On December 11, 2023, within the framework of the Project “Strengthening Access to Land and Forests for Ethnic Minorities” funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented in Lao Cai and Kon Tum from 2020–2023, CISDOMA coordinated with the Vietnam National University of Forestry and other co-implementing organizations to hold a specialized Workshop on “Experiences in Implementing Land and Forest Allocation (LFA) to Ethnic Minority Communities from the Land Fund Transferred by State Farms and Forestry Enterprises to Local Authorities.”
The workshop attracted approximately 100 delegates from central agencies and departments; provincial and district levels of Kon Tum and Lao Cai provinces; representatives from State Farms (Nông trường) and Forestry Enterprises (Lâm trường), district forest protection units (hạt kiểm lâm); representatives from 8 communes and 20 communities where the Project is implemented; delegates from Project implementing units; representatives from non-governmental organizations like DAI and MRLG; and notably, the presence of the University Council, Board of Rectors, and lecturers from the Vietnam National University of Forestry.
The workshop was honored to welcome leaders and former leaders of central agencies/departments, as well as leaders of provincial departments and agencies from Lao Cai and Kon Tum:
- Mr. Hua Duc Nhi – Chairman of the Vietnam Forest Owners Association, former Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
- Mr. Trieu Van Binh – Deputy Director of the Department of Ethnic Affairs, National Assembly Office.
- Ms. Hoang Thi Van Anh – Former Director of the Land Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE).
- Mr. Bui Quang Hung – Chairman of the Farmers’ Union of Lao Cai Province.
- Mr. Nong Van Ngoc – Head of the Ethnic Affairs Committee of Lao Cai Province.
- Mr. Lai Duc Hieu – Head of the Forest Use and Development Division, Kon Tum Forest Protection Sub-Department.
Attending and giving the opening speech, Prof. Dr. Pham Van Dien – Rector of the University – summarized the history and role of State Farms and Forestry Enterprises in Vietnam through different periods. He highlighted the shift in approach towards sustainable multi-value exploitation of agricultural land and emphasized the necessity and timeliness of the workshop’s theme.
Chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phung Van Khoa – Vice Rector of the Vietnam National University of Forestry, and Dr. Trieu Van Binh – Deputy Director of the Department of Ethnic Affairs, National Assembly Office, the Workshop was successfully held with presentations and discussions on:
- 12 presentations and speeches.
- 05 key policy recommendations.
- 15 discussion sessions and comments on topics related to land policy for ethnic minority communities; the process of Land and Forest Allocation (LFA) to communities; lessons learned, and LFA results for ethnic minority communities in various localities.
Within the framework of the Workshop, the implementation results of the Project “Strengthening Access to Land and Forests for Ethnic Minorities”, along with lessons learned and policy recommendations drawn from the practical implementation in Kon Tum and Lao Cai provinces, were summarized and presented.
Following the Workshop, the discussion points and suggestions from experts, local representatives, and community representatives attending will be incorporated by the Project:
- Supplementing and finalizing the participatory and gender-integrated LFA pilot process developed by the Project, and continuing to promote the application of this Process in suitable areas.
- The policy recommendations on land for ethnic minority communities that were discussed will continue to be promoted by the Project implementing units, in coordination with relevant partners, to be incorporated during the formulation of laws and policies related to land for ethnic minority communities at both the national and provincial levels.
