Posted on January, 16 2023

The WWF Forest team in the Central Annamites Landscape and New Generation Plantations (NGP) – which is a knowledge sharing and best practice initiative associated with WWF’s Forests Forward program – are hosting a Viet Nam Study Tour on the theme of ‘Sustainable business growth through better value-chain integration’ on 13-17 March 2023. The tour is offered to all Forests Forward participants looking to expand their knowledge on this subject or region. 

This unique field visit will showcase some of most promising micro and small nature-related businesses in the Central Annamites, where Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) such as rattan and soap nuts are key commodities that can help support the development of livelihoods for local people while improving forest conservation.

Luis Silva, NGP Lead and one of the co-hosts of the tour, highlights the potential: “NTFPs could play an even greater role if their harvesting, processing, and sale is well-managed and linked to micro- or small-enterprises that are closely integrated in sustainable value chains.

"That’s why NGP and the WWF-linked Landscape Resilience Fund are supporting sustainable businesses in the value chains for NTFP, agroforestry and plantation timber – by developing a dedicated Accelerator programme for the Central Annamites. The Accelerator is aimed at scaling up so-called ‘Bankable Nature Solutions’, sustainable businesses that benefit nature and people while also giving return on investment.”

Tam Le Viet, Forest Practice Lead at WWF Viet Nam, says: “The study tour will provide an opportunity to learn about the needs, opportunities, and challenges for communities and enterprises in the landscape and help inform the design of the Accelerator.”

Study tours with NGP are offered to all Forests Forward participants. The previous tour in November 2021 included a visit to Bahia in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, and looked at how a local fund is building capacity in local communities, enabling them to develop the skills and knowledge to grow their ideas into bankable projects that can attract outside investment. 

The 2023 Viet Nam study tour follows a successful virtual tour of the Central Annamites in 2021, which showcased bankable projects, including one supported by Forests Forward participant and WWF partner, IKEA. 

Join us in the Central Annamites – home to threatened species such as the yellow-cheeked crested gibbons and pangolins and sustainable business innovation – for this unique experience!

Registration will close on 30 January 2023.

• More information including study tour agenda
• Registration
• Contact Manuela Rosa (mrosa@newgenerationplantations.com) for more information.

Other upcoming study tours:

• Virtual study tour: ‘Forest Landscape Restoration project developers: a virtual tour around the world’ – June 2023.
• Kenya study tour: ‘Public-private partnerships: private investment in sustainable forestry and timber processing’ – November 2023.