Green passport for Thai Nguyen forestry

In the context of the world market placing increasingly high demands on sustainability, FSC forest certification is becoming a “green passport” to help Thai Nguyen wood and forestry products access demanding markets. With the fastest expansion rate of FSC area in the country, the international standard forests are shaping a new, sustainable and high-value development direction for forest growers, processing enterprises and the provincial forestry sector.

People of Nghia Ta commune are trained in forest planting techniques according to FSC standards.

Last October, the people and authorities of Nghia Ta and Yen Phong communes were excited when more than 4,200 hectares of planted forests in the area achieved FSC sustainable forest management certification. This is the result of a long-term coordination process between the people, local authorities and businesses to implement assessment steps, complete documents and practice forest management according to international standards.

Previously, Ke Go Company Limited was the first enterprise in the area to cooperate with local people to build a sustainable forest management profile and issue FSC certificates in Yen My, Binh Trung, Dai Sao communes of Cho Don district (old). Over the past 4 years, the enterprise has worked with local authorities to propagate, train and guide households in practicing silvicultural techniques, monitoring labor safety, forest fire prevention and fighting, and controlling the use of chemicals and pesticides according to FSC regulations.

Mr. Trinh Duc Kien, Deputy Director of Ke Go Company Limited: The company's goal is to meet market demands, while increasing the value of local forest products, creating practical benefits for the people.

The FSC-certified forest planting movement is currently developing strongly in many localities of Thai Nguyen . According to the Provincial Forest Protection Department, the whole province has 22,637 hectares of forest certified by FSC, reaching 1,616% of the plan for the period 2021-2025. In the first 9 months of 2025 alone, the newly certified area exceeded 8,600 hectares, reflecting a strong trend of transition to sustainable forest management.

Mr. Bui Nguyen Quynh, Vice Chairman of Tan Ky Commune People's Committee, informed: The locality is surveying forests that are eligible for certification in the first phase, creating consensus among the people and creating a basis for expanding the FSC area in the coming time.

FSC is a set of standards with high requirements for sustainable forest management. To be certified, forests must meet a system of criteria related to environmental protection, labor safety, biodiversity and especially the traceability of each tree. FSC-certified wood is eligible for export to major markets such as the EU, the US, Japan, and South Korea, which have strict requirements on product legality and sustainability.

According to industry experts, the value of FSC wood can increase by 10-15% and even 20-30% compared to conventional plantation forests. This is an advantage that helps people and businesses improve their income, while also raising the position of Thai Nguyen forest products in the international market.

In addition to economic efficiency, FSC forests create positive environmental impacts by contributing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, preserving soil, water, limiting erosion and protecting ecosystems. In many ethnic minority areas, this model creates more jobs, helps people improve their forestry skills and shift from small-scale production to farming according to strict, professional processes.

Thai Nguyen currently has a great advantage in forestry processing. The southern part of the province has more than 600 forestry processing and trading establishments; the northern part has over 240 wood processing establishments. Many products have been exported to the US, Japan, Korea, EU, China... However, the stable and long-term source of FSC raw materials is still a matter of concern for businesses.

Ms. Nong Thi Kiem, Deputy Director of Lechenwood Vietnam Co., Ltd., said that international customers pay high attention to sustainability, and FSC forests create conditions for businesses to proactively source wood, while enhancing their reputation when working with foreign partners. Thai Nguyen's rapid increase in certified forest area opens up important advantages for the province's wood processing industry.

In the coming time, Thai Nguyen aims to continue expanding the area of ​​FSC forests, while developing a sustainable wood production - processing - consumption chain. The agricultural sector plans to increase investment in traceability systems, improve seed quality, replicate sustainable forest management models and promote training for forest growers.

FSC forests are strengthening the new position of Thai Nguyen forestry day by day. When people benefit, businesses have a stable source of raw materials and the environment is protected, the province will have a solid foundation to participate more deeply in the international market with a "green passport" that is competitive and has long-term value.

FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) - International Forest Stewardship Council - is a non-governmental, non-profit organization founded in 1993, aiming to promote sustainable forest management globally.

FSC certification certifies that forest products are legally sourced, harvested from sustainably managed forests, meeting strict environmental, social and economic requirements. This is a standard used by many countries as a mandatory condition for imported wood products.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/kinh-te/202511/giay-thong-hanh-xanh-cho-lam-nghiep-thai-nguyen-9781659/