Improving policies for forest plantations to balance...

MEETING REPORT

Planning meeting for ACIAR Project ADP/2014/047

Improving policies for forest plantations to balance smallholder, industry and environmental needs in Lao PDR and

Vietnam

Vientiane, November 10, 2015

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1. INTRODUCTION

The project “Improving policies for forest plantations to balance smallholder, industry

and environmental needs in Lao PDR and Vietnam” (ADP-2014-047) is funded by

Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR) and being undertaken

with research and government partners in Lao and Vietnam. The project aims to

provide policy options that achieve national goals for tree plantation industry

development in the two countries through improved linkages between commercial

investment and smallholder production and improve the capacity of researchers in Lao

PDR and Vietnam in policy research and economic and social analyses. This can lead

to improved economic, environmental and community livelihood benefits from

plantations. The project has a total funding of $999,866 AUD and officially commenced

its activities in April 2016.

In November 2015, the project held a planning meeting in Vientiane, Lao PDR as a

step towards the project’s effective implementation.

2. MEETING OBJECTIVES

• To create a common understanding and support of the project - its goals, objectives

and implementation plans.

• To exchange knowledge and experiences around forest plantation policies.

• To develop shared visions of the broader opportunities and benefits emerging from

the project and look for areas of potential synergy that could enhance its overall

scientific and policy impacts.

3. PARTICIPANTS

Thirty participants from a range of research institutions and government agencies from

Australia, Lao and Vietnam attended the workshop. List of participants and their

contacts is in the Annex 1.

4. PROGRAM

The meeting was opened by Mr John Williams, Australian Ambassador to the Lao PDR,

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and Associate Professor Houngphet Chanthavong, Dean of the Faculty of Forest

Science, National University of Laos. Dr Ejaz Qureshi and Mr Tony Bartlett from ACIAR

RPM Agriculture Development Policy and Forestry presented the current ACIAR

strategies for agricultural policy and forestry in Lao PDR and Vietnam and highlighted

links with the ADP-2014-047 project. The two presentations on Plantation Policy

Challenges in Lao and Vietnam created a strong foundation for the subsequent group

discussions on Plantation Policy: Similarities, Differences and Future Directions. The

afternoon sessions focused on discussing the project components and solicited

participant’s’ inputs into policy adoption pathways.

The workshop agenda with details of presentations is provided in the Annex 2.

5. KEY POINTS FROM THE DISCUSSION

The participants discussed and highlighted the following:

• The extensive partnership between researchers and policy makers in three

countries of Laos, Vietnam and Australia is rare in these kinds of projects. The

project aims to tackle important areas of forest policies in this region.

• ACIAR’s work in Laos has been around focus areas of Agroforestry, PES,

Biosecurity, and value-adding in teak while in Vietnam programs on agroforestry

(NW Vietnam), poverty reduction and rural livelihoods have received more

attention.

• The key plantation policy challenges in Vietnam relate to low level of interest from

banks in the plantation sector due to concerns about risks and insurance policies

being not readily available. The government’s view is to have more support for

longer rotation plantations. Some of the questions that the project may be able to

explore:

• How to link grower’s processing and consumption?

• What are acacia plantations preferred by growers?

• How to sustain productivity and site quality?

• Should plantations shift to high value sawlog plantations in order to

enhance value from short-term rotation plantations?

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• Inputs/suggestions to policy formulation and implementation should be planned

for during the project life (and not wait for the final results at the end of the

project). In order to do this, entry points need to be studied and taken into account

while planning for project activities.

• The meeting served as a useful forum for participants in the three countries to

meet and discuss the project aim, activities and scope. While there is a good

framework for policy analysis and field studies, more efforts are required to better

understand the policy contexts. Active engagement with the project activities and

resources is thus encouraged. The two countries will need to nominate Steering

Committees to provide strategic directions and advice on policy adoption

pathways.

6. FOLLOW UP PLAN

• Vietnam has approved the project document and committed to co-financing.

• Lao PDR needs to speed up the approval process.

• A policy forum is scheduled for March 2016 to further discuss policy challenges

and opportunities for the two countries.

7. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The project is thankful to ACIAR for their financial support and for providing necessary

guidance concerning project formulation.

The meeting would not have been possible without logistical support of colleagues from

NUoL.

The collaboration and support from the project team members and partners with their

extensive knowledge and experience has been essential.

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ANNEX 2: PRESENTATIONS

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ANNEX 1: PROGRAM

Program Start Finish

Welcoming Remarks A/Prof. Houngphet Chanthavong, National University of Laos (NUoL)

Speech 8.30 8.40

Introduction of Participants

Chair 8.40 8.50

Message from the Australian Government

Mr John Williams Ambassador to Lao PDR

Speech 8.50 9.00

Links to ACIAR strategies for agricultural policy and forestry in Lao PDR and Vietnam

Dr Ejaz Qureshi, ACIAR RPM Agriculture Development Policy Mr Tony Bartlett, ACIAR RPM Forestry

Presentation 9.00 9.15

Project Introduction - Objectives and Expected Outcomes

Prof Rodney Keenan, University of Melbourne (UoM)

Presentation 9.15 9.30

Plantation Policy Challenges in Vietnam

Mr Le Van Bach Policy Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Vietnam

Presentation Q&A

9.30 10.00

Plantation Policy Challenges in Lao PDR

Mr Vongvilay Vonkhamsao Director of Forest Science Research Centre, NAFRI Lao PDR

Presentation Q&A

10.00 10.30

MORNING TEA (Group Photo)

10.30

11.00

Plantation Policy: Similarities, Differences and Future Directions for Lao PDR and Vietnam

Prof Peter Kanowski, Australian National University (ANU) – Facilitator

Group Discussion & Reporting

11.00 12.00

LUNCH

12.00

13.30

Research Components: Contexts and Institution Analysis

Prof Peter Kanowski, ANU

Presentation, Q&A

13.30 13.45

Research Components: Supply Chain Analysis

Prof Geoff Cockfield, University of Southern Queensland

Presentation, Q&A

15.15 15.30

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Research Components: Plantation Development Case Studies

Dr Thu-Ba Huynh (UoM), Dr Tuan (Hue University, Vietnam), Dr Keith Barney (ANU)

Presentation, Q&A

14.00 14.15

Research Components: Environmental Analysis

Prof Rodney Keenan UoM

Presentation, Q&A

13.45 14.00

Feedback/Comments Questions

Khamphone NAFRI

Plenary Discussion

14.15 14.30

AFTERNOON TEA 14.30 15.00

Research Components: Economic Analysis

Dr Somvang Phimmavong, NUoL Dr Tran Dai Nghia, Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD), Vietnam

Presentation, Q&A

15.00 15.15

Research Components: Supply Chain Analysis

Prof Geoff Cockfield, University of Southern Queensland

Presentation, Q&A

15.15 15.30

Policy Adoption Pathways

Prof Rodney Keenan, UoM Presentation, Q&A

15.30 15.45

Feedback/Comments/Questions

Dr Vu Tan Phuong, Vietnam Academy of Forestry Sciences (VAFS)

Plenary Discussion

15.45 16.00

Summary Prof Vo Dai Hai, VAFS Summary 16.00 16.15

Way Forward and Closing

Prof Rodney Keenan, UoM Speech 16.15 16.30

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ANNEX 3 PARTICIPANTS

Australia

1 Prof. Rodney Keenan UoM rkeenan@unimelb.edu.au

2 Dr. Thu Ba Huynh UoM huynht@unimelb.edu.au

3 Prof. Peter Kanowski ANU Peter.Kanowski@anu.edu.au

4 Alexander Van Der Meer Simo ANU alex.vandermeer@anu.edu.au

5 Dr. Keith Barney ANU keith.barney@anu.edu.au

6 Prof. Geoff Cockfield USQ Geoff.Cockfield@usq.edu.au

7 Dr. Tony Bartlett ACIAR Tony.Bartlett@aciar.gov.au

8 Dr. Ejaz Qureshi ACIAR Ejaz.Qureshi@aciar.gov.au

Lao PDR

9 Dr. Somvang Phimmavong NUoL, Deputy Head of Department of Forest Economics and Wood Technology

somvang2003@yahoo.com

10 A/Prof. Houngphet Chanthavong,

NUoL, Dean of the Faculty of Forest Science

11 Khamphone Mounlamai National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute

khamphonedpcd@gmail.com

12 Thongpat Vongmany DG, Department of Forestry

13 Xaypladeth Chounlamany DG, Department of Planning, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

14 Vongpaphane Manivong Senior Agricultural Economist, NAFRI v.manivong@gmail.com

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15 Vongvilay Vonkhamsao Director of Forest Science Research Centre, NAFRI

littlevong@yahoo.com

16 Bounthong BOUAHOM NAFRI DG bounthongbouahom@gmail.com

17 Don Giannace Stora Enso Don.Giannace@storaenso.com

18 Ki Phonesavanh Lat (or Chiraporn Sunpakit)

ACIAR Lao Country Manager Phonesavanh.Latmany@dfat.gov.au

19 Dr. Lamphoune Xayvongsa NUoL, A/Prof., Dept Economics lamphoune.xayvongsa@yahoo.com

20 Dr. Kaisone Phengsopha NUoL, Graduate Studies Coordinator kaisone_p@hotmail.com

21 James Cornwell NUoL Volunteer cornwell.james@gmail.com

22 Viengsy Paothor NUoL administrator viengsypaothor@gmail.com

23 Phonesavanh Latmany ACIAR Assistant Manager +856 20 2223 5794 Phonesavanh.Latmany@dfat.gov.au

24 Dulce Simanivong ACIAR Regional Manager Dulce.Simmanivong@dfat.gov.au

Vietnam

25 Prof. Vo Dai Hai Vietnam Academy of Forestry Sciences haivodai@gmail.com

26 Dr. Vu Tan Phuong Vietnam Academy of Forestry Sciences Phuong.vt@vafs.gov.vn

27 Le Van Bach MARD levanbach@gmail.com

28 Dr. Tran Dai Nghia IPSARD tran.nghiadai99@gmail.com

29 Dr. Hoang Huy Tuan HUAF hoanghuytuan69@huaf.edu.vn

30 Nguyen An ACIAR Country Manager An.Nguyen@dfat.gov.au