Small-Scale Illegal Logging in Vietnam: Implications for FLEGT and REDD+

Summary

This brief summarises village case studies that demonstrate how Vietnam’s domestic illegal logging will only be curtailed if Vietnamese policies promote forest governance that accommodates small-scale forest use and management, and allows local communities to benefit from the forest. Effective strategies to curb illegal logging will require the allocation of clear and secure tenure rights to local people in order to improve their ability to benefit from local forests. This is a key lesson to consider in the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) and Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) initiatives currently pursued by the Government of Vietnam.