objectives of Project AIN8748.

In the framework of the AIN 8748 project, on September 21, 2025, a delegation comprising representatives from agricultural and forestry cooperatives under the Hue City Cooperative Alliance and Nghe An Province undertook a study tour to the Hiệp Thuận Agricultural Cooperative in Hiệp Đức Commune, Da Nang City. This activity is part of a series of technical support and capacity-building programs for cooperatives participating in the AIN 8748 Project, funded by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs through the FFD organization. Ms. Nguyễn Thị Thùy Dung—a staff member of the “Strengthening Disaster Resilience” (BftW) Project—guided and accompanied the delegation throughout the trip.

The objective of the tour was to provide an opportunity for cooperatives to learn practical experiences from the effective operational model of Hiệp Thuận Cooperative. This cooperative was the first in the Quảng Nam region (previously, now Da Nang City) to pursue sustainable, large-timber plantation development, combined with high-value product processing and consumption. Currently, the Hiệp Thuận Cooperative has 16 contributing members, with a linked production forest area of over 1,400 hectares, of which 465 hectares are certified. The linkage model with nearly 260 local households has helped the cooperative secure a proactive supply of raw materials for wood processing, creating added value and stabilizing livelihoods for the community.

During the working session, the delegation received valuable insights from Mr. Nguyễn Hữu Dương, Chairman and Director of Hiệp Thuận Cooperative. He shared his experience in managing and operating cooperative members, the process of building a linkage chain with households, the financial mechanism for maintaining FSC certification, and current market access strategies for sawn timber and wood pellets. One topic of particular interest was the business model of purchasing timber from household group members and processing it into products like wood chips, sawn boards, and planks for both domestic and export markets.

In addition to the discussion, the delegation also had a field visit to the FSC-certified forest, the production facilities, and the cooperative’s wood processing plant. This hands-on experience gave members from the Hue and Nghe An cooperatives a more direct and concrete view of the organizational model, operational processes, and quality control methods—all critical conditions for maintaining FSC certification and meeting market demands.

The participating delegation included representatives from the Hue City Cooperative Alliance (TPHCA) and the following cooperatives: Thủy Phương Agricultural Cooperative, Thủy Dương Agricultural Cooperative, Phù Bài Agricultural Cooperative, Thủy Phù Agricultural Cooperative, Hòa Mỹ Agricultural Cooperative, Quỳnh Tam Agricultural Cooperative, Thanh Thủy Agricultural and Forestry Cooperative, and Minh Thành Agricultural Services and Construction Cooperative. The AIN 8748 Project Management Board at the CCCSC Center also participated in the trip, ensuring a continuous connection between the learning activity and the practical implementation in the localities.

Through the study tour at Hiệp Thuận Cooperative, the cooperatives in the AIN 8748 Project gained access to valuable practical experiences, from building a sustainable linkage model and managing certified forests to organizing modern production, processing, and consumption. This is a crucial foundation for the cooperatives to flexibly apply these lessons in their own operations, contributing to enhanced competitiveness and the sustainable, efficient development of plantation products in line with the requirements of both domestic and international markets.

 

As part of the 2025 AIN 8748 Project Plan, the AIN 8748 Project Management Board at the Center for Climate Change Study in Central Vietnam (CCCSC) hosted a training workshop on “Business of Certified Plantation Timber” from September 18-21, 2025. The workshop’s goal was to enhance the business capacity of cooperatives in Nghe An province and member cooperatives of the Hue City Cooperative Alliance (TPHCA) in certified timber trade.

The training was led by Ms. Nguyễn Thị Thuỳ Dung, an independent forestry consultant. The course was attended by over 17 participants from various cooperatives, including Thanh Thuy Agro-Forestry Cooperative, Minh Thanh Agricultural Services and Construction Cooperative, and Quỳnh Tam Agricultural Cooperative from Nghe An province. Representatives from the Hue City Cooperative Alliance and its member cooperatives also participated, including Thủy Phương, Thủy Dương, Hòa Mỹ, A Roàng Agricultural-Medicinal Herbs, Phú Bài, and Thủy Phù Agricultural Cooperatives.

The training curriculum focused on several key areas:

• Providing participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to plan group household plantation businesses and to trade in FSC-certified timber.
• Ensuring transparency in the business of buying and selling FSC-certified timber for household group members.
• Guiding cooperatives and the Cooperative Alliance on how to connect with markets for certified timber products.
• Instructing participants on the procedures for trading certified timber to meet EUDR (European Union Deforestation Regulation) requirements.

As part of the training, participants also took a field trip to the Hiep Thuan Agricultural Cooperative in Da Nang. This cooperative is a pioneer in the region, focusing on sustainable, large-timber plantation development.

By the end of the workshop, participants were equipped with the knowledge and skills to develop business plans for group plantations and to prepare certified timber sales documents. They gained practical experience in drafting timber purchase, harvesting, and transportation contracts. They also learned how to file applications for harvesting and prepare timber product manifests according to new regulations from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. This training will enable cooperatives to independently plan their business operations and complete the necessary procedures for trading FSC-certified plantation timber.

 

 

 

As part of the 2025 AIN 8748 project plan, on September 9, 2025, the Center for Community Capacity Building and Social Consulting (CCCSC) and the Project Management Board of the Hue City Cooperative Alliance visited and worked with Hoa My Cooperative to discuss upcoming activities for the fourth quarter of 2025.

The working group included:

• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Phuong – National Project Coordinator and Director of CCCSC
• Mr. Hung – Director of the Project Management Board at the Hue City Cooperative Alliance
• Vice Chairman of the Cooperative Alliance
• Ms. Ninh Thi Huong – Project Coordinator at the Hue City Cooperative Alliance
• Mr. Vo Hao Quang – Project Support Officer in Hue City
• Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thanh – Director of Hoa My Cooperative
• Mr. Ngo Van Toan – Deputy Director of Hoa My Cooperative
• Mr. Nguyen Van Quy – Cooperative Accountant
• Mr. Nguyen Binh – Cooperative Control Board

The meeting’s objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of the models supported by the AIN 8748 project, understand the production and business activities of the cooperative members, and discuss a specific action plan to improve the cooperative’s operations in the fourth quarter.

During the discussion, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thanh, Director of Hoa My Cooperative, reported on the cooperative’s activities for the first eight months of 2025. He also detailed the progress of households participating in forest certification, the inspection and monitoring process, and the corrective actions taken for minor non-conformities identified in the FSC-certified forest areas during the January 2025 maintenance assessment. He also provided an update on the forestry seedling nursery at the cooperative.

Additionally, members of the Hoa My Cooperative Management Board shared challenges they have faced since implementing the two-level government system. They also discussed monitoring FSC-certified forest areas and expanding the certified forest area for the upcoming maintenance assessment in January 2026.

After visiting the models supported by the AIN 8748 project at Hoa My Cooperative and hearing the reports and discussions from the Management Board, the working group highly praised the cooperative’s recent efforts. They proposed several solutions, recommendations, and suggestions for the cooperative to implement in the fourth quarter of 2025:

• Corrective Actions for Minor Non-Conformities:
  • Pilot the planting of native trees in forest plots with stream buffer zones.
  • Incorporate messaging into cooperative member meetings to educate residents about not leaving plastic or nylon waste in the forest and limiting slash-and-burn practices for forest planting. If burning is necessary, they must follow controlled burning procedures.
  • Educate forest-growing households on the benefits and effectiveness of planting forests according to FSC standards.
• Seedling Production Support:
  • Agree in principle to some of the cooperative’s proposals to overcome difficulties in forestry seedling production.
• Capacity Building:
  • The AIN 8748 project management board will organize training sessions and study tours to improve members’ capacity for inspecting and monitoring, developing business plans for certified forests, and trading FSC-certified timber.
  • Promote forest certification to residents and concretize policies that support forestry development.