Amid increasingly complex climate change impacts, finding common ground between forest ecosystem protection and ensuring farmers’ incomes has become an urgent requirement.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, Dak Lak currently has nearly 780,775 hectares of forests plus forestry land, with a forest coverage rate of 41.32 percent, accounting for a large proportion in the region while playing a particularly important role in ensuring environmental protection as well as water resource security. However, the province’s forests face significant challenges from encroachment, deforestation, along with extreme climate change, posing risks of degradation that directly threaten the ecosystem together with local livelihoods.

Chu Yang Sin National Park.

RECAF - Expectations for a “green agriculture” future

In response to this situation, the US$102.5 million Reducing Emissions in Central Highlands and Central Coast of Vietnam Project (RECAF) is expected to serve as a “new impetus”. The project will be implemented over six years (2025 - 2031) across four provinces: Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Lam Dong and Khanh Hoa.  

The core objective of RECAF is achieving emission reductions equivalent to 6.68 million tonnes of CO₂. With this aim, the project concentrates on converting 145,000 hectares of forestry land into economically viable, sustainable agroforestry systems, comprising 90,000 hectares under agroforestry models plus 55,000 hectares under commune-level multi-stakeholder collaborative forest management. It further seeks protection for 500,000 hectares of high-value natural forests across the participating provinces. RECAF is expected to deliver direct benefits for around 420,000 people, improve livelihoods for more than one million indirect beneficiaries, while attracting the involvement of over 500 enterprises within deforestation-free value chains.

Functional forces conducting forest management, care, and protection activities.

A key highlight of RECAF lies in promoting partnerships among farmers, the private sector, alongside local authorities, thereby supporting smallholder households in gaining market access, improving infrastructure, plus adopting sustainable production practices. The project also places strong emphasis on women, youth, as well as ethnic minority communities, ensuring groups most affected by climate change remain actively engaged while benefiting from project activities.

Director of the Dak Lak Department of Agriculture and Environment, Mr. Nguyen Minh Huan, noted that integrating forest protection with sustainable agricultural production would help farmers raise incomes while preserving forest resources for future generations. He added that the project holds particular significance for the province’s 11 beneficiary communes in balancing forest conservation, emission reductions, plus economic development.

Translated by HAI LOAN