Speaking to VietNamNet about QuangTri’s growth, Ha Sy Dong, the vice chairman of Quang Tri province, said that selling carbon credits, which was once a far-fetched dream, has become a reality.
Could you please tell us about the carbon credit potential in Quang Tri agriculture?
We have many old forests with various rare and precious wood species. We also have native plants and wild flora and fauna. These provide the basis for assessing carbon absorption and storage and the potential for ecotourism.
By 2023, the natural forests in Quang Tri could raise funds from the transfer of emission reduction results. The money has been distributed among the population, the community and forest management units. This shows that selling carbon credits is no longer a far-fetched dream.
We also have 121,400 hectares of planted forests, including 26,000 hectares planted by households, individuals and forestry companies that have VFC (Forest Stewardship Council) and VFCS/PEFC (Vietnam Forest Certification Scheme/Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification). In addition to natural forests, we can also sell carbon credits from planted forests.
Agriculture is a sector that can join the carbon credit market if we follow clean, green and circular production. It is expected that Quang Tri will have biological fields and ecological fields. Organic rice will be our flagship product and a breakthrough development to enter the carbon credit market.
1,100 hectares of rice fields are cultivated under organic scheme, of which 346.58 hectares meet organic rice standards and are cultivated naturally, and 502.5 hectares are cultivated under organic scheme, 4.3 hectares with VietGap standards and 160.6 hectares meet the standards. about food hygiene.
We have heard that many international companies and organizations have come to QuangTri and asked for cooperation to develop carbon credits. Is this true?
Yes that is true. The Dutch Inproba is negotiating a voluntary payment for a carbon absorption volume of 1,500 tons per year, worth 15,000 euros (1 ton=10 euros). Italy’s Etifor is negotiating a voluntary sponsorship of 50,000 euros per year to maintain FSC-ES, implement forest protection, forest rehabilitation and enrichment and forest plantation at the sites of landslides caused by natural disasters in 2020.
Quang Tri also has great potential in clean energy development. Will this be a renewable energy source to promote green production and participate in the carbon credit market?
Quang Tri is severely affected by climate change and the weather conditions are severe. However, we have turned the problems into strengths to develop sustainably.
In the past, ‘gio Lao’ (hot and dry westerly wind from Laos to central Vietnam) and the scorching sun were the great fear of QuangT ri people. But fear has turned into an endless clean energy source for people’s lives and production.
Quang Tri is home to the Truong Son Mountains and the Ho Chi Minh Trail, places with high wind speeds that are favorable for wind energy development. In 2019-2022, the provinces approved 31 projects, of which 19 projects became operational.
It is expected that wind energy production will ensure sufficient electricity supply for the central region in 2027 and meet the requirements for provincial IZs to switch to green production.
The Prime Minister released Decision 1737/2023 approving the Quang Tri Development Plan for 2021-2030, which states that Quang Tri will become a clean energy center in the central region.
What benefits will wind energy projects bring to local people?
We have drawn up rules that must be observed when carrying out wind energy projects.
When these projects become operational, wind farms will take shape on the space above, while on the ground people will cultivate and create landscapes for ecotourism development.
The projects will be implemented in mountainous areas, which will pose problems in terms of transport infrastructure. The province will allow companies to build roads. They have built more than 100 kilometers of roads through 31 projects.
Is Quang Tri ready to enter the carbon credit market?
Quang Tri is one of six provinces implementing emission reduction projects in the north-central region during 2023-2025. This means that the calculation of emission reductions for natural forests in the province has been measured by FCPF (Forest Carbon Partnership Facility), through the World Bank, and it has committed to pay.
Regarding planted forests, we are negotiating with an Italian group to assess emissions reduction opportunities before starting carbon credit transactions.
Tam An – Hien Anh
