Forests – the nation’s “carbon absorption sink”
According to the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0) Report: in 2018 – the baseline year of the report – Vietnamese forests absorbed over 100 million tonnes of CO₂, while emissions were only around 51 million tonnes. Therefore, forests helped achieve a net reduction of nearly 50 million tonnes of CO₂ per year – a highly significant level of absorption.
However, without intervention, by 2035, the net absorption could decline slightly to around 44 million tonnes. This is why forest restoration and sustainable forest management programmes are seen as the key to helping Viet Nam maintain a stable “carbon absorption sink”, contributing to the national Net Zero goal.
Since 2008, Viet Nam’s forest coverage has increased from 38.7% to nearly 42%, equivalent to more than 14.7 million hectares. This is the result of numerous programmes on afforestation, forest protection, and forest restoration nationwide.
However, natural forest area continues to decline by over 20,000 hectares per year on average, while planted forest area has rapidly increased to offset this loss. The issue is that planted forests absorb much less carbon than natural forests – only about half. Accordingly, NDC 3.0 sets a goal not only to maintain forest coverage, but to increase forest quality and carbon stocks.
Specifically, the forestry strategy to 2030 aims to: stabilise forest coverage at 42–43%; restore around 15,000 hectares of forest per year; develop high-productivity large-timber planted forests to reduce pressure on natural forest exploitation.
Main strategic measures for emissions reduction
The NDC 3.0 Report identifies four major groups of solutions for forestry and land use:
Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+): reducing forest loss, restoring degraded forests, supplementary planting of native species, and strengthening patrols and monitoring. The goal is to reduce forest loss area by 80–90% compared to current levels.
Developing mangrove forests and seagrass beds: these are the coastal carbon absorption sinks. When well-managed, each hectare of mangrove forest can absorb several times more CO₂ than terrestrial forests.
Enhancing productivity by developing large-timber planted forests: shifting from short-term planting to long-term rotations, increasing timber value and carbon biomass, and opening business opportunities for forest-based carbon credits.
Developing agroforestry and trees outside forests: integrating forestry and agricultural tree planting helps local people generate income while increasing greenhouse gas absorption. This is a low-cost, high-effectiveness model.
If implemented effectively, Viet Nam could increase its CO₂e absorption capacity by 170–188 million tonnes in the 2026–2035 period. The estimated investment is around 40–42 billion USD, yet the average cost per tonne of CO₂e absorbed is only about 200 USD, far lower than emissions reduction costs in the industry or energy sectors.
Towards forest-based carbon credit market
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is developing national standards for forest-based carbon credits. When the measuring, reporting and validation system (MRV) is completed, local authorities, enterprises or communities will be able to sell carbon credits generated from forest planting, restoration, and management activities.
This creates a major opportunity to attract green investment and build sustainable financial resources for forest protection. Viet Nam is gradually building a domestic carbon market, in which forest-based carbon credits will be one of the key and important commodity sources.
Alongside its significant potential, there remain many challenges: the lack of accurate forest monitoring data and technology; limited capital for natural forest restoration; and insufficient clarity in REDD+ benefit-sharing mechanisms.
According to expert Pham Van Duan from Viet Nam National University of Forestry, to achieve Net Zero, Viet Nam must recognise forestry as a real low-carbon economic sector, where forest protection is tied with people’s livelihoods and the carbon market.
In the national Net Zero picture, forests are the natural backbone of carbon balance. Each hectare of forest not only absorb CO₂, but also protects soil, water, biodiversity, and livelihoods for millions of rural residents.
Investing in forests is investing in the future. When each forest area is restored and managed sustainably, Viet Nam takes a firm step forward on the path to Net Zero, green growth, and harmony with nature.
