Vietnam National University of Forestry (VNUF) collaborated with Vietnam Administration of Forestry (VNFOREST) to organize the Workshop "Orientation for development of Science, Technology and Innovation in Forestry for the period 2022- 2030" on the morning of May 16, 2022. The workshop was sponsored by agencies, units as well as international organizations: Vietnam Forestry Corporation (Vinafor); Management Board of Forestry Projects (MBFP); Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR); Project "Sustainable Forest Management and Biodiversity Conservation" (VFBC).

Attending the workshop were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Quoc Doanh – Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Quang Bao – Deputy Director General of VNFOREST; Mr. Le Son Hai - Deputy Minister of Committee for Ethnic Minorities Affairs, Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy – Director of Department of Scientific Technology and Environment; Mr. Vu Van Huong - Deputy General Director of Vinafor; Mr. Vu Van Hung - Deputy Director of MBFP; Mr. Pham Van Mau - Deputy Director of International Cooperation Department, MARD; Assoc.Prof.Dr. Phi Hong Hai – Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences; and other leaders, experts from MARD (VNFOREST, Department of Scientific Technology and Environment, MBFP; Planning Department, Finance Department, International Cooperation Department, National Agricultural Extension Center, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Institute of Forest Inventory and Planning); Representative of the General Department; Department of Ethnic Policy; Department of Planning - Finance and Department of International Cooperation under the Committee for Ethnic Minorities Affairs; Representatives of the People's Committee, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Department of Science and Technology, Forest Protection Department, Forest Protection and Development Fund, National Parks of some provinces (Thanh Hoa, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Dien Bien, Son La, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Nghe An, Lam Dong, Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Yen Bai); Vietnam Forestry Corporation (Vinafor); enterprises and organizations operating in the fields of forestry in Vietnam; Media agencies (VTC16, Dan Tri, Agriculture and Rural Development).

Attending the Workshop were international delegates: H.E. Keijo Norvanto - Ambassador of Finland to Vietnam; Mr. Stefan Hase Bergen - Director of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) regional office in Hanoi; Delegates from GIZ (German Corporation for International Cooperation GmbH), Prof. Marco Abbiati, Science attache, embassy of Italy to Vietnam, Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), U.S. Agency for International Development - USAID;

From VNUF, there were Prof. Dr. Tran Van Chu – Secretary of the Party Committee, President of the university; Assoc.Prof.Dr. Cao Quoc An – Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the university Council; and other comrades in the Party Committee, the Management Board and the university Council, scientists, experts and lecturers of VNUF;

In recent years, the forestry industry has grown strongly, the export turnover of wooden products has grown rapidly and has been recognized as a specific economic - technical industry, linked according to the value of the forestry chain from management, protection, development to forest using, processing and commercializing forest products. In the future, Vietnam will become a global center for the production and export of prestigious and branded furniture in the world.

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Le Quoc Doanh – Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development gave a speech

At the workshop, Assoc. Prof. Dr Le Quoc Doanh - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development affirmed that thanks to science and technology, the forestry industry has thrived with impressive figures such as reaching 42% of the forest cover, achieved a trade surplus of 13 billion USD. Especially in 2021, despite the raging Covid-19 pandemic, our country's Forest Protection and Development Fund still reached approximately VND 3,200 billion, equivalent to over US$ 150 million. It is also thanks to scientists who are interested in studying forest varieties; afforestation to create a source of wooden raw materials for input into the production of forest products.

According to Assoc.Prof.Dr. Le Quoc Doanh, in order to evaluate the role of science and technology, of scientists, in the development of the forestry industry, it must be evaluated in the long period. There were environmental problems, biodiversity conservation to be solved...due to scientists from two scientific research institutions are VNUF and VAFS. In addition, other business also actively participates in contributing to scientific research in the forestry fields.

The Deputy Minister raised many questions to scientists at the workshop: "How should we develop, in the context of current condition of raw materials? Still the same forest as now, the same trees species… will we meet the market demand in the coming years? We know we need big timber, but we still need trees for fast growing and short rotation. To solve these conflicts, how to plant, how to care the tree, what technology?"; and he also affirmed "Only science and technology and high-quality human resources can help us take advantage of opportunities".

Prof. Dr. Tran Van Chu - VNUF President speaks

Assoc. Dr. Tran Quang Bao - Deputy Director of the Vietnam administration of Forestry made a speech

To contribute to the implementation of the Vietnam Forestry Development Strategy for the period 2022-2030, with a vision to 2050 effectively, from the current status, difficulties, challenges and opportunities in science and technology development and innovation in forestry; sharing experiences and lessons learned at intrinsic and external factors of our country, at which: Assessing the current status of S&T activities and highlighting achievements in S&T activities in the 2017-2021 period; Provide orientations and solutions for the development of science, technology and forestry innovation activities in the 2022-2030 period, contributing to the successful implementation of the Vietnam's forestry development strategy in the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050; creating cooperation, association in science and technology and innovation between universities, research institutes and management agencies and enterprises in the development of the forestry industry.

The Presidium conducts the discussion

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Bui The Doi – Vice President gave a speech

H.E. Keijo Norvanto – Ambassador of Finland to Vietnam shared about Finnish values and concepts about forests.

At the workshop, H.E. Keijo Norvanto, Finnish Ambassador to Vietnam shared that forests in Finland are considered "inspiration" because forests "dominate" the nature of Finland where forest area occupies over 75% of the area land. It is a country that the biggest forest area in Europe. Moreover, most of the forest area in Finland is owned by households (620,000 forest owners) … Finland's forest protection strategy is sustainable forest management – ​​seen as a source of prosperity and the Finns protect the forest by planting 4 new seedlings to replace 1 felled tree. Currently, it has 90% PEFC/FSC certified commercial forest. H.E. Keijo Norvanto also said that in Finland, wood is a useful material with the view that "everything that can be made of plastic can also be made of wood". It is also using in medicine for broken bones treatment.

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Phung Van Khoa – Vice President gave a speech

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phung Van Khoa, Vice President of VNUF believe that the most priority tasks are promoting technological innovation, researching high-tech application processes in management, monitoring and assessment of natural resources and the environment, disaster prevention and response to climate change in ethnic minority areas, rural areas, mountainous areas, and areas with difficult and extremely difficult economic conditions. At the same time, the university will develop into an innovation center.

At the Workshop, scientists expressed their agreement and highly appreciated the proposals, from the viewpoints, goals, and orientations to solutions for scientific, technological development and innovation in the forestry sector. 2022-2030, with a vision to 2050. Scientists believe that the proposals of technology development orientation will focus on transferring and renewing production and business technologies to increase production value. Forestry development and selection of forestry tree varieties for afforestation to provide raw materials for the wood processing industry; researching and applying high technology to investigation and monitoring of changes in forest resources; promote sustainable forest management and forest certification through a public-private partnership approach; thereby promoting production and business in enterprises to catch up with the world's level, improve the quality of the economy, create an advanced technology foundation to implement the goal of industrialization and modernity.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy - Director of the Department of Science Technology and Environment gave a speech

In conclusion, Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, Director of Department of Science Technology and Environment gave a grateful to the delegates who are scientists and managers for actively exchanging, discussing and contributing ideas to contribute the orientation for development of Science, Technology and Innovation in Forestry in the period of 2022-2030. The comments will be summary by the host with the highest sense of responsibility to include the comments in the draft, contributing to the construction of the Quality Orientation and high feasibility.

Besides, the workshop also held exhibitions and displays of scientific and technological products that are the results of research on tasks at National, Ministry, Provincial, Grassroots levels; performance results of technology transfer contracts (S&T service contracts); research results by self-researched units or individuals; products of the Projects; In Addition, the signing ceremony of cooperation agreement between VNUF and the others: Cuc Phuong National Park, Kim Tin group, College of Agriculture and Forestry Northeast, Nam Tay Nguyen Forestry Company Limited has been implemented for cooperation, application and transfer of topics through activities of receiving and transferring research results, implementing science and technology projects, organizing conferences, seminars, organizing training and receiving resources.

 

Photos at the workshop