Lung/Vau, fondly referred to as the "queen of bamboo in Vietnam," is spearheading profound transformations in the seemingly "impoverished" region of Quan Son. Local farmers are witnessing the power of meticulous forest management techniques, leading to significant improvements in their livelihoods.
Mr. Lo Van Tieu, a farmer from Ngam village, shared his experience of planting and harvesting Lung forest under the coveted FSC certification. "With restored shoots growing exponentially better, our income has nearly doubled," he stated. The shift is evident as bamboo prices surged from a meager 800-900 VND/kg to an impressive 2,000 VND/kg.
The FSC certification, issued by the World Forest Stewardship Council, promotes sustainable harvesting and prevents forest exploitation. In 2019, over 3,000 hectares of Lung forest in Quan Hoa district became the first FSC-certified bamboo industry in Vietnam. Mindset changes were achieved through training, experience sharing, and pilot forest restoration.
Sustainable forest management boosts productivity, quality, and job creation. Local enterprises sign off-take contracts at competitive prices, establishing knitting and processing groups that offer employment opportunities, particularly for women and the elderly.
Ms. Luong Thi Nguyet, leader of a production team in Sai village, expressed gratitude for the project's support in managing farmer groups and setting up a preliminary workshop. Workers now earn 200,000 VND per person per day, transforming their lives for the better.
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The project “Inclusive and Sustainable Clam and Bamboo Value Chain Development in Vietnam (SCBV) project was funded by the European Union, implemented by Oxfam in Vietnam, ICAFIS, Research Center for Non-timber Forest Products (SCBV). NTFPRC) and Vietnam Federation of Trade and Industry (VCCI).
