News

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.

    

    

    

    

On September 4, 2025, the Project Management Board of the project “Informed forestry decisions, sustainable forest management and forest certification insmallholder forests in Vietnam” (AIN 8748) at the Center for Climate Change Study in Central Viet Nam (CCCSC) collaborated with the Hue City Cooperative Alliance (HCA) to hold a working session to discuss the 2025 operational plan.

The meeting was chaired by Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi Phuong, Director of CCCSC and National Coordinator of Project AIN 8748. Representatives from both units attended: from CCCSC, there was Dr. Van Thi Yen, Project Director, and Ms. Tran Thi Quynh Tien, Project Assistant; from HCA, there was Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Vice Chairman in charge of HCA and Project Director, along with Ms. Ninh Thi Huong, Project Coordinator, and Ms. Pham Thi Lien Hoang, Project Accountant.

The discussion focused on key activities to be implemented by HCA in 2025. According to the plan, the project will continue to support the development of livelihood models for participating cooperatives. At the same time, the project will organize training sessions to address the shortcomings identified in the 2024 FSC forest certification assessment, enhance the capacity of the Alliance and cooperatives in trading certified timber, and support the implementation of large-timber plantation models that meet technical standards and EUDR requirements.

Additionally, other activities include: providing training to enhance climate change adaptation capacity for cooperative members; conducting a study to assess the impact of piloting Plantation Forest Codes in Vietnam; maintaining forest certification for existing forest farmers; and organizing workshops and training courses on sustainable forest management, FSC certification, and finding markets for certified forest products.

The working session successfully reached an agreement on important cooperative contents, contributing to enhancing the effectiveness of sustainable forest management, promoting the cooperative economy, meeting international integration requirements in the forestry sector, and ensuring the full implementation of the project’s required outputs.

Under the “AIN8748 -Informed forestry decisions, sustainable forest management and forest certification insmallholder forests in Vietnam” project, the Center for Climate Change Study in Central Viet Nam (CCCSC) and the Quynh Tam Cooperative jointly implemented a pilot model for intercropping native trees with Hybrid acacia. This initiative took place on August 20-21, 2025, at the household of Mr. To Van Truong in Quynh Tam Commune, Nghe An Province.

The project established an intercropping model on a 0.9-hectare area, planting two native species:  Erythrophleum fordii Oliv and Canarium tramdenum. These native trees have long growth cycles and are well-adapted to the climate and soil conditions in Nghe An.

This model aims to develop large-timber forests, restore the ecosystem, and promote sustainable forest management. From an environmental perspective, intercropping native trees helps restore soil, protect water sources, and increase carbon storage, contributing to climate change adaptation. Economically, planting high-value, long-cycle species like green ironwood and black canarium offers a higher return compared to monoculture Hybrid acacia, while also reducing long-term care costs. Socially, this activity encourages local residents to participate in native and large-timber tree planting programs, raising awareness of forest protection and sustainable resource use.

This activity is the result of a close collaboration between the CCCSC and the Quynh Tam Cooperative. The CCCSC provided high-quality seedlings, technical support for planting and care, and guidance on sustainable forest management methods. The Quynh Tam Cooperative played a key role in connecting with and mobilizing participating households, ensuring the effective implementation of the model.

The AIN8748 project management board and the Quynh Tam Cooperative will continue to monitor the model’s development and aim to replicate it in other areas within Quynh Tam Commune. The goal is to build a sustainable large-timber forest model that both protects the environment and improves community livelihoods.

Photos of the activity implementation

Thinning and clearing the undergrowth before planting native trees

Transporting seedlings to the planting area

Guiding locals on planting techniques

Residents participating in planting native trees

On the morning of August 21, 2025, the survey team conducted a field visit to Hamlets 3 and 8 of Minh Thanh Cooperative. These areas are planned to be the locations for pilot organic rice and cucumber production models.

At the Dong Nuoc Bac area in Hamlet 8, the team surveyed a 1-hectare plot with 6 participating households. The water source from the Khe Nuoc Dam, which runs through an internal canal, was assessed as sufficient and suitable for two rice crops and one local cucumber crop. The consulting team recommended that Minh Thanh Cooperative raise awareness among local residents so they understand and adhere to organic production regulations.

In the Dong Than area of Hamlet 3, there are 6 households growing rice on a total area of 23 sao (a local unit of measurement), using water from the Ho Cau dam. The TBR 25 rice variety is currently being cultivated, and a spring-summer rice model is planned to be established here. The team also visited acacia and camellia forests managed by the cooperative’s members.

In the afternoon, the survey team held a consultation meeting with the leaders of Van Du commune and other relevant parties. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Phuong, Director of the Central Climate Change Center, presented the AIN 8748 project, while Ms. Vu Le Y Voan, a Senior Advisor at FFF, summarized the survey results on the needs of the cooperative’s members.

All parties highly agreed on building the pilot organic rice and cucumber models. The commune government and social organizations will coordinate and promote the project to change public perception, encouraging safe and sustainable production. The meeting specifically emphasized the importance of securing irrigation water sources and building a stable market for the products.

These activities demonstrate meticulous preparation, from field surveys to policy discussions, creating a solid foundation for the development of organic agriculture at Minh Thanh Cooperative.

 Field Survey of Rice and Cucumber Models

Survey of Camellia Plantations

Post-Survey Discussion with the Cooperative

The FSC® forest certification group of the Hue Cooperative Alliance represents cooperatives managing FSC-certified plantation forests, working toward sustainable forestry practices. These cooperatives, as members of the Cooperative Alliance, share common goals and tasks in planting and managing forests sustainably with FSC certification.

In early February 2024, the FSC® forest certification group of the Thua Thien Hue Cooperative Alliance (now Hue City) received FSC certification from GFA Certification GmbH for five cooperatives: Hoa My Agricultural Cooperative, Thuy Phuong Cooperative, Thuy Duong Cooperative, Thuy Phu Cooperative, and Phu Bai Cooperative. The certification covered 87 member households and 405.74 hectares of plantation forests. As of now, the certified area has expanded to 461.01 hectares, with participation from 105 member households.

Challenges in Linking FSC-Certified Timber Consumption

Due to the limited area of FSC-certified forests, the group faced significant challenges in connecting with FSC-certified timber buyers throughout the year. To address these difficulties, in late December 2024, the Cooperative Alliance continued to seek and meet with companies in the region to establish links for purchasing FSC-certified timber on behalf of cooperative members.

Agreement for Stable Consumption of FSC-Certified Timber

Following discussions and negotiations between the parties, on January 15, 2025, the FSC® forest certification group of the Hue Cooperative Alliance signed a memorandum of commitment with Phat Huy Co., Ltd. to ensure stable consumption of FSC-certified acacia plantation timber.

In this agreement:

• The Hue Cooperative Alliance serves as the bridge and representative for cooperatives with FSC-certified acacia plantations to establish sustainable and stable timber sales.
• The deal promotes sustainable forest management and guarantees stable consumption of FSC-certified acacia timber.
• The negotiated price is 10–15% higher than the market price at the same time, offering better economic returns for cooperative members.
• Timber can be sold in various forms, such as standing trees or self-harvested and transported to the company.

Positive Impacts of the Agreement

This agreement marks a significant step forward for the FSC-certified acacia plantation timber market in Hue. It sets a foundation for encouraging small-scale forestry households and cooperatives to actively participate in sustainable forest management and FSC certification. This move incentivizes better plantation practices while offering higher economic benefits for forestry households.

Future Goals

In the coming years, the Cooperative Alliance aims to mobilize more members to participate in sustainable forest management with FSC certification. This effort is expected to:

• Provide forest growers with a stable source of income.
• Align with Hue City’s broader objectives of managing and developing large-scale acacia plantations for timber production.

Author: Nguyen Nhu Thi

As part of the AIN 8748 project plan, from January 9 to 10, 2025, the Thua Thien Hue Cooperative Alliance (TTHCA), in collaboration with GFA Certification GmbH, organized a conference to evaluate the maintenance of the FSC® forest certification group. Participating members of TTHCA in this maintenance evaluation included five cooperatives: Phu Bai, Thuy Duong, Thuy Phuong, Thuy Phu, and Hoa My.

Participants

The conference was attended by representatives from:

• Thua Thien Hue Cooperative Alliance,
• CCCSC,
• AIN 8748 Project Management Board,
• The advisory support team, and
• Members of the five cooperatives certified in 2024.

Scope of Maintenance Evaluation

The total area assessed for FSC® forest certification maintenance was 461.01 hectares, comprising:

• 405.27 hectares of previously certified land,
• 55.74 hectares of expanded area certified in 2024.

This included 202 plots managed by 105 households. The primary purpose of the conference was to systematically collect evidence of compliance with FSC FM standards, verify the adherence of group members and the management board to these standards, and ensure continued compliance.

Evaluation Process

The representative from GFA Certification GmbH, Ms. Cao Thi Thu Hien, led the evaluation, focusing on:

1. Reviewing record-keeping systems, compliance procedures, and related documentation.
2. Assessing all relevant documents and procedures.
3. Selecting specific plots for on-site inspections and conducting interviews with stakeholders.

Conclusion and Findings

At the conclusion of the maintenance evaluation, Ms. Cao Thi Thu Hien identified six minor non-conformities that the FSC® forest certification group of the Thua Thien Hue Cooperative Alliance needs to address in 2025.

This evaluation ensures the group’s ongoing commitment to FSC® standards and highlights areas for improvement to maintain sustainable forest management practices.

Image