This course provides an overview of SFM and FC. Trainees should have a common understanding of the concept of SFM and FC, relevant international and Vietnam legal framework and context. Information on the status, opportunities, and challenges of implementation of SFM and FC, and general knowledge of role of forests for decision making and planning. Main content including:

• Introduction of SFM; the bio-ecological, economic, and social principles underlying forest management strategies;
• Introduction of forest certification, forest certification systems.
• Relavant international legal framework (ILO, CBD, Stochkhom, CITES …) and Vietnamese regulation (Forestry Law 2017, Degree 156, VPA FLEGT, Circular 28/2018, Decision 1288…).
• Current situation, opportunities and challenges in the current context, and tasks for forest managers.

This course provides knowledge of forest inventory (both natural and planted forests), including:

• Objective of forest inventory;
• Forest classification (by origin, forest types, forest volume/yield, site condition…);
• Sampling and transects design, establishment of sample plots (temporary and permanent) and transects in the forests;
• Preparation for inventory (equiptment, map…)
• Forest survey and inventory methods (timber tree, regeneration, NTFP…);
• Tree measurement (DBH, Height…);
• Data analysis and reporting;
• Practice on the field of design and inventory of sample plots

Provide knowledge on creating and updating maps needed for development of SFM plan and implementation:

• Objective of creating and updating maps;
• Types of maps needed for development and implementation of SFM plan.
• Map creation and map update methods (application of remote sensing, GIS, ground survey with GPS…); technical contents of each type of map (format, technical specification, scale, layout…)
• Extraction of information from maps (area, attributes, data…).
• Practice on the field to check and delineate some specialized information layers.

Provide knowledge about nature conservation, particularly biodiversity and high conservation value forest (HCVF), including habitats and corridors along water courses (lake, stream…) as considered ‘buffer zone’. Some main contents:

• International and Vietnamese regulations protected species;
• Techniques of biodiversity survey;
• Methods of HCVF assessment;
• Classification and identification of important forest species, including natural distribution and ecological characteristics;
• Development of a conservation plan which includes mapping of major habitats associated with important species (Rare, Endangered & Threatened species = RET); major threats and activities to prevent or mitigate these threats;
• Practice on the field of biodiversity surveys, HCV surveys, identification of some important species.

Provide knowledge about methods of EIA in forestry activities. Objective of EIA is to identify potential negative impact of forestry activities on the environment as well as on biodiversity and propose suitable solutions for mitigation of the impacts. This course includes the following content:

• Requirements of EIA;
• Identification of forestry activities that may affect environment and biodiversity/ HCVF;
• EIA methods;
• Data analysis and solutions to mitigate negative impacts;
• Integrating solutions in SFM plan;
• Implementation of solutions;
• Monitoring of implementation;
• Prepare EIA report in implementation of SFM plan;
• Practice in the field on techniques of EIA by some forestry activities such as nurseries, preparing forest plantation sites, logging, etc …

Provides knowledge and regulations related to communities when conducting forestry activities:

• Identifying local communities in surrounding areas with details of their interests;
• Method of social impact assessment (SIA);
• Benefit sharing between forest management unit and these communities;
• Potential conflicts raised from forestry activities (such as road construction, land tenure, water uses) and solutions;
• Method of stakeholder consultation when conducting environmental and social assessment;
• Practicing on the field on the method of social impact assessment, consultation methods for stakeholders.
• Practice EIA and SIA

This course provides basic knowledge of economic, financial and market analysis to develop a business plan:

• Economic analysis;
• Financial analysis;
• Market analysis (national and international market for timber, NTFPs, PES…);
• Development of a business plan;
• Practice exercises to build a business plan for a forestry enterprise.

This course introduces information and knowledge on development of a forest management plan in a sustainable manner and in line with legal requirements in SFM, including:

• Objective of SFM plan;
• Regulations on development of SFM plan (Circular no. 28/2018 of MARD);
• Data needed for development of SFM plan;
• Stakeholder consultation in development of SFM plan;
• Activities identified for SFM plan;
• Annual allowance cut (AAC);
• Budgeting;
• Risk assessment and management;
• Procedure of approval of SFM plan;
• Implementation of SFM plan;
• Monitoring and assessment of SFM plan implementation
• Doing exercise, practicing on the field and develop a SFM plan related to the content mentioned above

Provide knowledge on planning of monitoring and evaluation (M&E), techniques of M&E for the development, adjustment, and monitoring of SFM plan. M&E must include all activities and aspects, including chain of custody (CoC). The course should include following themes:

• Requirement of M&E;
• Definition/identification of the indicators;
• M&E planning;
• Data collection methods and tools;
• Data analysis (evaluation);
• Integrating M&E result in adjustment/updating of the plan;
• Publicise the M&E result;
• Doing exercises and practicing on the field about monitoring and evaluation of SFM plan implementation.

Provide knowledge and information about forest certification (FC) and some important FC systems such as FSC, PEFC:

• Information of forest certification (context, historic development, benefits, structure of a FC system…);
• PEFC, FSC and national FC systems including standards of forest management (FM), chain of custody (CoC) and group certification (FM and CoC);
• Procedure of certification;
• Certification fee;
• Auditing techniques, certification reports, interpretation of reports, Corrective Action Request (CAR);
• Environmental impact assessment & Social impact assessment (EIA & SIA), high conservation value forest assessment (HCVF), Stakeholder consultation, the right to free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) concept and practice
• Common Non-Conformities found during auditing process in Vietnam; corrective actions and closing experiences;
• Chain of custody (CoC);
• Survey and practice (some activities of auditors; forestry production activities, environmental impact assessment).

Provide knowledge on the requirements, contents and how to develop the quality management handbook (QMB) which consists of all necessary guidance, and procedures for all processes of sustainable forest management and certification. The course includes the following content:

• Requirements of QMB;
• Legal framework and internal policy of forest owners;
• Management procedure and responsibility;
• Technical procedures: Forest inventory; wildlife and plant survey; EIA; SIA; mapping, land use survey; forest function mapping; HCVF; reduced impact logging; harvest design; silviculture management; road construction and maintenance; M&E; chemical management; CITES; waste management, etc.);
• Other procedures: Stakeholder consultation, work safety, community relation, planning, training, CoC, timber product sale, records management, and storage, etc …
• Improve and update the procedures.