The Vietnam Forest Certification Office (VFCO) is the organization implementing the National Forest Certification Scheme (VFCS) under Decision No. 1288/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister. VFCS was recognized by The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) in August 2019. Implementation of sustainable forest management and forest certification is an important goal of the forestry sector in the period from 2021 to 2030 and a vision to 2050, directly contributing to Vietnam’s goals of sustainable development and efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change, especially achieving goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

VFCO’s vision is to promote sustainable forest management and forest certification in Vietnam, ensuring enhancement and improvement of economic, environmental, and social benefits for sustainable development. Sustainable forest management and forest certification aims at the followings:

• Compliance with Vietnamese legal regulations and international requirements
• Meeting growing market demand for timber produced and supplied from sustainable forest management certified areas
• Ensuring that Vietnamese imported wood and wood-based products can approach international markets
• Sustainable management and use of forest resources, biodiversity conservation, maintenance and enhancement of ecosystem services, mitigation and adaptation to climate change
• Increasing income for forest owners and adding value for the forestry industry
• Ensure stakeholders benefits from forestry production, processing, and trading.